The decision comes four years after the Health Services Union lodged an application for a 25% increase of wages across the board for an “under-valued, under-appreciated lifeblood of the care economy.” The pay rise follows the 15% increase to minimum wages awarded by...
Aged Care Blog
Aged Care Reform – New Quality Standards are here, and a new Aged Care Act on the horizon
New Quality Standards The existing Quality Standards were introduced only a few years ago – in 2019 – to much fanfare. However, since then, the Royal Commission recommended (in 2021) a review of the Standards – ushering in another period of change and adjustment for...
Unpacking the Disability Royal Commission
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability An inquiry into what governments, institutions and the community should do to prevent and better protect people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and...
Do you have policies in place? If so, make sure they are up to date to suit your business and they are being followed
Background of decision The respondent, Evolution Support Services (ESS) is a NDIS service provider. ESS terminated the applicant, Mark Hutton, after approximately three years of employment with ESS in December 2022 after an investigation by ESS found that Mr Hutton...
Deadline for notifying employees of the sunsetting of zombie agreements is nearly upon us
Zombie agreements ‘Zombie agreements’ are collective agreements that were made before the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) commenced, and continue to operate because the agreements have not been terminated or replaced by another agreement. Due to the operation of the Fair...
Guardianship and Administration Amendment (Medical Research) Bill 2023
This statutory review has now been completed and the Final Report was tabled in Parliament on 22 February 2023. The Final Report recommended two substantial amendments to the existing legislation. The first being to expand the scope of the legislation to include a...
Aged Care Code of Conduct commences – 1 December 2022
Code of Conduct The Code introduces eight behaviours expected of approved providers, aged care workers and governing persons in the provision of care, support and services, including aged care. They must: act with respect for people’s rights to freedom of expression,...
Registered Nurses to be on duty 24/7 in Aged Care Facilities
Responsibilities related to Registered Nurses Under new amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997, an approved provider who provides residential care or flexible care in a residential facility, must ensure that a registered nurse is on site, and on duty, at all times....
SIRS for Home Care Providers – what you need to know
SIRS has two key components: Incident Management obligations; and Compulsory Reporting obligations. Incident Management Obligations The SIRS requires all approved aged care providers to have an effective incident management system in place to manage incidents and take...
Introduction of a Code of Conduct and Banning Orders
Code of Conduct Approved providers, aged care workers and governing persons will all be required to comply with the provisions of the Code that are applicable to them. Additionally, approved providers will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure aged care...