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Your monthly update from the Grampians Sector Development Team! (2)
November 2025 - Part 1
AGED CARE REFORM
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New Aged Care Act Training


The latest module in the new Aged Care Act eLearning series is available.

Module 3 Release 2 explains: 

  • the core principles of the new Act  
  • how workers can put the new Act into practice 
  • how to support older people’s rights through inclusive and respectful care. 

It includes tools and resources you can share with your workers and the older people in your care to help: 

  • promote informed decision-making 
  • encourage meaningful dialogue 
  • foster a shared understanding of quality care.

Access previous eLearning modules to understand and align with the new Act changes. 

New Support at Home Resources

 

The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing have recently released some new Support at Home resources to assist providers with the transition from 1 November 2025. Please refer to them below:

  • Support at Home program – participant contributions (31 October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home: Guidance for providers on service agreements (27 October 2025): Access HERE
  • Support at Home monthly statement template (24 October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home program provider transition guide (24 October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home – service cancellations and no-shows (23 October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home program – self management (22 October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home booklet for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people (22 October 2025): Access HERE
  • Support at Home program manual – A guide for registered providers (21 October 2025): Access HERE
  • Support at Home – The new priority system and funding allocation (15 October 2025): Access HERE
  • Support at Home program – Frequently asked questions for providers (15 October 2025:): Access HERE
  • Guidance for setting Support at Home prices – fact sheet for providers (13 October 2025): Access HERE
  • Support at Home program – classifications and budgets (October 2025): 
    Access HERE
  • Support at Home – Frequently asked questions for older people (October 2025): Access HERE

Statement of Rights Practice Alignment Tool for Aged Care Workers

 

Aged care workers can use this tool to reflect on everyday practices and identify what may need to change or strengthen to align with the Statement of Rights.

 

Access HERE.

AGED CARE SECTOR
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Resources to Help You Explain Aged Care Contributions

 

Aged care funding is changing from 1 November. Tools and resources are available to help older people understand what they may need to contribute to the cost of their care.

 

For people receiving a Home Care Package:

  • share the Support at Home fee estimator to help them see what they may pay from 1 November this year
  • use the video or fact sheet to explain contributions.

For people entering residential aged care:

  • share the aged care home fee estimator to help them see what they may pay from 1 November this year
  • use these fact sheets to explain fees.

You can also share the upcoming changes to aged care funding webpage to give an overview of what’s changing.

Changes to the Commission Audit Process

 

The audit process is changing from 1 November with the new Aged Care Act.

 

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will audit providers in categories 4, 5 and 6 against the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards when they’re:

  • registering as providers
  • renewing their registration
  • varying their registration.

An audit is undertaken to assess if a provider conforms with (meets) the relevant strengthened Quality Standards for their provider registration category. The audit helps the Commission make a decision about the provider’s registration.

 

The Commission will communicate with the provider at every stage of the audit and provide information to support you. They will also provide opportunities to respond to their findings. 

 

They will measure how a provider conforms with the strengthened Quality Standards and give audit ratings for each outcome and standard.

 

They use the evidence collected during the audit to decide on the audit rating. The ratings consist of:

  • conformance
  • minor non-conformance
  • major non-conformance
  • exceeding (only applies to Category 6 providers).

The ratings encourage excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

 

There are a range of audit resources to help providers understand what to expect when their performance is assisted against the Quality Standards.

 

Audit guides for registration, renewal and variation:

  • Registration audit guide
  • Renewal of registration audit guide
  • Variation of registration audit

Checklist:

  • Pre-audit readiness checklist

Audit Evidence Collection Tools:

  • Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Registration
  • Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Renewal
  • Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Variation
  • Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool – Care delivery location (Category 4 & 5)
  • Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool – Residential (Category 6)

Audit meeting agendas:

  • Standard audit initiation meeting agenda
  • Standard governing body meeting agenda
  • Standard senior management meeting agenda
  • Standard opening meeting agenda
  • Standard entry meeting agenda
  • Standard closing meeting agenda

The New My Aged Care Website

 

The new My Aged Care website launched on the 1st of November 2025 to support the introduction of the Aged Care Act 2024 and embed positive, lasting changes to aged care to put older people’s rights and needs first.

Click HERE to visit the My Aged Care website.

Resource: Commonwealth Home Support Program provider transition checklist


CHSP providers must prepare for new obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024 from 1 Nov 2025, update agreements, ensure client eligibility, adapt reporting, and comply with regulatory changes.

 

Click HERE to download.

ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT
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Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing have published resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The resources help explain aged care services and how to access culturally safe aged care, including: 

  • aged care rights 
  • what is being done to improve aged care quality 
  • services and supports 
  • how to access aged care 
  • videos of people working in aged care talking about their experience. 

The Department encourage providers to share these resources with older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enquiring about or accessing aged care services. 

 

Access the resources HERE.

DIVERSITY

Culturally Safe Care – Resources for Diverse Audiences 

 

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety highlighted the need for more focus on culturally safe aged care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse audiences. The Aged Care Quality Safety Commission have developed a suite of resources for diverse audiences to create awareness about rights for older people and culturally appropriate aged care.

 

Resources for diverse backgrounds:

The Commission have targeted resources for older people from diverse backgrounds on our website including an information sheet and storyboard explaining older people’s rights and what to do if they have concerns about their care. The conversation guide can help older people have conversations with the people supporting them about the care they’re receiving.

 

Resources for First Nations:

For all members of our First Nations community, including older people, workers and providers, there are a range of videos, and an animation in multiple languages. They explain:

  • the importance of sharing language
  • rights in aged care
  • how to speak up if you’re not getting good quality care
  • tailoring person-centred aged care for First Nations peoples. 

A First Nations Stakeholder Communication Toolkit can help providers and aged care workers when engaging with First Nations people about aged care. It includes a range of resources including:

  • an editable poster explaining aged care and rights
  • a digital flipchart to support conversations between providers, workers and older people about aged care. 

A series of posters about the strengthened Quality Standards for workplaces is also available on our First Nations Hub. 

Cultural Conversations: Designing for Inclusion

 

This short, practical lunchtime session with BRMC will explore how bias and assumptions can influence the way we design our spaces, systems and services — often in ways we don’t see. Together, you will look at how to identify these hidden barriers, apply inclusive design principles, and learn from lived experience to make aged care settings more welcoming for everyone.

 

The conversation will be relaxed, interactive, and focused on real examples and simple strategies you can apply in your own work.

 

When: Tuesday 18 November 2025, 12:00–1:00pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free (supported through CHSP Sector Support and Development funding)

 

REGISTER HERE.

TRAINING & EVENTS
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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.

 

Horsham: 9 December 2025, 11am - 1.30pm (AEDT)

Ballarat: 11 December 2025, 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.

CROPPED

Thrive, Elevate Your Performance from the Inside Out 

 

The Grampians Sector Development Team, Hume Region Alliance, Bellarine Community Health and West Gippsland Healthcare Group are pleased to offer you some Training for all CHSP staff around Wellness and resilience called: 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.

 

This 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.

There are 2 sessions available to choose from (all sessions will be the same content):

Wednesday 26 November 2025 @ 1-2pm (AEDT)

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 limits to the number of attendees you can send.

 

Cost: Free

Delivery: Online via Zoom

REGISTER HERE.

 

CONTACT US
Our team-1

 

https://www.csdgrampians.org.au/

 

sectordevelopment@bchc.org.au

The Grampians Sector Development Team is auspiced by Ballarat Community Health, 12 Lilburne St, Lucas, VIC

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