For the first time, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care program will be regulated under the Aged Care Act when the new legislation commences in July – signifying a major transition for providers.
The Department of Health and Aged Care recognised the changes at a webinar on 20 March but also emphasised that in practical terms the NATSIFAC program will remain unchanged and the flexibility within funding and service delivery will be retained.
Chaired by First Nations Aged Care Branch assistant secretary Shonella Tatipata, topics discussed included:
- key changes for NATSIFAC providers
- conditions of the new regulatory model
- deeming and provider registration preview
- renewal of registration after 1 July.
Presenters included fellow assistant secretary Robert Day, Strengthening Providers Branch director Imran Church, acting director of the Single Assessment System Branch James Cole and Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority director James Chen.
Alongside the majority of NATSIFAC program obligations, conditions and reporting requirements now being outlined in the Act rather than in funding agreements, providers will also have to be registered and introduce a code of conduct.
NATSIFAC providers will be registered as specialist aged care programs but funding will continue to be provided through grants.
NATSIFAC providers will also have to introduce a statement of rights and will be obliged to adhere to new worker screening requirements – a change relevant to all providers.
There will continue to be a NATSIFAC Program Manual, which will be the place to go to see all of the relevant obligations in one place. The Regulatory Model 101 booklet specifically for NATSIFAC providers is also in development.
The NATSIFAC program aims to improve the quality of aged care services for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and it is hoped the single assessment system – along with universal registration and better worker screening – will assist in that improvement by making entering aged care more culturally appropriate.
With the single assessment system older people will only have to share their story once and ideally will have their wait times to access care reduced and more rigorous worker screening requirements will better safeguard vulnerable members of the community.
The slides for the webinar can be viewed here and a link to the recording will be available on the department’s website soon.
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