Policy and Advocacy Aged Care Update 28 May

OTA attended the two-day National Aged Care Alliance meetings on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 May.  The Alliance heard from a range of presenters including the Council of Elders and National Aged Care Advisory Council and representatives from the Department discussing the Aged Care Act and reform updates.  

OTA recently wrote to the Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and the Hon Annika Wells, Minister for Aged Care to confirm the government’s intention for funding allied health services based on the recommendations from the Aged Care Taskforce.  Minister Wells has responded confirming that allied health would be included under the definition of clinical supports for the future Support at Home Program but acknowledged that no recommendations relating to allied health in residential aged care was made by the taskforce.   

Minister Wells also confirmed that the Schedule of Specified Care and Services set out in Schedule 1 of the Quality-of-Care Principles 2014 that defines the care and services that all aged care homes must provide to permanent residents and residential respite clients is due to be updated to make it more user-friendly and contemporary.