Monthly DEX Performance Reporting and Exemption Requests Under the Aged Care Act
The following update has been issued to all CHSP Providers this week via email from CHSP.Vic@dss.gov.au:
From 1 November 2025, with the commencement of the Aged Care Act, all CHSP providers are registered aged care providers and must comply with strengthened monthly reporting requirements.
Key points for providers:
Monthly DEX reporting is mandatory under Section 166-610 of the Rules and CHSP funding agreements. Reports must be submitted by the 14th of each month for services delivered in the previous calendar month
DEX is the only approved reporting method. Manual data submissions are no longer accepted now that My Aged Care ID fields are available in DEX, due to privacy and system requirements
The department will continue to support voluntary compliance and continuous improvement, but will take firm action for serious or ongoing non-compliance, including potential payment suspension
Exemptions from reporting: Providers experiencing extenuating circumstances may apply for an exemption under Section 166-627(2)
Requests must be submitted at least 14 days before the reporting due date
Exemptions apply to reporting only and do not exempt providers from compliance obligations
Requests must be submitted to your Funding Arrangement Manager (FAM) with supporting evidence.
Appendix H of the 2025–27 CHSP Manual has been updated to outline the compliance framework and eligible circumstances for reporting exemptions
Providers are strongly encouraged to enter DEX data regularly throughout the month to identify issues early
FAMs will issue reminders, Notices to Remedy Breach, and may suspend payments for late or missing DEX reports. Unresolved breaches will be escalated for further action.
Please refer to further details included in the email received (including an exemption request template) and if you have any questions, please contact your FAM or email CHSPCompliance@health.gov.au.
New Aged Care Act – New Regulatory Model and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have just released a new video showing how all Australian Government-funded aged care providers will be registered through a new provider registration and the renewal process. It also shows what you need to meet the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
Free Worker Training: New Aged Care Act and Support at Home
New online training modules are available in the Equip Aged Care Learning Packages to help workers understand their obligations under the new Aged Care Act.
The training includes:
the Aged Care Act 2024 module – learn how to provide respectful, safe and rights-based care to older people
the Support at Home module – understand workers’ responsibilities and how to deliver care under the new program.
Each module takes 10 minutes and a certificate is available once completed.
We encourage providers to share this information with their staff.
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have released an update version of the Service and Support Portal user guide – Administration functions. This user guide gives step-by-step instructions on how to use the My Aged Care service and support portals - both Administrator and Team Leader & Staff Member guides. Please familiarise yourself with this document as there are some changes since 1 November 2025.
Organisation within the Grampians region have already started to receive their organisational Notice of Registration Determination which for Service Providers within registration categories 4 and above means accreditation and an audit. The Aged Care Quality Safety Commission undertakes these audits at an organisational level to assess if providers can meet the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and deliver safe and high-quality care.
These audits will be undertaken:
for registration in categories 4, 5 or 6 (registration audit)
to renew their registration in categories 4, 5 or 6 (renewal of registration audit)
to add a new category (4, 5 or 6) service to their registration (variation of registration audit).
The new guidance and resources section of the Commission’s website Audit guidance and resources | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has resources such as the audit guides, renewal of registration, a pre audit checklist as well as some evidence collection tools which would be helpful to share within your organisation.
For these who will undergo an audit, it is worth noting that there is a cost for re-registration. We would highly recommend checking out the following information and using the Fee estimate calculator to determine the exact expenses for your organisation to be able to accurately forecast costings:
Please reach out to the Grampians Sector Development Team if you would like more information or assistance with what this might look like for your own organisation.
New Complaints and Whistleblower Protections Toolkit
The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have created a toolkit to help you communicate with older people, their families and carers, and aged care workers about their rights when making a complaint or whistleblower disclosure.
The toolkit includes:
key messages and a discussion guide to support conversations
editorial content for your website and newsletters
To help you understand the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025, the Department of Health, Disability & Ageing released a Guide to Aged Care Law. All 8 chapters are now available.
The guide explains key themes of the new laws, including:
If you have clients who have had an assessment undertaken and are not happy with the outcome, they can seek a ‘reconsideration’ or review. Please see information found on MAC below, and this information is also contained in their Notice of Decision letter.
“If you have any questions about the assessment process, including the decision:
Discuss your concerns with your assessment organisation. You can find their details in your assessment outcome letter. You can have a friend, relative or other support help with this if you wish.
Request a review of the decision, free of charge. If you do not agree with the decisions made in your assessment outcome, you can write a letter to the System Governor at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to ask them to review the decision(s). Information about how to do this is included in your assessment outcome letter."
A free workshop and networking event hosted by Carers Victoria and the Grampians Sector Development Team.
About this event:
This session will focus on building your understanding of unpaid carers in our community, exploring the issues impacting on their caring role and what key services are available to support them.
Topics include:
Carer awareness – the carer landscape, themes and challenges faced by carers, including in the current aged care context
Carer supports – referral options, services available to unpaid carers
Implementing Carer Aware – exploring ways to support carers within your service and within your broader organisation.
A networking opportunity and complimentary lunch will follow the workshop.
Please advise of dietary requirements when registering.
When:
Wednesday 25 Feb 2026
10.00am - 12.30pm (AEDT)
Who should attend:
This workshop is designed for organisations and staff working under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). It is also relevant to the broader aged care sector and its workers.
Organisations that support unpaid family and friend carers are also welcome to attend.
This program is supported by the Australian Government.
Partners in Practice - Assessment and CHSP Provider Engagement
Join us for a collaborative networking event bringing together Assessment and Service Providers across the Grampians region.
New dates as follows:
Horsham: 10 February 2026, 11am - 1.30pm (AEDT)
Ballarat: 12 February 2026, 11am - 1.30pm (AEDT)
Direct invitations have been issued to Service Providers, please reach out to sectordevelopment@bchc.org.au if you haven't received this and would like to attend.
Implementing the Supporter Framework
Join us for a 90-minute webinar where Enkindle Consulting will facilitate a session unpacking the new Supporter Framework under the Aged Care Act 2024.
During this session, we will:
Provide an overview of the framework and how it will work
Unpack the key actions or responsibilities of providers in the Supporters Framework and how it differs from other nominee and decision-making roles
Consider practical implementation actions required to implement the framework within the organisation practices
Identify key stakeholders that are impacted and consider change management tools such as a communication plan to support implementation.
Who should attend: CHSP Executives, Senior Managers and Team Leaders responsible for governance and compliance under the Aged Care Act 2024.
When: Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (AEDT) via Zoom.
Thrive, Elevate Your Performance from the Inside Out
This session will be 60min in length and facilitated by Ashley Whitehead from EQ Minds who presented at our May 2025 Best Practice in Ballarat.
The session will cover:
The Power of our Emotions and Emotional Contagion: Exploring how mood and mindset influence teams, and simple strategies to lift team culture and energy
Micro Habits for Mental Health: How small, consistent wellbeing practices, grounded in mindfulness, can help build resilience, reduce overwhelm, and create space to recharge in the midst of busy days
Thrive Through Change: Understanding the emotional impact of change and how to stay grounded through transitions using evidence-based wellbeing tools
Boundaries for Wellbeing: Understanding the role of healthy boundaries in protecting energy, reducing compassion fatigue, and improving communication.
When: Thursday 19 March 2026 @ 10-11am (AEDT)
Target Audience: Suitable for all CHSP Service provider staff from front line staff right through to Executive and Board. There are no attendee limits.
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