The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission) has recently published a fact sheet for providers about their upcoming pilot program for the Revised Aged Care Quality Standards which is due to commence in early 2023. This article will briefly explain what we know so far about the pilot program and how it will work.

Overview of the Pilot Program

The Department of Health and Aged Care is in the final stages of its review of the Aged Care Quality Standards in partnership with the Commission. To ensure that the new Standards are measurable, relevant and foster a culture of continuous improvement, the Commission will run a pilot program to test how the new standards will apply in practice.

The aims of the pilot program include:

• Determining how the draft strengthened Standards can be effectively implemented in a variety of services
• Understanding the changes needed to the way the Commission assesses provider compliance with the new Standards. This will mean testing a new approach to auditing and assessment across different service types
• The use of graded assessment to differentiate performance between providers
• Identifying what kinds of support providers will need to understand and meet the new Standards such as resources and training for staff and governance persons
• Addressing the need to support older Australians receiving care and services to understand what they should expect under the new Standards and how the Standards relate to their rights to safe and quality aged care.

Who will be included?

The pilot program will be run across a variety of service types and sizes to ensure that it is truly representative of the way the new Standards will work in practice. The Commission has engaged Ernst and Young Partnership Australia to assist in the Pilot Program, who will be in touch soon with those providers who have been selected to participate.

Key Dates

The Pilot Program is expected to commence in early 2023. We do not currently know specific dates or timelines, but the Commission has advised that aged care services selected to take part in the program will be contacted about their participation. If your service is interested in participating, you can send contact details and information about your service to agedcarereform@agedcarequality.gov.au.

More Information

• Revised Aged Care Quality Standards – detailed draft for public consultation
• Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards: Fact sheet for providers