Introduction Purpose of this report This report details the operation of Australia’s aged care system during the 2015–16 financial year. It is the eighteenth report in the series. The report is delivered to Parliament by the Minister in accordance with section 63–2 of the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act). Scope In addition to meeting the reporting requirements specified in the Act, the report provides an overview of the components of the Australian aged care system (including those not governed by the Act), in order to present a comprehensive snapshot of the system as a whole during 2015–16. Structure of the report Chapter 1 provides an overview of the aged care system in Australia. Chapter 2 describes the systems and resources available to ensure consumers have access to information about aged care services, and describes the processes through which they gain access to those services. Chapters 3–7 describe the various types of service provision on a continuum from low to high level care, including flexible care options and respite care. Chapter 8 describes the provisions made to support people who are designated as having special Chapter 9 summarises the Australian Government’s contribution to aged care workforce measures. Chapter 10 gives an overview of the regulatory and prudential frameworks to ensure compliance by providers with the provisions of the Act, and to ensure consumers receive quality services. Appendix A: addresses the reporting requirements specified in s63-2 of the Act. Data Sources Data in this report was collected from departmental information systems and records.
Support for People with Special Needs One of the objectives of the Act is to facilitate access to aged care services by those who need them, regardless of race, culture, language, gender, economic circumstance or geographic location. To give effect to this objective, and to ensure services are appropriate to the needs of all customers, the Act designates certain people as ‘people with special needs’. The special needs groups that are included in section 11–3 of the Act are: people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds veterans people who live in rural or remote areas people who are financially or socially disadvantaged people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless care-leavers parents separated from children by forced adoption or removal lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. 8.1. People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Health conditions associated with ageing often affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people earlier than other Australians. To reflect this, the aged care target population includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 50 years or older, compared with 65 years or older for non-Indigenous Australians. Figure 7 the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in aged care services, relative to their representation in the aged care target population. An index of 0 indicates equivalent representation in these aged care services compared to the broader population; indices above 0 indicate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a higher proportional representation in these services; indices below 0 indicate a proportionally lower representation in these services. Broadly speaking, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a proportionally higher representation in home care, and a proportionally lower representation in residential care (Figure 7). Figure 7: of equity of access for non-flexible aged care services for older people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, 2015–16 Flexible models of care are provided under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. This program funds culturally appropriate aged care to people close to home, and are located mainly in rural and remote areas. As at 30 June 2016, 32 aged care services were funded $35.2 million to deliver 820 aged care places through this program. Funding for special measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is also provided under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund (DACS) (see Chapter 9.2).
4 months. D & R Community Services Pty Ltd Revocation of approved provider status unless the approved provider appoints an administrator approved by the Commonwealth to assist the approved provider to comply with its responsibilities in relation to governance and business operations for a period of 4 months. The approved provider is unable to charge an accommodation payment or accommodation contribution for the residential care or flexible care services for a period of 8 months. The approved provider is unable to charge an accommodation bond or accommodation charge for any new resident entering the services for a period of 8 months. The approved provider is required to ensure that all refundable deposit, accommodation bond and entry contribution balances are held with an authorised deposit-taking institution and only used for the purpose of refunding accommodation bonds or 27 November 2015 The sanctions were imposed due to the approved providers continued with its prudential responsibilities and failure to comply with an undertaking to remedy the within the agreed timeframe. D & R Community Services Pty Ltd status as an approved provider was revoked on 28 June 2016. Sanction 1 and 5 expired on 1 December 2015. Sanctions 2, 3 and 4 expired on 1 April 2016.
refundable lump sum balances to those care recipients when they fall due for a period of 8 months. The approved provider is not eligible to receive Australian Government subsidies for any new care recipients for a period of 4 months. Kal’ang Community Care Service: Kal’ang Respite Care Centre Aboriginal Corporation The approved provider is not eligible to receive Australian Government subsidies for any new care recipients for a period of 6 months. Revocation of approved provider status, unless an adviser, approved by the Commonwealth, with the appropriate skills, qualifications and background to assist the approved provider to comply with their responsibilities in relation to care and services, is appointed by the approved provider for a period of 6 months. Revocation of approved provider status, unless an administrator, approved by the Commonwealth, with the appropriate skills, qualifications and background to assist the approved provider to comply with their 4 April 2016 The Department imposed sanctions because of continuing in relation to the Home Care Standards and failure to comply with an undertaking to remedy the non compliance within the agreed timeframes. Sanctions expire 4 October 2016
responsibilities in relation to care and services, is appointed by the approved provider for a period of 6 months. Revocation of approved provider status, unless the approved provider agrees to provide relevant training within 6 months, at its expense, for its staff to support them in meeting the needs of care recipients. MacDonnell Regional Council Two Sanctions Against Services: Haasts Bluff Home Care Papunya Home Care The approved provider is not eligible to receive Australian Government subsidies for any new care recipients for a period of 30 days following appointment of an advisor. Revocation of approved provider status, unless an adviser, approved by the Commonwealth, with the appropriate skills, qualifications and background to assist the approved provider to comply with their responsibilities in relation to care and services, is appointed by the approved provider for a period of 6 months Revocation of approved provider status, unless the approved provider agrees to provide relevant training 14 May 2016 The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (the Quality Agency) provided the Department with a report of evidence of serious risk to care recipients. The Department identified that the following issues in the Quality Agency’s report posed an immediate and severe risk to care recipients’ safety, health or well-being: a lack of availability of senior staff, reporting processes, and skills and training. Serious issues were also identified in relation to care assessment, planning, reassessment and Sanction 1 expired 19 June 2016. Sanctions 2 & 3 expire 14 November 2016