The Royal Commission concluded in its interim report released on 31 October 2019 that there was a need for a fundamental overhaul of the design, objectives, regulation and funding of the aged care industry in Australia.
Following this conclusion, on 6 December 2019, the Royal Commission released its first Consultation Paper (Paper) outlining its ideas about the proposed redesign of the aged care system. Providers have until close of business Friday 24 January 2020 to make submissions about the future aged care system to be recommended by the Royal Commission.
The Paper offers a detailed perspective of the current system, highlighting that:
- the system is constrained by controls on the availability of services;
- government funds are directed into an institutional model of residential care that does not meet the preferences of the aged;
- the system doesn’t attract and retain skilled, knowledgeable and competent staff;
- there are challenges in affordability and sustainability.
In this Paper, the Commission proposes that the system redesign should be underpinned by a form of new principles on the provision of services with a focus on accessibility, provision of care according to needs and social inclusion. The Paper also touches briefly on the regulatory requirements and how the redesign will be funded, however, this is more of a background consideration.
A common theme that arises is that there needs to be a focus on putting people at the centre of the aged care process. The Commission has attempted to redesign the system with this in mind.
We think that any new system needs to answer the following key questions (in addition to those identified in the Paper):
- How do we determine and assess what sort of care is needed?
- Where or what is the best environment for this care to be delivered?
- How will the required type of care be funded?
Determining what the best environment for care to be delivered is a question which is perhaps not as straightforward as it appears. Age appropriate housing and design can support home care outcomes, depending on the system design.
Central to the Commission’s proposed redesign is the concept of social inclusion promoted through home care services. As we have heard already in the Royal Commission, the current home care system faces a number of challenges both in delivery and regulation. We think there are a number of issues to be explored here for effective regulatory and quality oversight in an expanding home care market.
The Royal Commission is seeking input from both Aged Care Providers and Recipients to redesign aged care services for the future. The Commission has posed design questions (pages 23 to 26 of the Paper) to guide submissions.
Everyone who has encountered the system or works in the industry, should review the Paper and consider making a submission. This is the opportunity to shape the future of our aged care system which we will all encounter at some point in our lives.
The Consultation paper is available for your review .
If you require assistance with the preparation of your submission, or wish to discuss any aspect of this article, please contact a member of Thomson Geer’s Health, Aged Care and Retirement Villages team.
Arthur Koumoukelis | Partner | NSW | +61 2 8248 3437 | [email protected]
Bribie Stansfield | Summer Clerk