Do you volunteer or work with volunteers in the aged care sector? Take part in our volunteering survey.
Volunteers are an important part of the aged care system freely giving their time, companionship, care, and support.
As part of the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Department is currently seeking the views of:
all people who volunteer in the aged care sector, and
all those who work with volunteers...More
ARPANSA coordinates comments on behalf of Australia on IAEA draft documents. The IAEA is seeking comments from their member states on a new draft IAEA Safety Guide – DS524 Radiation Protection Aspects of Design for Nuclear Power Plants
What is the purpose of the guide?
The object of the safety guide is to provide guidance on provisions that should be made in the design of nuclear power plants to protect site personnel, the public and the environment against radiological hazards...More
We are seeking feedback to inform the Review of the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement (MAIF Agreement).
The MAIF Agreement is a voluntary, self-regulatory code of conduct between manufacturers and importers of infant formula products in Australia. The key objectives of the MAIF Agreement are to:
ensure safe and adequate nutrition for babies
encourage breastfeeding as the first option for babies
...More
The purpose of this consultation paper is to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to understand, in greater detail, the proposed cost recovery arrangements related to the renamed Prostheses List which are planned to commence on 1 July 2023. This includes details related to legislative changes required to enact the proposed cost recovery arrangements.
We ask that stakeholders provide feedback on the proposed cost recovery arrangements. This feedback will then be used to inform...More
The purpose of this paper is to provide additional information about the listing criteria that are proposed to apply for medical devices and human tissue products to be included in the Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules.
We ask that stakeholders provide feedback on the proposed listing criteria and any ideas they have regarding the issues in the consultation paper. This feedback will then be used to inform any further refinement of the...More
The Department of Health and Aged Care (the department) is developing a new model for regulating aged care as part of the changes to improve the quality and safety of aged care in Australia.
We have released A new model for regulating Aged Care, Consultation Paper No. 2: Details of the proposed new model and are seeking views on the paper as part of an 8-week consultation period.
The paper proposes changes to how the...More
ARPANSA coordinates comments on behalf of Australia on IAEA draft documents. The IAEA is seeking comments from their member states on two new draft IAEA Safety Guides DS518a on Safety of Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Facilities and DS518b on Safety of Nuclear Fuel Research and Development Facilities.
What is the purpose of the guide?
The object of the two safety guides is to provide comprehensive, consistent and up-to-date recommendations on implementing the safety requirements...More
Under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) grant agreement, Sector Support and Development (SSD) providers are required to submit a Performance Report to the Department of Health and Aged Care bi-annually.
This performance report will be used to gather information that may inform future policy and analyse demand for services as the department moves towards the new in-home aged care program. It is not intended to communicate changes to SSD policy. ...More
The Department is in the process of enhancing the Health Products Portal (HPP) to support Prostheses List applications.
As part of the Public Beta phase of testing, medical device organisations can complete a mock Prostheses List application for a new or amended listing on part A or C of the Prostheses List, via the HPP.
More
The Department of Health and Aged Care is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the bundling of benefits for general use items (GUIs). The purpose of this paper is to provide options for this new transitional arrangement which will temporarily require GUIs to be funded by insurers under the Benefit Requirements Rules.
The paper can be found at the bottom of the page and is open for consultation via an online survey.
More
The Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Capital Authority, in collaboration with a Steering Committee, is progressing work to establish a National Site of Recognition for thalidomide survivors and their families.
The Site of Recognition will be located at Kings Park in Canberra. It will recognise the pain and suffering experienced by thalidomide survivors, as well as the impact on their loved ones.
Site of Recognition Design
Based on the Design Aspects Survey...More
Following the mixed benefits webinar held on Tuesday 14 February 2023, the Department of Health and Aged Care is publishing the following documents for stakeholders to review the regrouping work as part of the Prostheses List (PL) Reforms. The documents that can be found include:
Rationale for the restructure of the PL proposed by hereco including an overview of the structure to subgroup level (accepted by the Department in December 2022);
Webinar presentation and...More
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is releasing this Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) to inform thinking around general practice data and electronic clinical decision support (eCDS). The two policy areas discussed in this CRIS have been combined given the overlap in stakeholders and links between general practice data and eCDS in the broader healthcare ecosystem.
The CRIS is the final stage in a two stage consultation process,...More
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) is consulting with stakeholders to identify opportunities to amend the Healthcare Identifiers Framework (the HI Framework) which includes the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010 (the Act), the Healthcare Identifiers Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) and the key policy settings for the Healthcare Identifiers Service (HI Service), through the Healthcare Identifiers Framework Project (the...More
Purpose and Scope
The Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) Expert Reference Panel (ERP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will survey public health laboratories, public health units and other laboratories or teams involved in the testing and reporting of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). This information will be used for a data-informed analysis, to understand how CPE is detected by testing, reported and actioned in Australia.
Key aims
...More
Purpose and Scope
The Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) Expert Reference Panel (ERP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will survey public health laboratories, public health units and other laboratories or teams involved in the testing and reporting of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). This information will be used for a data-informed analysis, to understand how CPE is detected by testing, reported and actioned in Australia.
Key aims
The...More
The Department of Health and Aged Care is developing a strategic plan for the nurse practitioner workforce. The purpose of the Plan is to describe a set of actions that can be taken to address nurse practitioner workforce issues and enhance the delivery of nursing care to the Australian community.
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with a variety of acute or chronic health...More
We are seeking feedback to inform a National Dementia Action Plan.
The National Dementia Action Plan is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and state and territory governments. It is a 10 year plan to put people living with dementia, their families, and carers at the centre of all action on dementia.
The National Dementia Action Plan will provide a vision where Australians understand dementia – people living with dementia and their...More
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that the Australian Government establish an Inspector-General of Aged Care, supported by an independent Office.
The Inspector-General will play a critical role in driving improvement across the aged care system by:
looking at it from end to end, calling out systemic issues and significant problems, and making recommendations for improvements, and
providing increased accountability and...More
The Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) is leading the Intellectual Disability Health Curriculum Development Project, a short-term action under the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability . A key component of the project is the development of an Intellectual Disability Health Capability Framework (the Framework) in collaboration with people with intellectual disability, their families, carers and support workers, accreditation...More
Winter doses for residential disability accommodation settings can be sourced through a variety of channels, including primary care providers such as GPs and pharmacies, working with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to identify primary health care in-reach options and Commonwealth in-reach. Where a disability service provider is not able to source a primary care provider to administer COVID-19 Winter Dose Vaccine, they are able to request an in-reach Commonwealth COVID-19 Winter Dose...More
This form is to be completed if you wish to complete a request for a Revalidated Service for a client with the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
Please click the link below to begin your request.
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PBS Post-market Review Framework
The Department of Health and Aged Care is inviting stakeholders to provide feedback on a revised draft of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Post-market Review (PMR) Framework.
Stakeholders will have the opportunity to engage and provide feedback on the revised draft of the 2022 PMR Framework. The diverse perspectives, experience and knowledge of all stakeholders is highly valued and will contribute to the...More
The Australian Government has committed $39.0 million over four years to expand newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) to include more conditions and ensure consistency of programs across Australia.
This consultation process will give the Department of Health and Aged Care important information about the range of issues that should be considered during implementation of expansion.
For context about the newborn bloodspot screening programs, and the expansion process,...More
The Department is conducting studies into key PHI regulatory and policy settings (Lifetime Health Cover, Risk Equalisation Medicare Levy Surcharge, PHI Rebate and Private Hospital Default Benefit Arrangements). The aim of these studies is to identify opportunities to improve the affordability and quality of PHI cover for consumers to access private health services and to optimise the contribution private health makes to the health system.
Finity Consulting (Finity), an actuarial...More
An independent capability review of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) is being undertaken in response to recommendations 10 and 104 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Mr David Tune AO PSM, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Finance, is conducting the review and will produce a preliminary and a final report over the course of the six-month review.
The findings will be used to support...More
The Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission (the Mission) is investing $125 million for research to support a million Australians with mental health issues. This funding will enable access to new approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
As per the MRFF Mission Governance document , the Mission’s Expert Advisory Panel is to provide their advice to the Minister for Health and Aged Care on...More
Survey of CHSP Providers regarding Employee Salary Costs and Employee Occupations
The Fair Work Commission is currently considering applications to increase minimum award wages for the aged care sector. The Australian Government has supported these applications with a submission to the Fair Work Commission and committed to providing additional support to aged care providers to assist with meeting the increased costs of delivering care that may arise from a decision in this case....More