While release date has raised eyebrows, could Government Aged Care Provider Requirement Search Tool be used by all Australians regardless of age to strengthen sector?

Thirty-one days to go

With thirty-one days until the new Aged Care Act becomes binding, along with its significant layers of regulation and rules, the release this week of an Aged Care Provider Requirements Search tool has many in the industry scratching their heads.

For over eleven months, members reaching out to their peak bodies, and countless conversations have been had about rules opacity and regulation confusion. Many are frustrated that again it seems as if the sector is expected to pivot with little time, and late resources, to meet the elevated intricacies of compliance.

“Easier to see requirements”

The government messaging articulates that the tool will, “make it easier for the aged care sector to see the requirements for registered providers under the new Act, and rules, from 1 November 2025.”

However, the disconnect between this messaging and the experience of many providers on the ground has many leaders in the sector voicing their concerns about being seen, heard and understood.

Peak Bodies striving for clarity for members

Alex Lynch, Director of Aged and Community Care at Catholic Health Australia has been working tirelessly with member providers to glean further clarity on the upcoming rules and regulations of the Act for confused providers.

Speaking about the move to shift the enactment of the legislation from July to November, Lynch notes, “The whole sector wants to get this right. That means ensuring providers have time to have fully informed discussions with older Australians with all necessary information about the reforms – particularly the Support at Home Program – available.”

However, as increasing media coverage has shown, particularly when it comes to Support at Home, their situation is arguably significantly far from reasoned acceptance and satisfaction with the scheme, from both advocacy and aged care leaders’ bases.

Peak bodies remain in discussions with their members about fully comprehending rules and regulations ahead of November 1. To say a tool, released a month before sizable change, will “make it easier” may be seen as missing the mark.

But in releasing a streamlined tool at all, public sources have shown an ear for providing a concentrated, and seemingly comprehensive starting point to vet what providers understand as the upcoming requirements and rules.

Commonwealth funds received automatically changes designation

It is important for providers to be aware of compliance measures, accreditation updates and further changes that will come into effect November 1.

Perhaps a nod to the agility and adaptability many high-performing providers have grown to embody, in the ever-changing landscape of regulation, “As you’re all aware”, the government states, “aged care providers directly receiving Commonwealth funds to deliver services, will become registered providers on the commencement of the new aged care Act.”

Consolidated requirements

In a move to de-mystify requirements, particularly for providers that operate across multiple offerings, the government confirms a consolidation approach.

“Providers operating across multiple aged care programs will have one set of consolidated requirements according to the registration category or categories in which they are registered.”

This has been a concentrated point of confusion for providers, even large and established groups, the government has pivoted to provide clarity on the treatment of providers in this position, albeit with 31 days to go, “to help you navigate your requirements from 1 November, we’ve built an interactive online web search tool that extracts the legislative requirements from the Act and the associated Rules in one place.”

“When we use the term requirements, we mean all the conditions of registration, obligations and duties under the new Act and Rules.”

Opportunity for providers

Providers do have an opportunity here to educate and up-skill front-line staff through the provision of access to this tool in regular training and instruction.

While the government notes, “the search tool is designed primarily for registered aged care providers or those interested in becoming a registered provider”, there is the opportunity to leverage this resource to all levels of staff to strengthen the functional routine quality of care through an informed and multi-skilled employment-base.

“It [the tool] can also be used by aged care workers, responsible persons and digital platform operators. It will return a list of requirements based on your response to questions about your role in the aged care sector, registration categories, services you deliver and how you may be funded.”

Wider community involvement

It is critical that advocates and industry experts and leaders extensively use, test and scrutinise the tool. Transparency across compliance regulation, how it is implemented, what legislative components underpin rules is critical to be understood by all groups when it comes to aged care.

An informed wider community is a strength to the sector at large. Government messaging states, “Older people, carers, peak bodies and the wider community can also use the search tool to understand the requirements an aged care provider must meet when delivering care.”

It is incumbent on provider leaders, and sector experts as a whole to ensure that residents, potential residents, loved ones and wider Australia, regardless of age is fully immersed in the upcoming legislation.

Cross-demographic learning builds sector strength

To understand the rules, regulation and compliance measures is to be able to know what is and isn’t working from a human, financial, tax-payer, sector, clinical and moral standpoint. While government tools may not be as flashy as the latest game, or may have issued with timeliness, it is worthwhile for all leaders, experts and advocates to utilise the resources at hand to bring all into an understanding of the once-in-a-lifetime changes to the aged care sector.

Sector ambitions of growth and learning should not be limited; Working towards a future where all grandchildren are as aware as they can be about the regulations surrounding dignity, care-plans and care minutes as they are about the latest Pokémon app has considerable merit.