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Sector News

This section will keep you up to date with news in the palliative care sector. Please note that the links below were current at the time of posting, however links may become obsolete as websites update their content.


Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure

The Australian Government is providing funding for credentialed pharmacists to work on-site in residential aged care homes (RACHs) in a clinical role. Guidance for managing the measure has been released: Pharmacist and Residential Aged Care Home Guide

Posted: 25/08/2025

Final version of strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

The final strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are now available. The strengthened standards include a Clinical Standard (Standard 5) with a specific set of Outome items for Palliative Care and End of life Care (Outcome 5.7) Providers are required to comply with the Outcomes in the Standards and demonstrate their conformance with the Standards during audit. The Actions guide providers on how they can demonstrate they comply or conform with the Outcomes.

They will take effect from 1 November this year, in line with the new Aged Care Act. Until then, the current Aged Care Quality Standards remain in effect.

Posted: 21/08/2025

Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Program

The Australian Government has announced a $21.5 million investment in scholarships to strengthen the skills and career pathways of the aged care workforce. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to complete qualifications ranging from Certificate III through to masters level, as well as pursue specialised training in clinical leadership, palliative care, dementia care and infection prevention and control.

Aged care workers and nurses can apply for a scholarship at the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.

Posted: 21/08/2025

IHACPA consulting on residential aged care pricing

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority has a public consultation on its development of residential aged care pricing advice. Feedback from this public consultation will inform the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2026–27 and pricing and costing advice to government. Submissions are open until 5pm AEST Friday 22 August 2025.

Posted: 6/08/2025

New Support at Home resources

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released more resources for providers that are moving to Support at Home from 1 November.

The new resources include:

The updated Support at Home Program Provider Transition Guide is also available. You can find more Support at Home resources on the department’s website.

Posted: 6/08/2025

Amending legislation introduced to Parliament (245kb pdf)

The Australian Government introduced amending legislation to Parliament which supports the intents of the Aged Care Act 2024. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released the final draft of the Aged Care Rules to give further detail and instruction on how the new Aged Care Act will work.

Posted: 6/08/2025

Improving clinical care for older people

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has developed guidance and resources for the clinical care components of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. Latest resources include:

  • Updated national Falls Guidelines to support the reduction of falls and harm from falls
  • Clinical Care Standards adapted for the aged care context including psychotropic medicines in cognitive disability or impairment and antimicrobial stewardship
  • Case studies highlighting examples of: High-quality Aged Care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines for residential and in-home care
  • For providers of the Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Program, the Integrated Health and Aged Care Services Module (IHACS Module) enables a streamlined assessment process against both the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

Note: The IHACS Module replaces the MPS Aged Care Module from 1 November 2025 in line with the implementation of the new Aged Care Act 2024.

Explore all of the Commission’s resources on aged care: safetyandquality.gov.au/AgedCare

Posted: 15/07/2025

National Aged Care Data Asset (NACDA)

The National Aged Care Data Asset (NACDA) brings together de-identified person-level data collected across aged care, health and community service settings for aged care research purposes. Aged care data available in the NACDA consists of over 60 tables covering key Australian government-funded aged care programs and assessments. This includes home support, home care, residential care, flexible care and aged care eligibility assessments, with some data sources spanning 25 years.

Posted: 14/07/2025

Pricing Framework for Australian Support at Home aged care services 2026-27

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) is consulting about the development of their in-home aged care pricing advice. Feedback will inform the pricing advice IHACPA provides to the Australian Government meets the needs of older people and the in-home aged care sector. Submissions are open until 5pm AEST Friday 18 July 2025.

Posted: 10/07/2025

Deferral of the new Aged Care Act 2024

The Australian Government has announced that the implementation of the new Aged Care Act 2024 and the Support at Home program will be deferred from 1 July to 1 November 2025. This delay aims to provide aged care providers with additional time to prepare their clients, support their workers, and ready their systems for the upcoming changes.  

Posted: 3/07/2025
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