COTA Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on a set of draft strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (Standards).
We understand the outcomes from this consultation are critical to progressing an aged care system that is first and foremost person-centred. We believe a strengthened set of Standards will empower older people to exercise their rights and be confident in their right to receive safe, quality, person-centred care that resonates with community expectations.
In our submission we note the inseparable relationship between the outcomes of the review of the Standards and broader aged care system reforms, most particularly, the new Aged Care Act and the new regulatory model. We also highlight our support for the increased importance being placed on forging, where appropriate, structural alignment between the Standards and the NDIS Practice Standards.
COTA Australia looks forward to further engagement on the Standards. We also welcome the forthcoming development of co-designed Standards guidance. For older people and providers alike, the guidance will be important to facilitating a uniform translation of the Standards into practice across the sector.
For more details read our submission