Residential Care - Offline Places Review

Overview

This Residential Care Offline Places Review is an opportunity for residential aged care providers and peak organisations to participate in the Department of Health’s review of offline places. This review is designed to enable the department to better understand the reasons for their offline status. As at 30 June 2016, there were nearly 8000 offline residential aged care places. Whilst the participation in this review is voluntary, it is a chance to help shape future policy.

Why your views matter

The Legislated Review of Aged Care 2017 (see link in consultation summary) recommended 'the need for a review of the management policy regarding offline residential care places and if required, implement changes that maximise their availability to consumers’.

Your participation in the review will ensure that available data from aged care providers is used in the consideration of future aged care places management policy.

Offline places - Unused residential aged care places are places which have been operational in the past, but as at 30 June 2018 are not providing care due to reasons like renovations or rebuilding of residential aged care homes and the provider is receiving no Australian Government subsidy for these places. In previous years, unused places have been referred to as "offline". This terminology has been amended to better align with the language used to regulate these places in the Aged Care Act 1997.

Whilst the department recognises there are reasons why aged care places are not filled at any point in time, your responses will provide clarification and allow the development of suitable policy solutions moving forward. The department is committed to working with providers, peak organisations and consumers to deliver a better aged care system, and appreciates your valuable contribution to aged care, and for participating in this survey.