July 2024

Your monthly update from The Grampians Sector Development Team!

Aged Care Sector

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Manual 2024/2025 now available

The CHSP Manual 2024–2025 has now been updated to reflect minor changes to policy and program requirements. This version supersedes previous versions.

This 2024-2025 manual provides an overview of the CHSP, including the service types it funds and requirements for delivering those services. It is for CHSP providers to use, and forms part of their CHSP grant agreement.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Manual | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care 

Regional Assessment Services – Extension until

30 December 2024

The Department of Health & Aged Care have released the Regional Assessment Service organisations.

From 1 July 2024 – 30 December 2024, the below service providers will be responsible for providing Regional Assessment Services across the following regions:

Grampians
• Serendipity (WA) Pty Ltd
• City of Ballarat
• Victorian Department of Health

Loddon-Mallee
• Serendipity (WA) Pty Ltd
• Aspire 4 Life
• Victorian Department of Health

Barwon-South Western
• Serendipity (WA) Pty Ltd
• Aspire 4 Life
• Timboon and District Healthcare Service
• Victorian Department of Health

As we understand it, the boundaries for some of these Assessment providers have expanded and a percentage of referrals are being sent to each of the three providers in the region.  We are seeking additional information regarding outstanding Support Plan Reviews and how these are being managed. 

If clients were waiting for an assessment – they will not need to do anything different.  They can expect the new Assessment provider will contact them to complete the assessment.  Clients are being provided with information that RAS assessments should typically be undertaken within 28 days of the referral being sent, however they expect there may be some small delays to the changes in contracting arrangements.

As information comes to light, we will keep CHSP providers updated.

Aged Care Reform

IHACPA Support at Home Costing Study

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) engaged Ernst & Young to perform the Support at Home Costing Study to support the future pricing advice that IHACPA will provide to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. The report details the key findings and recommendations from the study and outlines the insights from the development of the costed dataset.

You can access the report HERE

Wellness & Reablement

Our New Resource

Welcome to the Keep Able Evidence Hub. We read the latest wellness and reablement research, so you don’t have to!

Our Evidence Hub can help individuals and organisations:

• Embed contemporary evidence-based wellness and reablement practice
• Promote Continuous Improvement through reflective practice
• Support the Aged Care Quality Standards
• Contribute to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) outcomes.

 Check Out the Evidence Hub

Get to know the LifeCurve™ 

The 2024-25 Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual has been released. Appendix B is dedicated to Wellness and Reablement and highlights the LifeCurve™. LifeCurve™ is much more than an image in the manual! It is an evidence-based visual tool that can effectively communicate wellness and reablement principles to staff, clients and families/support networks.

We think it’s so good, we’ve created two e-learning modules and downloadable PDFs about it. We recommend starting with the e-learning. Click below to access the modules. 

Access Here

 Big things are coming to Keep Able

We are excited to share that Keep Able will be undergoing expansion and transformation as part of the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy.

The Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy is the biggest transformation in the history of aged care in Australia and is a response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

We feel privileged to work with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and be a part of this Strategy to drive better care through data and digital innovation.

As we transition through this exciting period of change, we would like to hear your thoughts now more than ever on the direction that we move in. Get in touch with us to let us know what changes you would like to see. 

Click below to read more about the Strategy.

Read more

 KeepAble is a free information hub funded by the Department of Health (sector support and development) through Indigo Australasia Inc.

 7 Tully Rd, East Perth Western Australia 6004

 Copyright © 2024 Independent Living Assessment Incorporated 

Lunch and Learn Session – 30^th July 2024

Please join us for the next lunch and learn session to hear about the Keeping Active at Home 15 and Easy Living Equipment Resource 7 on CHANGE of DATE Tuesday 30th July 2024 12:30-1:00 pm.

We’d like all SSD and CHSP Service Providers to join us to learn more about the resources, find out how to use the toolkit with your staff and clients, and take the opportunity to ask questions.

Easy Living equipment resource

The Easy Living equipment resource will help clients choose simple assistive technology and equipment, which is available in local stores and online, to help better manage everyday tasks. The resource supports staff to have conversations with their clients about easy living equipment.

The resource is in three parts:

1. Easy Living Equipment Client Handout– supports staff to have a discussion with the client about what activities of daily living they are having difficulties with and what piece of equipment may help.
2. Easy Living Equipment Guide– This guide is for staff. It includes pictures of easy living equipment items and instructions on how to use them.
3. Geat2Go Information sheet- which explains the geat2Go process if clients do not want to buy the equipment themselves.

Keeping Active at home resource

The keeping Active at Home resource encourages and supports clients to remain as active at home as they can and in control of their life. The resource supports a Wellness and Reablement message of ‘doing with’ not 'doing for’. By actively engaging in household tasks, clients maintain control of their life, personal decisions and preferences.

The resource is in five parts:

1. Keeping Active Client brochure(also translated into 5 languages – Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Arabic, Chinese - traditional) The client brochure can be used by staff as a conversation starter with their clients. It can be used by support workers to gently follow up and build upon previous conversations about keeping active in the home.
2. Keeping Active Client activity planner- The planner is a helpful way to motivate clients to plan their activities. It can be used with staff and clients to plan a period of reablement to gain confidence and capacity to undertake activities of daily living.
3. Keeping Active Staff guide- Information for staff to encourage their clients to keep active around the home and garden.
4. Keeping Active Facilitator notes- how to use this toolkit with your staff.
5. Keeping Active Tip sheet- Tips for staff to share with their clients to encourage them to keep active around the home and garden.

Download the resources here:

Keeping Active at Home 14 and Easy Living Equipment 7

Webinar Registration link: Tuesday 30th July 2024 12:30-1:00 pm

Register Here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing your own link to join the meeting. You will need to register prior to the meeting.

The Keeping Active at Home and Easy Living Resource Toolkit is funded by the Australian Government and produced by the Bayside City Council SSD Team and Red Hat Films.

Diversity

OPAN is running free Planning for Diversity workshops in Victoria from 17 July 2024 to provide strategies, tools, and practical information to help aged care providers deliver safe and inclusive services for older people.

More information on the workshops, an introductory video and how to register can be found at

Diversity education - OPAN

Upcoming workshops in Victoria are as follows:

Melbourne CBD – 28 & 29 August 2024                             Mildura - 31 & 1 August 2024

Lilydale - 4 & 5 September 2024                                         Shepparton - 11 & 12 September 2024       

Brighton - 8 & 19 September 2024                                      Warrnambool - 30 & 31 October 2024                             

Ballarat - 6 & 7 November 2024                                          Doncaster - 13 & 14 November 2024                               

Maribyrnong - 20 & 21 November 2024                              Moe - 27 & 28 November 2024                                        

Dandenong - 19 & 20 February 2025                                  Preston - 26 & 27 February 2025                                     

Wangaratta - 5 & 6 March 2025                                           Frankston - 12 & 13 March 2025                                     

Ringwood - 12 & 13 March 2025                                         Werribee - 30 April and 1 May 2025                                 

Bendigo - 7 & 8 May 2025                                                    Melbourne CBD - Date TBC

SSD Connect Diversity Forum - Bendigo 7th August 2024

Join us for a day to connect & shine a spotlight on diversity in aged care.

If you work in CHSP-funded aged care, this is a wonderful opportunity for you & your team to connect with your sector colleagues & focus on strengthening organisation's diversity practice.

The program has been developed in consultation with CHSP-funded providers.

The program includes:

• Why Valuing Diversity is Important to Your Business
• Achieving Specialisation Verification
• Applying a Wellness & Diversity Lens to the Aged Care Quality Standards
• Preparing for the Support at Home Program (Melbourne)
• Caring for Aboriginal Elders (Bendigo)
• Tabletop discussions.

AND

A special performance by the Rainbow Voices Community Choir.

Presented by

The SSD Connect Alliance in partnership with United – Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre.

Steering committee

• United – Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre
• The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
• Grampians Diversity Advisor.

When & Where

9 am to 3:30 pm

7 August Bendigo

10 September Melbourne

Click here to find out more & register for Bendigo

General Information

Ageing Well in Ballarat

City of Ballarat, Ageing Well Services provides a Community Connector service to all residents 55 and over. Community Connectors provide personalised navigation assistance for residents to access My Aged Care and other aged care and support services in Ballarat. They also provide connections to local community groups tailored to residents' interests and location. For those who need extra support to connect with a group, a Community Connector can accompany them to the first meeting.  Community Connectors can provide assistance by phone, by email or in person. Home visits can also be arranged.

Phone: 5320 5719 or email: communityconnector@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Ageing Well Services also provide social connection activities including low-cost exercise classes ($5) such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Pilates and dance, discounted movie and snack package at the Regent and Showbiz, free monthly movie/chat at the library and bus trips ($30). Recent bus trips visited Melbourne Museum's Titanic exhibition and Bendigo Art Gallery. Participants must be 55 or over and be a Ballarat resident.  To find out about upcoming programs, you can sign up to our newsletter.

https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/community/ageing-well-ballarat

These services can provide low cost, social support opportunities for residents who are not yet eligible for services through My Age Care, for those who may be unable to access services due to long waitlists or for residents who wish to access programs alongside of Commonwealth-funded services.

Training

FRIENDLY REMINDER

Unit Costing Workshop - Online

This workshop is for Finance Managers, Coordinators and Managers working in Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Services and is delivered by the unit costing guru, Carrie Hayter.

By the end of the workshop, you will understand the key steps in developing a unit cost for your service type or program and how to apply practical tools and resources when developing unit costs.

Tuesday 30 July 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (UTC+10)

Places are limited so get in quick!

Register HERE 

Reflective Diversity Conversations

The Bayside City Council Sector Support and Development Team have partnered with the Grampians Region Sector Development Team to present an online interactive webinar: Reflective Diversity Conversations utilising the Exploring Diversity & Wellness, A Toolkit for Reflective Conversations

Join us in this interactive and engaging online workshop as we use the Exploring Diversity & Wellness toolkit to

• Demonstrate and strengthen your knowledge of diversity and intersectionality, particularly in understanding the diverse needs of the consumers we work with.
• Explore inclusive service principles that strengthen person-centred care.
• Apply a Diversity & intersectionality lens within the Aged Care Quality Standards
• Learn how reflective conversations can support a better understanding of the people you work with and how to deliver services that better meet their needs.

There will be an opportunity for participants to engage with like-minded providers, ask questions, and discuss best practice for optimal outcomes. 

Event Details

Tuesday 13^th August 10:00am to 11:00am (AEST)

Target Audience:

Mangers, Team Leaders, and Coordinators of all CHSP programs

Register here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucuitqz0uE9UUOc07TR9uEBnD4UUT0Fk2

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing your own link to join the meeting. You will need to register prior to the meeting.

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