Report commends reform progress

Significant progress has been made in implementing the royal commission’s recommendations, according to a report released this morning.

Significant progress has been made in implementing the royal commission’s recommendations, according to a report released this morning.

Requested by Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells, the 93-page document is an “objective and independent” assessment by the Interim Inspector-General of Aged Care into the government’s response to the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The report commends the Albanese Government and the Department of Health and Aged Care for the “strong early responses” made to deliver the reforms.

Among those highlighted:

However, the report notes that reform implementation is ongoing and calls for “continued momentum” as there have been some “timeline slippages”. Government is urged to make “timely decisions” in delivering the new Aged Care Act and the new Support at Home program.   

The report contains an examination of the implementation progress of around 60 recommendations grouped into seven priority areas:

  • home care
  • quality in residential care
  • diversity
  • dementia
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care
  • system access and navigation
  • financial sustainability and consumer contributions.

On consumer contributions, the Interim Inspector General Ian Yates – who, it was announced Monday, had been appointed Acting Inspector General of Aged Care –  observes “an inherent inequity” in having taxpayers of moderate means paying for the aged care of people who may have a high income, assets, or both.

In residential aged care, Mr Yates highlights inequity in the assessment and treatment of assets, particularly the family home, and calls for a reconsideration of Refundable Accommodation Deposits. Addressing home care, Mr Yates indicates his support for a review of consumer contributions to improve equity and consistency.

An overview of the implementation status of all 148 royal commission recommendations also feature in the report.

Ian Yates

In its foreword, Mr Yates says: “We have made great progress to ensure that ageing and the issues that older people face are front and centre, but there is a lot more to be done. It is up to all of us to collectively shoulder the responsibility if we are to achieve true, transformative, and sustainable change.”

The document is the first in what will be a series of progress reports from the Office of the Inspector General of Aged Care. There is a legislative requirement for two further progress reports: the next is due by 1 June 2024; the following by 1 June 2025.

By 30 June 2026, a major review of the implementation of the recommendations must take place. These following reports will provide a more comprehensive assessment of implementation progress and be informed by extensive stakeholder engagement.

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Tags: featured, ian yates, Interim Inspector-General of Aged Care, progress report, royal commission into aged care quality and safety,

3 thoughts on “Report commends reform progress

  1. The ig recommendations also clearly show not enough is being done by minister wells and her department dental and allied health care clearly recommended in the royal commission. We don’t even have a timeframe for these reforms! Older people need allied health, dental and decent clinical care. Or they need a #newagedcareminister

    Fro P16
    Rather, the allied health care needs of residents are to be funded through AN-ACC. This does not appear to reflect the intent of the recommendation and greater clarity and assurances should be provided to the sector and the community about how increased access to allied health will be delivered. 2. Recommendation 38(d): capture the number of full-time allied health professionals delivering services and the number of allied health assessments. Current reporting is more limited than the Royal Commission intended. Increased information would provide the community with more assurance regarding access to allied health in residential facilities

  2. If you call cutting lifestyle hours, good holistic care, then you are mistaken.
    All I’m seeing is unqualified carers trying to perform activities.
    Most times, it’s put on a movie and stare at your phone.
    But, hey, that will tick the box for care minutes
    Lifestyle is vital. Less group activities equals depression, behaviours and falls
    It’s a total disgrace.

  3. Of course the reports will be favorable: I suspect that like Lynelle Briggs, Mr Yates won’t be jeopardising his next government appointment. When you peel away all the platitudinous babble, the report is just a list of almosts, excuses, incompletes and stakeholder dissatisfactions.
    Reflecting the current reforms, it fails to address the core reasons for poor care; a low paid and poorly skilled workforce. Funding reforms, reporting obligations and Board membership all give the impression that SOMETHING IS BEING DONE, but none of these will impact the standard of fundamental bedside care.

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