Submission: Department of Health and Aged Care on Aged Care Rules Release 3 (Relating to Provider Obligations) March

Release 3 of the Aged Care Rules outlines the obligations of aged care providers under the proposed new regulatory system. From an allied health perspective, the draft Rules rely upon a definition of allied health and approach to allied health professions we have criticised in previous submissions (here & here).

The draft also fails to acknowledge that although most relevant allied health professions are self-regulating rather than regulated by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency, they are generally held to the same standard and so should be treated equivalently.

Since this submission, AHPA has clarified that once the new Aged Care Act commences, the onus of registration and complying with associated conditions and obligations will fall on the aged care provider who employs or contracts the allied health professional, rather than on the professional themselves. However, there is still a question mark as to who will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with Quality Standard 5 (Clinical Care) in home and community aged care.

Download submission.