March Catch Up Chat With Tara
CHSP and Aged Care News
March 2018
In this Chat:
- Attend a Local Inter Agency Meeting
- The Data Exchange
- Submission for Aged Care Workforce Strategy (opportunity to have your say)
- LAST CHANCE!!! Speed Dating – Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Sub Regional Forum
- Aged Care Diversity Framework: Developing an Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (opportunity to have your say)
- Cultural Awareness Training – Postponed Lack of interest
- What’s happening around Town?
Hi Everyone….
Well… It’s now March …I can’t believe it. It has been a busy month. I have held two DEX Information sharing sessions, we are getting ready for Speed Dating in Hornsby! and we have been working hard around the Region to regenerate and plan Sub Regional Networking Forums that are relevant and meaningful for your workplace today and your professional development for the future.
This ‘Chat’ has a lot of information in it! So go and get a cuppa and a bickie and relax …
Please do not miss the fact that I have had to postpone the planned Cultural Awareness Training for the Region. Despite advertising this opportunity for 4 months I have not been able to secure more than 5 registrations. Since this training is run through TAFE and is an accredited course – I came to believe that it was too expensive to run for such a minimal number: Sorry. I have not given up … I truly believe that in order to be able to increase access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the first step is knowing and understanding how to create a culturally safe and appropriate space. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people are able to access CHSP service from the age of 50, however if they are uncomfortable identifying then they are not able to access that service until 65+ and given the life expectancy differences between caucasian Australians and Aboriginal Australians – that is often too late. Identification is medically relevant; we need to be cognisant of the importance of increasing identification across the region. Being culturally aware is the first step.
There are also two opportunities for you to engage and have your say. Participate, Participate, Participate!
Have a great month and I look forward to seeing you around and working with you. Remember Sector Support and Development is a resource for you!
Attend a Local Sub Regional Networking Forum Meeting
Attend your local sub regional Networking Forum: The Sub Regional Inter agency Forums are the most appropriate place for networking and professional development opportunities within the aged care and disability sector. The sector has experienced a year of change (several really!) and these changes continue to be tweeked/updated/revised and rolled out. The Sector is facing a time where organisations will begin to capacity build towards sustainability and that will bring more change. These established forums are where you can find out the latest information, ask questions, learn about complimentary services and hear speakers from inside and outside the Sector. So get out there and engage!
Northern Beaches Aged and Disability Network, Warringah Rugby Park, North Narrabeen Reserve
9.30am Wednesday 11th April 2018
Please contact Tom Miles tom.miles@orhenbeaches.nsw.gov.au if you would to receive information about these meetings
Lower Northshore Aged and Disability Network, Dougherty Centre, CHATSWOOD NSW 2067
2.00pm Wednesday April 11th 2018 Social Housing Management Transfer Authority (FACS and St George Housing) Please contact Ellen Miller if you would like to receive information about these meetings Ellen.Miller@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au
Recent Webinar: MAC Operational Update and Update on Quality Reform
On the 14th of February instead of giving roses or chocolates the Commonwealth Government gave a Webinar covering recent operational changes and updates to the Quality Reform.
This webinar provided an update on the operations of My Aged Care. It focused on key areas of interest for service providers and the assessment workforce including:
- operational benefits delivered as a result of system changes introduced in December 2017
- an update on system changes planned for late February 2018
- an update on quality reform
If you missed the webinar, it is really important that you and your staff take the time to watch it- see link below.
View Webinar 14.02.2018
View related information
The Data Exchange
Over the past two weeks I have visited the Ryde Hunters Hill Community Care Forum and the Lower Northshore Aged and Disability Network and opened up a conversation about DEX, how are we using it? What needs to be reported? And how to access and read the reporting suite?
I have found the sessions quite instructive as far as learning how people are dealing with the DEX reporting requirements. I have also gained some insight into the help that we need in our Region and I am going about trying to get answers to the questions that were raised. To follow up from the discussions, I have attached the Guidelines and Appendices Documents and well as the documents outlining how to access and read the new Standard Reports – please take a look at these resources.
Click here for the Protocols and Appendix A & B
Click here for the CHSP Overview Report
For instructions about how to access and use the reports see this link: Organisation Overview Guidelines
A user’s access to their CHSP Organisation Overview Report will mirror their access to the Data Exchange.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions: trussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Submission: Aged Care Workforce Strategy
The Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce is developing a strategy for growing and sustaining the workforce providing aged care services and support for older people, to meet their care needs in a variety of settings across Australia. The Taskforce will place particular emphasis on:
- Workforce planning covering workforce size and structure, managing growth and changes in service requirements, mix of occupations, workforce roles and distinct workforce needs in different care settings and market catchments.
- Supply and retention of the right workers with the right aptitudes in the right locations, and securing and sustaining up-to-date skills.
- The capacity of providers as employers, and the role of sector leadership, to equip the workforce to meet service requirements, needs and expectations of quality of care and services.
- Building sector-wide capabilities to innovate and extend new ways of working tailored to the needs of the older people who use aged care services, their families, carers and communities.
Our goal is to enable you and your organisation to feed into this submission your ideas, issues and challenges. The more voices we can collect the more powerful the submission.
Some facts that we know:
- The direct care workforce is growing and is forecast to continue to grow;
- The aged care workforce is older that the broader Australian workforce;
- The workforce is largely female;
- The workforce is highly qualified;
There is a general consensus that the future aged care workforce will require a significant increase in worker numbers, but it is unclear how this will be achieved, what it means for the sector and who holds the responsibility.
We would like to invite you to participate in a collaborative effort to develop a response to this submission on behalf of the Northern Sydney Aged Care sector.
Partners: Ilsa Bird, Sector Support and Development Officer, Your Northside
Tara Russell, Sector Support and Development Officer, Hornsby Shire Council
Goal: To coordinate a community response from the Northern Sydney in home aged care sector to the recently formed Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce.
Method: Collect community feedback via an online platform (see link below) and two community consultation meetings (see dates and times below) or individually submit (see below for link). Collate feedback into a single, representative submission, due March 16th 2018.
Who should participate? If you are employed in the aged care sector or if you are an employer within the aged care sector; and you have an opinion/ideas about the future of workforce planning, you should participate.
How can I participate?
There are three ways of participating:
- You can engage in a social online discussion via the online discussion: Click here to chat
- You can attend one of two Community Focus Groups – see dates and times below (locations TBD)
- You can complete the online submission as an individual at Online Submission
Online Discussion Forum: Click the link here
Community Focus Groups: Monday March 5th 10.00am – 12.00pm Location TBD
Thursday March 8th 10.00am – 12.00pm Location: Your Northside, Chatswood
RSVP to – trussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or call 9847 6061
The questions that will be asked:
- Why does an aged care workforce strategy matter?
- What practical difference do you hope a strategy will make?
- How do you think a strategy can contribute to meeting future needs in aged care?
- Tell us what you see as the changes on the horizon that aged care needs to be ready for, and how you think the workforce strategy can contribute to meeting these future needs (in the context of an ageing population calling on aged care services in a variety of settings)?
- Tell us what is working well in the aged care workforce (across the industry, at provider or service level or through place based initiatives) and where future opportunities lie
- What do you think are the key factors the Taskforce needs to consider to attract and retain staff?
- What areas of knowledge, skills and capability need to be strengthened within the aged care workforce?
- What do you think is needed to improve and better equip the workforce to meet individual needs and expectations?
- What is needed for leadership, mindset and accountability to innovate and extend new way of working tailored to the needs of older people who use aged care services, their families, carers and communities?
As with all SSD Hosed Events, Please feel free to call with any questions 9847 6061
Aged Care Diversity Framework: Developing an Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Aged Care Diversity Framework: Developing an Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Australia’s aged care system is changing.
Australia is a diverse nation, and older people display the same diversity of characteristics and life experiences as the broader population. Our aged care system is evolving to offer increased choice and control for consumers, and this transition to person-centred care requires care to be tailored to meet an individual’s diverse needs. To help ensure these needs are appropriately met, the Australian Government have announced an Aged Care Diversity Strategy Framework, which will include implementation Action Plans for culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans and/or Intersex and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), has been funded to lead the Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, in collaboration with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), and we need your help!
Why is this important? There are more than 100,000 older people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, who often have health care and support needs that differ from those of other older Australians. Have your say :
To ensure appropriate input from all stakeholders, an online survey has been developed and interviews will be held throughout the country. We want to hear from you, if you’re:
- a consumer of aged care services, or the family member, carer or representative of one;
• an aged care provider;
• a peak organisation or representative group.
What do we want to achieve? It is expected that the project will deliver three significant outcomes:
• a proposed Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care that will be an integral part of the national Aged Care Diversity Framework
• a detailed consultation report that will inform local issues as well as national priorities and the development of the action plan
• identified evidence-based best practice for aged care service delivery to Indigenous communities based on a comprehensive literature review.
LAST CHANCE! Speed Dating arrives at the Hornsby Kur-ring-gai Sub Regional Interagency
The Hornby Kur-ring-gai Sub Regional Interagency Forum will host the next Speed Dating event to promote networking and communication between Service Providers and RAS.
DATE: 1st March 2018
TIME: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
LOCATION: Pennant Hills Leisure & Learning Centre (note new location)
8 Warne Street, Pennant Hills
If you intend to attend the Speed Dating Event, you must RSVP to trussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au so that we can develop a Service Profile sheet for your Service. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me: trussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Remember, you can always call me for help! 9847 6061
Cultural Awareness Training – MARCH 21ST 2018- Brookvale
POSTPONED!
Sadly, Lack of registrations.
What’s On around Town? Seniors Week activities are here ! (Happy to include Yours!)
Remember you can ask My Aged Care technical or process questions on the Service Provider and Assessor help line 1800 836 799. I urge you to send a quick email to our State CHSP office nswact.chsp@health.gov.au if you have an issue that you are unable to resolve. For fact sheets and information go to agedcare.health.gov.au/ or for more specific My Aged Care updates go to agedcare.health.gov.au/programs/my-aged-care
Have fun and enjoy!
Catch-up Chat written by Tara Russell
CHSP Sector Support and Development
Northern Sydney Region
Hornsby Shire Council
E: trussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
P: 9847 6061