Sample Video from our Working in Aged Care 101 course PLUS an extract from the topic - Work Effectively With Older People.

The aged care system caters for Australians aged 65 and over (and Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over) who can no longer live without support in their own home. The sector provides older Australians with a range of different services, allowing them to access appropriate levels of care when and where they require it as they age. In delivering aged care services to the Australian community, the sector is both a vital supporter of the comfort and dignity of older Australians as well as an important contributor to the Australian economy.

As a service industry, the sector has a sizeable workforce occupying diverse range of roles - from nurses and care workers to management and administrative staff. The sector also draws on a large network of volunteers and community, government and private sector organisations that support the delivery of aged care services.

In recent years has been increasing emphasis on consumer choice in aged care. For example, a growing number of older Australians are choosing to ‘age in place’ (i.e., at home) wherever possible. This is leading to higher uptake of home care packages and rising levels of dependency among those who eventually opt for residential aged care. Where residential care is selected, providers are increasingly tailoring services to individual residents’ preferences, such as offering independent living arrangements, modern facilities and personalised care. This shift towards a more consumer-centric market is consistent with changing consumer dynamics across the broader economy.

There are two main bodies responsible for the regulation and compliance relating to the provision of aged care service. They share information with each other in order to carry out their duties. Broadly speaking the:

• Department of Health is responsible for policy and compliance with the Act

• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission accredits providers and handles complaints about quality of service provided by care providers.

In Australia the sector is governed by the legislative requirements set out in the:  

• Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act)

• Aged Care Principles 2014 (the Principles)

• Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

If you would like to preview this aged care course in more detail, click on DEMO above or call our team on 1300 611 404. You may also be interested in this similar course - click here.