Sector News

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released new support documents to help providers as they transition to the new aged care system. The following documents have been released

• Information for providers regarding the new Support at Home service agreements includes links to a template for establishing a service agreement, information on the transition to new agreements, participant contributions and pricing.
• A key messages document for older people currently receiving support through a home care package and who are transitioning to Support at Home on 1 November.  
• The department has also published the policy on submitting a complaint about a registered supporter to the System Governor and the possible outcomes of the complaint-making process.
• The policy on information sharing requirements relating to registered supporters has also been published in anticipation of the Act commencement.
• A factsheet on how residential care providers can prepare for success in a competitive market has been made available.
• Two factsheets on changes to how residential care places are being allocated to better embed choice and control for older people. One is for providers and one is for consumers.

Ms Treasure Jennings has been appointed as the new Complaints Commissioner, starting 1 November. The Complaints Commissioner will:

• oversee the receipt, management and resolution of complaints 
• help older people understand how to make a complaint and how complaints will be resolved, and
• support providers to have systems in place to effectively manage complaints and feedback.

Applications are now open for the Aged Care Nursing Scholarships Program (2.53MB pdf).
This program offers valuable opportunities for:

• aged care workers to complete formal nursing qualifications  
• registered & enrolled nurses to develop leadership and clinical management skills to progress their careers.   

There are 1,050 scholarships available, with a guaranteed allocation for First Nations people. Eligible courses include vocational education training, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. To apply or learn more, visit the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners website

Service providers need to establish new agreements or vary existing service agreements for clients transitioning Home Care Package recipients. From 1 October, providers can access Support at Home estimated contribution rates in the Aged Care Provider Portal. These rates are for most older people who currently receive a Home Care Package.

Hammondcare is bringing together three of its research centres,  The Dementia Centre, The Palliative Centre, and The Centre for Positive Ageing, to create Hammond Innovations. They seek to create solutions that can rapidly be applied into practice.  Partnerships with technology, university and philanthropic partners along with other sector providers will underpin the Hammond Innovations approach.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has developed an updated roadmap to help providers prepare for the new Aged Care Act, which starts on 1 November. The roadmap outlines key dates and milestones for:  

• digital and systems 
• education and training  
• legislation and policy  
• sector and operational readiness. 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published the Aged Care Rules 2025. The rules act as supporting legislation for the new Aged Care Act, which commences in five weeks on 1 November, and give effect to key aged care reforms introduced since the aged care royal commission.

The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare has developed the Medication Management at Transitions of Care Stewardship Framework. Medication management at transitions of care is a period of high risk for medication errors and miscommunication, which can lead to harm. More than 50% of medication errors occur at transition of care. This stewardship framework seeks to reduce risks of harm associated with transitions of care.

The 2025 World Alzheimer Report explores the important topic of dementia rehabilitation, combining expert essays and real-world case studies from multiple countries globally to examine how the concept is defined and implemented, as well as practical considerations of how to best adapt rehabilitation practices for people living with dementia in different contexts.

The Government has announced it will release 20,000 home care packages before 1 November, along with a further 20,000 by the end of December to address the growing waitlist issue for older Australians. The remaining packages are scheduled from January 2026.