COVID-19 | COVIDSafe update: legislation and source code
The Commonwealth Parliament has now passed legislation to regulate the collection and use of COVID app data. In addition, the Commonwealth Digital Transformation Agency has now released the source code for the app, which has allowed independent analysis of how the app operates. This update discusses the legislation and the commentary in relation to the […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | COVIDSafe – An update: what do the experts think?
As expected, the COVIDSafe app has spurred debate, and has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of “data privacy experts” (including politicians) who are willing to publicly express their views! Since our earlier article, there have been a number of developments, including those discussed below. While there are those who have enthusiastically installed the […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Contact tracing? There’s an app for that!
Effective and widespread contact tracing is considered to be a critical step in managing and containing the spread of COVID-19. The Commonwealth has released COVIDSafe, a mobile app to assist in determining who may have been exposed to the virus. Additionally, a contact tracing protocol is being developed by Apple and Google which will be […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Is your policy register current?
The highly infectious nature of COVID-19, the ability of the virus to kill, and the disastrous impact the virus has shown it can have on a national economy all lead to one certain point. Once a vaccine for COVID-19 is available every employer will need to consider whether they are doing enough in their workplace […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Is your organisation ready for the business and operational impact of the COVID-19 in aged care?
Updates from the Department of Health The Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of Influenza Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities in Australia (Influenza Outbreak Guidelines) and the Series of National Guidelines (SoNGs) provide aged care providers with best practice guidelines for, preparing for, preventing, identifying and managing outbreaks of influenza in residential […]
ReadmoreIll or injured employees: when is termination ‘valid’?
In the recent decision of Jack v Sigma Healthcare T/A Sigma Healthcare [2019] FWC 6364 (13 September 2019) the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has determined that an employee who was dismissed by her employer, Sigma Healthcare (Sigma), after she sustained an injury outside of work and could no longer perform the inherent requirements her job, […]
ReadmoreAre you aware of ALL of the changes that have taken place in the aged care sector this year?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we don’t blame you. Below is a summary of what has happened since 1 January 2019, and what you need to do to ensure your facilities and/or services remain compliant with any new legislation, standards and principles. The Department will be actively monitoring provider compliance with these new requirements, and it […]
ReadmoreAre you aware of the new changes to Home Care Agreements commencing 1 July 2019?
Under the new Pricing Principles, home care providers are required to publish the prices of the most common services and costs under their Home Care Packages in a standardised Schedule on the My Aged Care website. This must be done by 1 July 2019, and is intended to allow consumers to better understand and compare […]
ReadmorePractical implications of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act on aged care providers
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic) (‘the VAD Act’) becomes operational on 19 June 2019. The VAD Act creates a framework which enables Victorians who have a terminal illness and who meet strict eligibility criteria to legally request to end their life. The Victorian legislation designated an 18 month implementation period to give health […]
ReadmoreProvider registrations by the NDIS Commission
In order to successfully obtain provider registration through the NDIS Commission, disability service providers must: Comply with the new conditions of registration and the NDIS Practice Standards; Complete a self-assessment against the NDIS Practice Standards; Complete an audit against the NDIS Practice Standards by a certified auditing body; Comply with the new NDIS Code of […]
ReadmoreNDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, what will it mean for providers and participants in residential aged care?
Background to the NDIS Commission The NDIS Commission is intended to improve the quality of NDIS services by implementing national legislation that eliminates duplication across the registration and quality assurance of NDIS providers. As the NDIS Commission is rolled out across the country, multijurisdictional providers may find themselves holding registrations under the NDIS Commission […]
ReadmoreDocumentation in Aged Care
As providers of aged care you know that comprehensive, contemporaneous, and accurate documentation is the fundamental key which enables you to evidence the quality care that you provide and to demonstrate compliance with your obligations under the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth). Following the announcement of the Terms of Reference, and as expected the Commission […]
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