Quality and safety in aged care is of utmost importance.
I welcome Mr David Tune’s independent Capability Review of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The full report is now available on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.
In October last year, the Australian Government brought forward this review because it is critical that the Commission is fit-for-purpose and can uphold best practice care for older people.
Mr Tune’s report acknowledges the Commission has achieved a great deal, including in its implementation of new functions. But there remain gaps to overcome to ensure the Commission can successfully undertake its important role of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of older Australians.
I welcome the practical and constructive recommendations from Mr Tune, and will be carefully considering each of them as a matter of priority.
As a first step, I have directed the department to establish a senior level Steering Group (Recommendation 2.1) to advise Government on prioritisation and implementation of the recommendations.
Urgent matters raised by Mr Tune’s preliminary report, also captured in his final report, were funded in the 2023-24 Budget, including $1.3 million for implementation support for the report and $19.8 million for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for assessors.
