Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services
Minister for Sport
Work to align regulation across the aged care, disability and veterans' care sectors will significantly improve quality and safety for participants and consumers.
The Morrison Government is committed to improving protections for Australians living in residential aged care or receiving aged care services at home, those receiving veterans' in-home care and assistance, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, and those who receive other disability services.
The changes will make it easier for service providers and staff to work seamlessly across different types of care and support, providing greater choice of services for consumers.
A consultation paper, Aligning regulation across aged care, disability support and veterans' care, has been released today to inform the development of a roadmap towards better alignment.
Consumers and participants, their families and carers, workers and providers, and sector peak bodies are invited to have their say.
Similar services are provided across these sectors - approximately 36 per cent of aged care providers also operate in disability support or veterans' care - yet there are separate and overlapping regulatory requirements.
Better alignment of regulation will cut red tape and make it easier for service providers and workers to deliver the highest levels of care and support. This will be achieved while also ensuring appropriate protections for Australians receiving these services remain firmly in place.
Any regulatory changes will complement the Government's broader reform of the aged care system to ensure high quality, safe care services are delivered, that provide dignity and respect to our senior Australians.
The Government has already committed to align important aspects of regulation in the short term, such as the development of a single Code of Conduct for these sectors, and introducing consistent screening of workers. A roadmap will be developed for medium to longer term regulatory alignment for consideration by Government.
The Department of Health, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are working together to deliver the care and support regulatory alignment reform program.
Workshops exploring regulatory alignment opportunities will be held from mid-November through to December 2021. Consultation includes opportunities to submit a written submission and/or participate in online surveys and focus groups.
