00:00Really importantly, this is about reshaping the power dynamic between older people and
00:09the people who are providing care.
00:11The current Act was really about how government funded providers.
00:14This New Age Care Act brings a statement of rights that is actually enforceable through
00:20the Complaints Commission.
00:21It brings strengthened quality standards and improved protections for older people, which
00:26is what the Royal Commission's first recommendation was, is a New Age Care Act, and its second recommendation
00:31was that was to be based in the human rights of older people.
00:36That is what is going to be strengthened, but we need to now also make sure that we're respecting
00:40older people's rights to make their own decisions.
00:43And also, it brings in the new Support at Home program, which will bring more packages into
00:49the community for people to get support at home, and higher levels of funding for those
00:53packages as well.
00:55But it's not a perfect piece of legislation.
00:57There are changes that still need to be made, and we'll work with government over those changes.
01:02But it does bring the rights of older people finally enshrined in legislation.
01:06Does it bring that power dynamic that you mentioned there into balance?
01:09Yeah.
01:10I mean, this will take time to implement and for providers to understand that they have
01:16now a positive duty, like they do to prevent sexual discrimination, sexual harassment.
01:21They have a positive duty to uphold this statement of rights.
01:25And what it will actually translate, though, to is in those everyday interactions between
01:29an older person, to make sure that that older person's wishes and preferences are being respected.
01:34And this is bringing respect and dignity back into aged care.
01:37There's a lot of aged care workers and providers out there that are doing a really good job.
01:41This is about lifting high quality care so that every older person experiences that.
01:46The new act addresses 58 recommendations of the Royal Commission into aged care.
01:51What are some of the changes, the material changes that are going to come into effect tomorrow?
01:56Yeah.
01:57I mean, tomorrow we start the new supported home program.
02:00And so that sees eight levels of support rather than the four levels of support at the moment.
02:08What we're also finding is that to date older people were having to, I suppose, scrimp and
02:13save for their package to be able to access assistive technologies in the home.
02:19Those things will be pre-approved.
02:21There will be also a restorative pathway for older people in relation to maybe needing physiotherapy
02:29or nursing care to get them back on the feet after a fall or deconditioning.
02:33So there are real positives.
02:35There's also an independent complaints commissioner that comes into effect tomorrow.
02:40And that means that people can have confidence that they will be brought in the journey when
02:44they make a complaint, that they will be listened to and that their rights will be upheld during
02:49that complaints process as well.
02:50So they're the good things that come with the act.
02:52There are some things also that we are continuing to monitor to make sure that it's not unintended
02:57consequences that come with, as you said, those price increases that may come from providers
03:03during this transition period.
03:05So what are some of those other unintended consequences that you'll be keeping a track of?
03:08Obviously, pricing from the supplier side is key to that, but what are some of the others?
03:13We want to make sure that the assessment system is really agile and is available.
03:18We have heard through recent Senate inquiries that people are waiting too long to have their
03:23assessment occur, that that assessment shouldn't be over the phone, it should be in person.
03:28And so we'll monitor about improvements in the assessment process and also around the availability
03:34of packages.
03:35We don't think people should be waiting more than 30 days for a package, and at the moment
03:40the waits are extensive.
03:42But with this new act, with 20,000 packages coming before the end of the year on top of
03:4720,000 that have already been released, we think that should start to improve the system.
03:53We also need to monitor that there's the right workforce available to deliver on these packages,
03:59and also that the strength and quality standards are having the effect to raise the quality
04:05of care in residential aged care.
04:07That's clinical care, social care, but also the food and nutrition.
04:11And we need to keep monitoring that to make sure that those changes take effect.
04:15Yes, we know food and nutrition is critical for older Australians.
04:19If I can just ask you one other question, if there is someone at home who is watching,
04:22who is currently on one of the old home care plans, whether they be one to four, and they're
04:27hearing that now there is going to be one to eight on those home care packages, will things
04:33change for those people?
04:34Can they hold on to their old packages, or do they have to move to a new system?
04:38Yeah, people have got 90 days to agree to the new service arrangement and the new pricing,
04:43and I suppose I'd say if people are concerned about what this all means, it is a lot of
04:48change for people to get their heads around, and they can call our independent free advocates
04:52on 1800 700 600 to help them step through those processes.
04:58If people are thinking the price changes are too high, they can also make a complaint to
05:02the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and they can talk to their provider as well.
05:06But I think people should be reassured that there is going to be continuity of services
05:10tomorrow.
05:11They need to continue to provide services to those people currently on packages.
05:15And a number of those people were under the No Worse Off protections, meaning that if they
05:20receive their package before 12 September 2024, they won't be paying any more.
05:26But if the prices are reducing their services, they should give us a call at the Older Persons
05:31Advocacy Network and talk through their options.
05:34Because they might be also able to apply for a waiver of those fees if they're of low means,
05:40which means that they apply for hardship and the government will cover those costs.
05:45Craig Gere, CEO of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, thank you very much for your time.
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