Aged Care Royal Commission suspended indefinitely due to coronavirus concerns

Commissioners decided to suspend the hearings after careful consideration of the current state of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and available information from the Australian Government.

The suspension includes group consultations, which is engagement work conducted by the staff of the Royal Commission.

All hearings and workshops scheduled will be cancelled until at least the end of May 2020, and will be reassessed depending on how the coronavirus pandemic evolves.

Commissioners have emphasised that the health and wellbeing of their staff and those they engage with for the Commission is very important and don’t want to put anyone at risk.

In a statement, Commissioners say, “Meaningful engagement with the sector is paramount to the work of the Royal Commission’s inquiry into aged care quality and safety, which is why we have decided to suspend all hearings and workshops. 

“We must allow service providers and Government to fully focus on their response to the pandemic.”

Commissioners have commended aged care service providers and health services, plus their staff, for their effort and work in supporting the needs of older people during the coronavirus crisis.

*Update on 24/3/2020 – The Royal Commission has just announced that the deadline for submissions will be extended to 30 June, 2020.

For more information about coronavirus, visit the Aged Care Guide’s COVID-19 update page.

Do you have any questions about the coronavirus that you want answered? Tell us in the comments below or email journalist@dps.com.au.