Have your say about aged care quality

Looking to introduce a Single Aged Care Quality Framework across aged care from July 2018 the Government has presented consultation papers open for feedback.

The Framework is part of reforms to the aged care system and the Government’s intention to create an end-to-end, market-based system with the sector, where competition and ultimately the consumer, drives quality. 

It includes a single set of aged care standards for all aged care services, a streamlined approach for assessing provider performance against quality standards and improved information on quality to help consumers to make choices about the care and services they need.

Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, MP, says he wants to hear from anyone who is interested in the quality of aged care, including people who use or provide aged care. 

“The quality of our aged care services is everyone’s business,” he says. 

“The aged care reforms the Government is putting in place have been designed in consultation with the sector and consumer representatives.” 

The papers propose changes that will apply to all Australian Government subsidised aged care services, including aged care services for residential care, home care, flexible care, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. 

“We have an opportunity to shape the future of an affordable, sustainable and flexible aged care sector and the two consultation papers are a crucial part of this important process,” Mr Wyatt says. 

“What we are proposing will affect consumers, their families and carers, aged care organisations, staff of organisations, and other professionals in the aged care sector and related sectors. 

“We want to hear if we’ve got it right. We want to hear from you.”

Find out more about the Single Aged Care Quality Framework on the Health department’s website or visit the department’s consultation hub to complete a submission. Submissions close on Friday 21 April 2017.