As we inch closer to 1 July 2025 and the implementation of the Support at Home Program, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission continues to release further information on the new process we can expect to follow for registration of new aged care providers and ongoing auditing and compliance.
In its most recent webinar of 15 April, it was foreshadowed that the new Application Form would be available for review around mid-May.
What are the key implications of this information?
In our view, the key implications for consideration by new applicants are as follows:
- Any organisations who are ready to submit immediately, should feel comfortable to do so. However, do not delay further. The Commission has indicated it will review existing applications under the current Home Care Package provisions and is aiming to clear as many new applications as it can by 30 June. Remember, the Commission has 90 days to conduct their assessment – which leads to point 2.
- As per provisions in the Transitional Act, any applicant organisations who have not received a finalised assessment by 30 June will then be treated as an applicant under the new Aged Care Act 2024 and issued with a request for additional information under the new Support at Home requirements. This will include, at a minimum, information on which categories the applicant seeks to be registered in. We do not yet know if applicants will also be asked to address additional criteria at this point.
- Any organisations who are not ready to submit their application immediately would be best to wait for release of the new form in May before getting too far into the process. This will ensure all new applications address requirements under the new Aged Care Act 2024 and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
What does the new application process look like?
While we don’t yet have visibiltiy of the format of the application form (or varieties of forms that may be available for applications under different categories), key procedural changes will include:
- The addition of a compulsory audit step for all new applicants. Currently, applications are assessed on the content of their written submission. From 1 July, all new applicants and their Responsible Persons will be required to participate in an audit in addition to their written submission and pay an audit fee.
- Changes to application fees – the Cost Recovery Consultation Paper of 4 March 2025, gives us some indication of where fees are likely to land. The difference between the current and new model and its costs are compared below. In this comparison, we have used the example of an application for the provision of Home Care only (i.e. not Flexible Care or Residential Care).
| Current application process and fees | Application process and fees under Support at Home Program |
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Submission of Aged Care Provider Application Form and supporting evidence. Application is assessed on the merits of the written submission. Total Fee to apply for 1 type of care – Home Care = $9,070
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Submission of Aged Care Provider Application Form and supporting evidence. Application is assessed on the merits of the written submission. Applicant and Responsible Persons participate in a predictive audit to determine the ability for the applicant to be compliant if granted registration. Fees include:
Total Fee = $29,650 |
We do not yet know if any existing applications who are not yet finalised by 30 June will also then be required to undergo an audit and pay the associated fee. This post will be updated as new information comes to light.
SoCom Consulting advises on new NDIS and Aged Care Provider applications and the compliance requirements around documentation and worker obligations. To discuss how we can assist you, Contact Us.
