The first laws in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety have been introduced into the federal Parliament
Minister for Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Bill 2021 was the first step in a five-year, five pillar, aged care reform plan.
Mr Hunt said the first laws would deliver immediate changes around restrictive practices, home care assurance reviews, and repeal the Aged Care Financing Authority (ACFA).
He said they would also address home care; residential aged care services and sustainability; residential care quality and safety; workforce; and governance.
“Regulating the use of restrictive practices, like chemical and physical restraint, is a critical focus for the Australian Government to improve quality and safety of aged care,” Mr Hunt said.
“Amendments will mean from 1 July, we will have clearly defined restrictive practices, which align with the definitions used in the disability sector.”
He said a Senior Practitioner to the Aged Care Quality and Safety would be appointed to lead an education campaign to minimise the use of restrictive practices and provide senior Australians and their families with an independent review mechanism.
Mr Hunt said the Bill also expanded the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner’s ability to respond to and issue civil penalties for breaches of providers’ responsibilities in relation to restrictive practices.
The Minister said ACFA would be replaced with a new advisory group on aged care financing issues to provide relevant and timely advice as needed, made up of the Department of Health and aged care sector representatives.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck said the Bill also introduced assurance reviews to be run by the Department of Health to ensure arrangements for the delivery and administration of home care were effective and efficient.
