Department resource round-up
New guidance from the department to help providers prepare for 1 November covers the reform roadmap, a national registration scheme, Support at Home agreements and electronic script compliance.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published a number of resources and guidelines this week to assist aged care providers to prepare for the new Aged Care Act, which comes into effect in a few weeks.
Support at Home service agreements
To help home care providers, the department has published a template outlining information on minimum requirements for new service agreements and for variations to an existing service agreement.
Access the template here and department responses to frequently asked questions on SaH here.
It has also published an updated roadmap, which outlines a timeline for sector and operational readiness, alongside education and training opportunities and key dates for digital system changes or launches. Read the new roadmap here.
National registration scheme
A consultation summary report on a national registration scheme has also been made available for personal care workers in aged care – available here.
The summary report found that most respondents agreed:
- there should be a public register
- there should be consideration of different registration categories
- elements of the registration scheme should be mirrored across aged care, disability support and veterans’ care.
The registration scheme will be used to help build policies to professionalise the personal care workforce and improve safety for older people receiving care.
Registered supporters
There is also information available here on registering as a supporter, the role, obligations and expected practices of aged care providers and workers when engaging with registered supporters, conflicts of interest policy, duties of a registered supporter policy and a glossary of key terms.
Meanwhile, read information on conflicts of interest for registered supporters here.
Electronic prescription compliance
A factsheet on the Electronic National Residential Medication Chart – Aged Care has also been published.
It is hoped eNMRCs will improve coordination between pharmacists and aged care homes and enhance medication safety. Electronic prescribing software must be compliant by 21 October 2025 and transitional arrangements will end on 1 March 2026.
Access the factsheet here.
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