
The government is seeking comment on the draft quality principles and draft quality reporting principles of the new Aged Care Quality Agency, which is set to begin operations on 1 January 2014 for residential aged care services and 1 July 2014 for home care services.
The agency will replace the existing Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency and be the sole agency that providers of government funded aged care will deal with regarding quality assurance of their services.
The quality principles set out the requirements and procedures for approved providers seeking accreditation of residential care services and quality review of home care services.
The reporting principles detail what the quality agency’s CEO must report to the Department of Social Services regarding government funded residential and home care services.
The consultation period ends 8 November.
Access the documents: Public consultation on the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency
Streamlining of the Quality Reporting Program
The government is also seeking feedback on its review of the administrative processes of the Quality Review Program.
The review identified four areas where administrative processes could be simplified to improve the quality review process, particularly for service providers that deliver both home and residential care across multiple outlets and service types.
The four areas identified for changes are service provider self-assessment, service type reviews, the quality review report and the annual improvement plan.
Feedback is due by 15 November.
Read more about the changes: Consultation Paper on the Streamlining of the Quality Reporting Programme
HACC Community Transport
Consultation is also open for the review of HACC Community Transport.
There is a questionnaire available for service providers and another for clients, carers or client representatives.
Input to the review can also be provided by attending one of the national discussions being held around the country.
The closing date for comments is 14 November.
Find discussion tour dates and links to the questionnaires: Review of HACC Community Transport