Media releases

All residential aged care services are reminded to be on high alert following COVID-19 cases linked to aged care services in the State. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is actively partnering with the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC), which brings together Australian and Victorian Government agencies, to manage the response to COVID-19 in Victorian residential aged care services.

The report powerfully conveys the hopes and expectations of all Australians when it comes to how we want to live, as we grow older and as we become more reliant on others for our care and support needs.  The report also paints a vivid picture of an Australian aged care system that, by focusing on meeting individual needs, would regain the community’s trust and confidence. Titled ‘Care, Dignity and Respect’, the Royal Commission’s final report sends a strong message to everyone about the importance of treating all older Australians with dignity and respect; as individuals with their own identity, goals, values and preferences. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Minister Greg Hunt and Minister Richard Colbeck have issued a joint statement reaffirming the Australian Government’s commitment to transform the aged care system, using the Royal Commission’s final report as both motivation and impetus to pursue the comprehensive reforms required.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) has recently published performance reports resulting from surprise site visits at Regis Nedlands residential aged care service in Western Australia. On 20 January 2021, after conducting an unannounced assessment contact, the Commission determined that an immediate and severe risk to the health, safety or well-being of residents at the service.  On 23 January 2021, a ‘Notice to Impose Sanctions and Notice of Requirement to Agree to Certain Matters’ was issued to the approved aged care provider, Regis Aged Care Pty Ltd. This visit was prompted by reports of incidents that had adversely impacted residents.  The notice was issued based on the findings of non-compliance identified during this assessment contact. 

A meeting was held on 16 February with Lithgow Aged Care residents and family members in order to provide them with information and answer any questions about the Commission’s decision not to re-accredit the residential service.  The meeting was convened by the Board Chair of Lithgow Aged Care and included senior representatives from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Australian Government Department of Health. The Commission recently made a decision not to re-accredit the Lithgow Aged Care residential service because it has failed to meet the Aged Care Quality Standards, which detail the requirements for safe and quality care. The approved provider has not met the Aged Care Quality Standards since August 2019 and despite advice and support from the Commission, the provider has not demonstrated the capacity to rectify the non-compliances. 

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is an independent statutory authority that accredits, monitors, and assesses Commonwealth funded residential aged care services to ensure that they comply with legislated quality and prudential standards. The Commission has recently made a decision not to re-accredit the Lithgow Aged Care residential service because it has failed to meet Aged Care Quality Standards and could not demonstrate the capacity to rectify the non-compliances identified by the Commission. In December 2020, the Commission identified that there was an immediate and severe risk to the safety, health, or well-being of residents at Lithgow Aged Care and imposed a sanction on the approved provider.  The sanction required the appointment of an independent advisor for six months, and provision of relevant training for all staff at the service.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has imposed sanctions on approved aged care provider Regis Aged Care Pty Limited in relation to its Regis Nedlands facility in Western Australia. The Commission issued a ‘Notice to Impose Sanctions and Notice of Requirement to Agree to Certain Matters’ on 23 January 2021. The Commission determined after conducting a surprise site visit to the Regis Nedlands facility in Perth on 20 January 2021 that there is an immediate and severe risk to the health, safety or well-being of care recipients at the facility.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission responded swiftly to notification of alleged assaults of residents at the Japara Noosa aged care service last year.   The Commission was advised that a resident transferred to hospital following the alleged assault had subsequently passed away.  We are aware that the Queensland Coroner is investigating this matter. Criminal investigations and prosecutions are matters for the police.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has imposed strict accreditation conditions on St Basil’s Home for the Aged, Victoria, which require it to rectify within 12 months those areas where it is non-compliant with Aged Care Quality Standards.  The Commission undertook a comprehensive review audit and multiple assessment contacts over the past month at St Basil’s, which informed this accreditation decision. The Commission has been closely monitoring the quality and care of services at St Basil’s, and especially since the COVID-19 outbreak at the service in July 2020.  The Commission initially took regulatory action on 26 July in relation to St Basil’s following concerns about the serious impact of the outbreak on the residents and staff. Further regulatory action was imposed on 24 December 2020 which required the provider to immediately take action to manage risks associated with identified non-compliance with the Quality Standards.

The Federal Government has announced its intention to establish a Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) in the aged care sector in early 2021 to help reduce incidents of abuse and neglect in Australian Government-subsidised residential aged care services. Subject to parliamentary processes, from 1 April 2021, the current compulsory reporting requirements in residential aged care will be replaced by SIRS.  The legislation to support SIRS was introduced in parliament in late 2020.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission remains strongly engaged with aged care services experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 and is exercising all of its powers as the aged care regulator to ensure the safety of residents and staff. The outbreak at St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Victoria has been devastating for residents and families, and the Commission has been working intensively with the approved provider of the service which operates under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

Site visits to aged care services by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission have increased significantly this year.   The Commission, as the national regulator, has conducted more than 1,100 site visits to aged care services since January, including 410 visits to check infection control practices. The Commission modified its regulatory program in March 2020 to focus additional effort where it is needed most to ensure that providers are doing everything possible to keep aged care consumers safe.

The high number of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care homes in Victoria has reinforced the need for everyone working in the aged care sector to be alert and work collaboratively in responding to individual outbreaks. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission remains strongly engaged with aged care services experiencing an outbreak, exercising all our powers as the aged care regulator to minimise the risk to consumers and staff. As we monitor and support these services, the Commission is working closely with the Commonwealth Department of Health, the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre and Victorian health authorities.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is aware of media reports regarding alleged delays in the provision of a report from the NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission on Newmarch House. This statement confirms that the Clinical Excellence Commission report on Newmarch House was not commissioned by or for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and we had no part in its development or its release to Newmarch House or to Anglicare.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has been actively engaged with the Board Chair and Facility Manager of St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Victoria (the approved provider), which operates under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. The Commission is continuing to monitor St Basil’s and support its efforts both to return to compliance and see residents repatriated to the service. Meetings are currently being held with St Basil’s on a daily basis.

The Commission has been actively engaged with the approved provider of St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Victoria, which operates under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. We are focusing on monitoring and supporting their efforts both to manage the outbreak and to respond to complaints from residents and families. The Commission took regulatory action in relation to the approved provider following concerns identified about the serious impact of the outbreak on the residents and staff. This included ongoing challenges identified in the provider’s response to implementing an effective outbreak response in a timely manner, and in fulfilling responsibilities to provide timely communication relating to the individual care of residents.