Royal Commission asks for submissions on the impact of COVID-19 in aged care

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has invited the public and aged care organisations to provide submissions around the impact of the coronavirus on the sector.

<p>The Aged Care Royal Commission wants to understand how the industry has been impacted and is coping with COVID-19. [Source: Shutterstock]</p> — The Aged Care Royal Commission wants to understand how the industry has been impacted and is coping with COVID-19. [Source: Shutterstock]

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the Australian economy and way of life, including the aged care sector, and the Commission wants to understand how the industry has been impacted and is coping with this new stress.

The Commission is seeking the experiences of people who have been directly affected by the coronavirus while receiving a form of aged care service and is asking for submission from recipients of aged care services, families, supporters of recipients, aged care services providers, and workers in aged care.

Commissioners stated they understand that some people and providers may not be able to make a submission at the moment because they are currently dealing with COVID-19 issues.

In March, the Royal Commission limited their public access to hearings and workshops for one set of hearings before postponing all future hearings to protect members of the public and staff of the Commission.

Additionally, consultation with the aged care sector had to be suspended so those aged care workers could focus on managing the pandemic.

While there are no hearings, the Royal Commission has still been working on the research and information they have been collecting since 2019.

This research covers funding and financing in the aged care sector, public attitudes towards the aged and aged care in Australia, public attitudes towards aged care funding, and the financial viability of the sector.

The research is expected to be released to the public in the coming months.

Commissioners are still unsure when the hearings, workshops and group consultations will resume.

Submissions around the impact of COVID-19 on the aged care sector will be accepted up until the deadline on 30 June, 2020. This deadline may change depending on how the current coronavirus pandemic develops.

For more information about making a submission, head to the Aged Care Royal Commission website.

Visit the Aged Care Guide’s COVID-19 page for further updates about the coronavirus.

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