Care and support sector changes
Australian Government agencies are working together to improve the safety and quality of veterans’ care through strengthening protections, while making it easier to deliver services across the care sector.
Care to support the independence of Australians is currently provided under three different Australian Government schemes:
- Veterans’ care;
- Aged care; and
- Disability care and support.
Collectively these schemes are called the care and support sector.
Each of these schemes has its own requirements for care workers and providers, standards and regulatory frameworks.
The 2021–22 Budget included measures to align regulation across the care and support sector. This recognises the extra burden the above requirements place on care providers, the complexity for the care and support workforce and the need to support consistent quality and safety. The measures include:
- National care and support worker regulation; and
- Provider regulation
Some components of these measures also implement key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
A Cross-Agency Taskforce has been established in the Department of Health to implement these measures. DVA, Health, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Department of Social Services (DSS) are all working together as members of the Taskforce.
The initial focus of this work includes:
- Amending legislation to improve sharing of regulatory data and intelligence between regulators and align compliance and enforcement powers;
- A national care and support worker screening check;
- A Code of Conduct for workers and providers; and
- Developing a roadmap for medium to longer term regulatory alignment for consideration by the Australian Government.
Further information can be found on the Aligning regulation across the care and support sectors page of the Department of Health website.
DVA will implement these changes as part of a staged approach once it is clearer how they are being implemented in aged care and the NDIS.
DVA will be consulting with its stakeholders on the application of these measures and the timing of their commencement to ensure a smooth transition to the new requirements. DVA’s key care and support programs are:
The information on this website will be updated as further details are confirmed. Service providers will also be informed through the Veterans’ Home Care and Community Nursing Bulletins.
To progress this work, Australia’s care and support sector will be invited to have its say on activities to align regulation in the sector.
There will be multiple ways DVA’s stakeholders can participate in consultation.
Stakeholders are encouraged to register on the Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub to receive alerts on areas of interest to contribute to this process.
