CHSP Provider Community of Practice Hub

The Department of Health and Aged Care is looking for providers to help them understand the impact of aged care reforms on provider organisations. Applications close 7 March 2025.

They are looking for providers, assessment organisations, ICT/software vendors and suitable experts to join a multi-disciplinary team of government and sector representatives in a Digital Transformation Impact Assessment. This group will work together to identify critical path impacts to providers preparing to adopt changes under the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program.

Your involvement will help them to create solutions, resources and guidance to assist the broader aged care sector in the lead up to 1 July and beyond. Participants will also gain valuable information about the impact of the aged care changes.

Who do they want to hear from

Providers:

• from metro, regional, rural or remote regions
• of varying sizes (small, medium and large organisations)
• with in-house ICT teams and /or third-party ICT/software products
• offering residential, home care and/or home support services
• serving people across these diverse groups:
  • older people
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • people living in regional, rural and remote Australia
  • people with disabilities
  • people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, including LGBTI
  • care leavers including Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants, and the Stolen Generations
  • veterans, war widows and widowers
  • people who are financially disadvantaged
  • people who are homeless or facing homelessness.

Assessment organisations:

• offering home support assessment or comprehensive assessment services at all levels of assessment, from basic care needs through to high-level care needs.

ICT/software vendors:

• of varying sizes (small, medium and large organisations)
• currently engaged with aged care providers to offer services and products across residential, home care and home support services
• currently working with us to provide ICT systems and data and digital infrastructure
• currently certified by us and/or those who are interested in undertaking certification.

Experts:

• academics, consultants, peak bodies, advocacy groups, or industry organisations
• people with expertise and experience in working with and/or supporting the aged care sector.

They are seeking participants with experience in any of the following:

• reporting as a residential care provider, under Support at Home or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme
• workforce management expertise in the aged care sector
• management of services catalogues and payments in line with approved government guidelines
• using software products to interact with the department and/or meet regulatory reporting and compliance requirements
• delivering aged care needs assessments and residential aged care funding assessments.

What's involved?

Participants will be asked to:

• attend interviews, workshops or sessions to co-create
• complete surveys and review information
• provide timely feedback
• represent the views of the sector (not just their organisation / employer)
• provide input into content that will be shared with the broader sector
• participate in additional engagements if requested, to further inform our understanding of the impact of the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program.

Assessments will be completed in a short timeframe and will require dedicated time from participants.

All participants will need to agree to the Conditions of Participation to confirm that they, on behalf of the relevant organisation, have the right to participate, share information, and understand the terms of participation.

Participation is voluntary and unpaid. You can opt out at any point during the process.

Their objective is for this process to be as valuable as possible to all aged care stakeholders -- including providers, industry and government.

How to express your interest

To apply to participate, send an expression of interest (EOI) email to DTSectorPartners@health.gov.au with your name, contact details and:

• a brief description of your organisation showing that you fit into one of the groups listed above under 'Who we want to hear from'
• confirmation that you can participate in the research in line with expectations listed above under 'What's involved'
• confirmation that you are willing to agree to the Conditions of Participation agreement.

What happens next

• They will assess EOIs and select participants and organisations that best represent a cross-section of the sector. There are limited places available, and volunteers will be selected at our discretion.
• Tbey may ask some follow-up questions to better understand your organisation and connection to the aged care system.
• All applicants will receive acknowledgement of their EOI and be advised of the initial outcomes by the end of March.