{"id":1241,"date":"2022-08-30T00:54:15","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T00:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kangaroovalley.nsw.au\/valleyvoice\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2022-08-30T00:55:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T00:55:35","slug":"aged-care-reform-back-on-the-agenda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kangaroovalley.nsw.au\/valleyvoice\/2022\/08\/30\/aged-care-reform-back-on-the-agenda\/","title":{"rendered":"Aged care reform: back on the agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"

In March 2021, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety handed down its \u2018Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect\u2019. Despite the Royal Commission’s recommendations for radical and urgent reform of the sector, significant change has yet to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

The previous Federal Government introduced legislation with a specific focus of regulating restrictive practices, which came into force on 1 July 2021. A second reform bill, intended to implement further recommendations, was introduced to the Parliament late last year but lapsed on the calling of the 2022 election and the dissolution of Parliament.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having campaigned on a platform of urgent aged care reform, last week the Government put reform back on the agenda. Two key pieces of legislation were tabled on the first sitting day of the new Parliament: a Royal Commission Response Bill; and an Implementing Care Reform Bill). The first was quickly been passed by both Houses; the second is the subject of a committee inquiry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Royal Commission Response Bill<\/b><\/p>\n

In its Final Report, the Royal Commission found that ineffective ‘light touch’ regulation, a poor track record of enforcement, together with failures in the leadership and culture of many providers were causes of the high levels of substandard care found to exist across the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Royal Commission made a number of recommendations in response to these findings, some of which are to be implemented by the Royal Commission Response Bill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Increased regulatory oversight through new Code of Conduct<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The Bill will introduce a Code of Conduct which will apply to approved providers of home, residential and flexible aged care, their aged care workers and key personnel.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Code’s content and operation is being developed through a consultation process with sector stakeholders and will be based on the existing National Disability Insurance Scheme Code of Conduct, with modifications to ensure relevance to the aged care sector. The Code is likely to include a requirement to provide care in a safe and competent manner, free from all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect, abuse and sexual misconduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

With effect from 1 December 2022, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner will be given significant powers to enforce the Code, including the powers to:<\/span><\/p>\n