January 2025

Your monthly update from The Grampians Sector Development Team!

AGED CARE SECTOR

Single Assessment Service

The Single Assessment Service has now commenced, and the Grampians Region is part of the Vic 3 region.

The Vic 3 region (which includes Grampians, Loddon Mallee and Barwon Southwest regions) was successfully tendered for by the following organisations:

• Access Care Network Australia (ACNA)
• Barwon Health
• Department of Health (Vic)

We understand the Barwon Health service is a consortium of Barwon Health, Grampians Health & Bendigo Health.

APM is no longer conducting assessments in the Grampians region.

We anticipate that it will take a while for things to resettle again following this change and are still reporting concerns through to the Department of Health.  We also will be arranging a ‘meet and greet’ style event with the Assessment providers – for early this year and will advise when we have worked this out further.

The Department have updated all the Assessment information on their website – which may be a good reference for staff – Single Assessment System for aged care | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Information for clients can also be found here:  New single pathway for aged care assessments | My Aged Care

Assessment Organisations and their regions are listed here - Single Assessment System assessment organisations by service area, region, state and territory | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Strengthened Quality Standards training presentation

To help you get your workforce ready for the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (which will apply to providers registered in categories 4, 5 and 6 from 1 July 2025), the Aged Care Quality Commission has created a customisable slide show presentation to use when delivering training within your own organisations. 

The training presentation includes;

• an overview of each strengthened Quality Standard
• examples of how you apply them in practice
• reflective questions for you and your workers to consider when applying the Standards
• a script for facilitators
• links to other helpful resources.

You can download the slides from the Commissions website and customise them with your organisation’s name and logo. You can tailor the content to suit your service type and focus on the obligations relevant to your organisation.  

Workers can also prepare for the strengthened Quality Standards by completing the online learning modules available on Alis. The interactive modules introduce the strengthened Quality Standards, exploring the outcomes and key topics in each Standard. 

For more information on the strengthened Quality Standards and how they apply to your service, go to the guidance resources on our website.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has just updated a list of free training opportunities for aged care workers dated 7 January 2025.

Have a look now at what opportunities there are for your staff. Free training opportunities for aged care workers | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

AGED CARE REFORM

Upcoming provider preview

The DoHAC will set up existing government-funded providers as registered providers under the new regulatory model from 1 July 2025.

For now, please keep your provider contact and service details up to date using the existing channels.

From April 2025, the provider contact for each provider will receive an email asking them to verify information, such as:

• registered provider details
• registration categories and intended service types under each category
• Responsible Persons
• associated providers
• Specialist Program details
• service delivery branches
• approved residential care home details.

This is known as the ‘provider preview’ process.

The DoHAC will share more information about provider previews in the coming months.

For any questions, email AgedCareRegModel@health.gov.au.

New aged care regulatory model

Questions and answers – Webinar

The new aged care regulatory model will come into effect with the new Aged Care Act on 1 July 2025.

This webinar will be an opportunity for providers to engage directly with the department to understand how the new regulatory model will work via a Q&A session with the panel.

Register here: New aged care regulatory model – Questions and answers – Webinar | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Grant Opportunity:  Support at Home and new Aged Care Act Transition Support 2024-25

The DoH&AC have announced a Grant Opportunity for providers of HCP and CHSP to transition ITC for Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act.

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide one-off funding of $10,000 per eligible application in the 2024-25 financial year for existing HCP and CHSP providers towards the associated cost of required IT system upgrades (including staff training) to enable them to meet their new obligations from 1 July 2025.

The grant is now open and closes on 25 February 2025, 2pm.

All CHSP Providers with an executed grant agreement to deliver CHSP service that is due to expire on 30 June 2025 are eligible to apply as are current approved HCP providers.

If you deliver both programs, you can only submit one application to a maximum of $10,000.

Current Grant Opportunity View - GO7421: GrantConnect

DIVERSITY

Val’s LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care

Val’s provides free guidance, support and monthly, open training sessions for CHSP services to develop awareness of the experiences and needs of older LGBTIQA+ people and the capacity to deliver safe, welcoming and inclusive care. Their assistance can enable services to be proactive and prepared to meet new sector and quality standards requirements now and into the future, and of course the needs of LGBTIQA+ clients. Here’s how:

FREE TRAINING:

New dates for 2025 have just been released – it’s free and online.

Part 1 – Foundations: https://www.trybooking.com/COKDG

Part 2: Inclusion & Action: https://www.trybooking.com/COKIH

The above links and sessions are open to and free for staff working in CHSP services – a maximum of 4 staff per organisation per session.

Val’s also offers subsidised fee-for-service training for CHSP service providers specifically for individual organisations – please contact Vals on valslgbti@latrobe.edu.au if you would like more information.

SPECIALISATION VERIFICATION LGBTI:

Val's provides free, direct support and guidance to CHSP providers to achieve Specialisation Verification Framework (SVF) LGBTI. This includes free training for your service onsite or online. Achieving SVF LGBTI can help you attract new clients and position you as a provider of choice now and into the future. Contact Val’s for more details valslgbti@latrobe.edu.au.

NETWORKS:

Val's facilitates 2 quarterly networks for CHSP & aged care providers as a way to support LGBTIQA+ inclusion & share good practice: 

LGBTIQA+ Community of Practice, and LGBTIQA+ Social Support, Activities & Events Network. 

Email Val’s on valslgbti@latrobe.edu.au to be added to the mailing list &/or for 2025 dates.

National Dementia Action Plan 2024-2034

The Department of Health & Aged Care has released a new National Dementia Action Plan for 2024-2034. This plan aims to improve the lives and care of people living with dementia, their carers and families over the next 10 years.

The purpose of the Action Plan is to:

• provide a vision, setting out where we want to be in 10 years’ time
• guide actions by Australian, state and territory governments to better integrate policies, services and systems
• engage and involve the whole community in promoting the best possible quality of life for people living with dementia, including their emotional wellbeing and identity
• improve services and systems for people living with dementia and their carers
• measure progress against the actions.

Take a look at: National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034 | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.

If you have any feedback, questions or concerns regarding any of the information above, please reach out to us on the contact details below.

Melanie Perks

Sector Support & Development Manager

0409 945 301

melaniep@bchc.org.au

Sector Development Team

sectordevelopment@bchc.org.au

www.csdgrampians.org.au

Jimmy Driscoll

Aboriginal Development Officer

0491 176 010

jimmyd@bchc.org.au

Natalie Millar

Regional Advisor - Sector Support & Development

0491 091 699

nataliem@bchc.org.au

Debra Giles

Administration Officer

0493 682 540

debrag@bchc.org.au