Strengthen the regulation of the aged care sector and improve the health and safety of older Australians receiving aged care.
The Government will provide additional funding of $309.9 million over 5 years from Quality and Safety and other initiatives to strengthen the regulation of the aged care sector and improve the health and safety of older Australians receiving aged care. Funding includes:
* $139.9 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to improve the accountability and transparency of approved aged care providers through enhancements to the Star Rating system
* $72.3 million in 2023-24 to support the development and implementation of a new, stronger Aged Care Regulatory Framework to support the new Age Care Act which is due to commence from 1 July 2024
* $59.5 million over 5 years from 2022-23 to fund the ICT infrastructure to establish a national worker screening and registration scheme from 1 July 2024
* $25.3 million in 2023-24 to ensure the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is appropriately resourced to deliver its audit and compliance program in 2023-24
* $12.9 million over two years from 2023-24 to improve food and nutrition in aged care through the development, monitoring and enforcement of food and nutritional standards. This measure will be partially offset by redirecting funding from the 2022-23 October Budget Measure titled Improving the Investment in Aged Care. This measure builds on the 2022-23 October Budget measure titled Fixing the Aged Care Crisis. See also the related payment measure titled Improving Aged Care Support in the Health and Aged Care Portfolio. The Government will consider future funding for this measure when the longer-term legislative arrangements under the new Aged Care Act are developed.