Visitation guidelines for aged care will be adjusted to better protect senior Australians and those who care for them as the nation returns to COVID-normal.
In a move that is likely to bring relief to aged care residents, families and staff, a new three-tier escalation plan, backed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), will outline how providers can respond to the COVID-19 threat level in the local community and ramp the response up or down as needed.
Where there is no community transmission or locally acquired cases (Tier 1) fewer restrictions on visitors, excursions, small gatherings and outdoor exercise are advised.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the restrictions which remained were common sense measures.
“In all areas, even in those places where there isn’t any local transmission, the AHPPC recommends restricting people who have just returned from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed case, people who are sick, those who require isolation or quarantine and people who haven’t had the flu jab,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Visitors will also need to maintain personal hygiene, and social distance. By taking these basic precautions, we keep senior Australians in aged care physically safe while they spend time with their family, friends and loved ones, or receive care from doctors or allied health workers.”
The AHPPC guidelines also outline visitation recommendations aged care providers can put in place if they are in a defined hotspot with localised outbreaks of cases (Tier 2) and when there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in the community (Tier 3).
“The Australian Government agrees wholeheartedly with the AHPPC that residents must be protected in the least restrictive manner and their health needs must be balanced with their personal wellbeing and human rights,” Minister Colbeck said.
The Australian Government has also finalised a three-tier guidance on actions aged care providers should take in response to a situation of escalating or de-escalating COVID-19 threat level in the local community.
Additionally, Minister Colbeck said the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19, developed in conjunction with consumer peak bodies sets out a nationally consistent, principles-based approach to maintaining residents’ visitation and communication – the Government welcomes the latest version of the code.
In conjunction with the new visitation guidelines, it offers clarity for residents and families, he said.
“The pandemic has illustrated to us more than ever, how important it is to stay connected,” Minister Colbeck said. “Aged care residents, particularly those suffering from dementia, rely on face-to-face interaction with loved ones.
As has been demonstrated just this week with the outbreak in South Australia, there are State provisions via health orders which can also impact visitation.
While these orders clearly restrict visits to residential aged care facilities, life inside aged care centres will remain as normal as possible for residents.
“These new guidelines will ensure connection for those who need it most,” Minister Colbeck said.
The Visitation Guidelines for Residential Aged Care can be found here.
The Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19 can be found here.
The COVID-19 escalation tiers and aged care provider responses can be found here.
Author: admin
HISTORIC REFORM COULD MAKE AUSTRALIAN HOME OWNERSHIP DREAM A REALITY
The 2020-21 NSW Budget could bring the great Australian dream of owning your own home one step closer to reality for thousands of people, with a public consultation process commencing to seek the community’s view on tax reform to reduce the upfront costs for buyers.
The community will be asked if they want the stamp duty system overhauled to allow buyers to opt out of stamp duty and instead choose a smaller annual property tax.
Stamp duty is one of the biggest financial barriers to home ownership.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the current stamp duty system was centuries old and in need of an overhaul to give NSW residents a modern tax system.
“This is the single most important economic reform we can tackle to turn the Australian dream into NSW’s reality,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is a reform proposal for NSW where more people can own their home and have more freedom to choose the right property for their family at every stage of life.
“This is a vision for every person and family in NSW – from first home buyers trying to get a foot on the property ladder, to frontline workers moving to service our regional communities, and retirees who are ready to downsize.
“The NSW Government will work with people and communities to shape any reform over the coming months to ensure it is tailor-made for the current and future needs of our State.”
The consultation process will kickstart with a proposed model that would:
- Give people purchasing a property the choice between paying stamp duty upfront or opting for the smaller annual property tax;
- Enable people who opt-in to the system to also eliminate any land tax liability;
- Ensure that the current property owners who are not buying or selling are not affected;
- Replace the current stamp duty concessions provided to first home buyers with a new grant; and
- The proposed model includes a property tax rate that would support and incentivise home ownership with a lower rate for owner-occupiers and higher rates for investors and commercial properties.
Mr Perrottet said the model proposed could bring tens of thousands of dollars of relief to the average home buyer and turbocharge economic growth.
“This model may inject more than $11 billion into the NSW economy in the first four years and boost NSW Gross State Product by 1.7 per cent over the long term,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Reform of the inefficient stamp duty system could also create and support thousands of jobs to boost the economy and kick-start our recovery for a prosperous, post-pandemic NSW.”
The reform could be set in motion in the second half of 2021 after seeking community feedback over the coming months.
To find out more and have your say on the proposed model, visit: treasury.nsw.gov.au/property-tax-proposal.
IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE
The NSW Government is investing almost $7 billion, as part of the 2020-21 NSW Budget, to help people across the State break the cycle of disadvantage.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the Budget reinforced the Government’s commitment to early intervention services and evidence-based programs, which have proven to deliver great outcomes.
“This Budget doubles-down on the work we are doing to address longstanding social challenges in homelessness, child protection and youth justice,” Mr Ward said.
“This Budget also aims to prevent and respond to the ongoing pressures of the pandemic, by investing in support for the most vulnerable people in our community.
“These are essential investments to deliver quality services for those most in need.”
The NSW Government will invest $29 million over two years to expand the Together Home initiative, to help rough sleepers into secure housing and break the cycle of homelessness. This expansion of Together Home is on top of $1.1 billion over four years for specialist homelessness services.
This year, NSW will invest $3.5 billion in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, enabling people living with disability in NSW to receive the best possible support.
Reinforcing the NSW Government’s commitment to supporting all people with disability, the Budget commits more than $112 million over four years to fund disability advocacy programs and inclusion services.
A further $17 million will be invested to boost jobs in the rapidly growing disability support sector, to ensure service providers can attract and upskill staff.
Investment in evidence-based early intervention services is the cornerstone of support for vulnerable children and families in this year’s Budget, with a total of $1.4 billion in 2020-21 to support the safety and welfare of vulnerable children, which includes initiatives to help drive down the number of children entering out-of-home care.
The Budget also includes more than $14 million over four years to continue the Government’s reform of the youth justice system, with investments to strengthen security and infrastructure in the State’s six centres.
Another $8.6 million will be invested in early intervention programs that help reduce youth crime and divert young people away from the criminal justice system.
Teen charged with malicious damage of school bus – Metford
A teenager has been charged as investigations continue into the destruction of a school bus in Maitland last week.
Officers attached to the Port Stephens Proactive Crime Team commenced an investigation following reports of damage at a school on Chelmsford Drive, Metford, on the night of Sunday the 15th November 2020.
Police will allege a group of youths were seen on CCTV to scale a security fence about 8pm before approaching a bus, which was locked and parked on the premises.
The group broke into the bus, causing extensive damage, estimated to be in excess of $30,000, by allegedly smashing the dashboard and windows with the vehicle’s emergency hammer, and releasing the contents of a fire extinguisher.
Following inquires, a 13-year-old boy was arrested at a Metford home about 4.30pm yesterday (Thursday 19 November 2020. He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with 11 offences, including;
– Enter prescribed premises of any person without lawful excuse (six counts)
– Enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence
– Behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school
– Destroy or damage property (three counts)
He was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Wednesday 16 December 2020.
Investigations are continuing.
NO QUESTION SAS COMMITTED WAR CRIMES IN AFGHANISTAN, FACILITATED BY FAILURE OF COMMAND
Australian Greens Peace and Disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said there was no question now that Australian special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan that are the result of a toxic warrior culture, facilitated by failures within the chain of command.
“The crimes outlined in the Brereton report – even in the limited detail we’ve been given so far – are horrendous and shameful,” Steele-John said.
“Innocent people, including children, are dead, families have been torn apart and villages have been left in ruin. Compensation must be given to the families and to the communities affected by these disgusting crimes.
“For their role in these crimes, the perpetrators and their direct chain of command – the officers who sanctioned, and often ordered these unlawful killings – must be held to account.
“So too must the higher levels of command within the armed forces who served during the Afghanistan War who either failed to act when they should have, or turned a blind eye and allowed the sanitisation of reporting.
Senator Steele-John said there were significant questions that still remained unanswered after ADF Chief General Angus Campbell’s press conference.
“Both the Office of the Special Investigator and the Oversight Committee must be independent, without any personal or professional ties to the Australian Defence Force. So far, these assurances have not been given.
“General Campbell stated that the commanders who either didn’t know what was happening on the ground, or turned a blind eye to sanitised reporting, would be disciplined internally and not referred to the Special Investigator. When negligence results in an unlawful killing, there are pathways for prosecuting that as a criminal matter and these must be explored.
“Any deliberations between General Campbell, as Chief of the Defence Force, and Lt. General Burr, as the Chief of Army, about consequences for commanders who failed to act must be transparent so that the Australian public can be assured that this toxic warrior culture is being properly addressed.
“And finally, the public have a right to seriously question the involvement of both General Campbell and Lt. General Burr’s in the implementation of the report’s recommendations and in future disciplinary actions related to this investigation, given both played leadership roles in the Afghanistan War.
“General Campbell was the Commander of Joint Task Force 633 responsbile for all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, between January 2011 and January 2012. Lt. General Burr was a Commander of SASR on two separate deployments during the Afghanistan War.”
I and my team will be examining this report and its ramifications in detail, and consulting with experts and stakeholders to provide a more detailed response over the coming days.
Work under way on Fraser Coast palliative hospice
Work has begun to construct a $7 million palliative care facility for terminally ill people in Hervey Bay.
The new purpose-built Fraser Coast Hospice will provide 24-hour home-like accommodation, professional and compassionate care to clients at the end of their life, and bereavement care to their families.
Federal Member for Hinkler and Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, represented the Australian Government at a sod-turning event to commemorate the start of construction.
Minister Hunt said terminally ill patients would receive specialised end-of-life care in an alternative setting from their home or hospital.
“This is a place where people at the end of their life can receive the expert and compassionate care they need,” Minister Hunt said.
“Staff will support and guide patients and their families through the most difficult of times, and ensure each and every person is treated with dignity and grace.”
Minister Pitt said palliative care in the region had been a concern of his for some time.
“All Australians deserve to get the highest quality care in their own community. For the people of the Hervey Bay region, the new hospice means they can get the best care and support close to their family and loved ones,” Minister Pitt said.
“The hospice will also provide employment opportunities during construction and in operation. And through partnerships with the local education sector, allied health, nursing and personal carer students can do placements.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, Nola Marino, said the project was an important part of the Hinkler Regional Deal’s vision for Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and its surrounds.
“Ensuring we continue to build strong and cohesive local communities is an important focus of the Hinkler Regional Deal, and the Fraser Coast Hospice will ensure the region can continue to support the whole community locally,” Assistant Minister Marino said.
Mayor of Fraser Coast, George Seymour, said Council was pleased to bring this facility to the Fraser Coast and support the association through a peppercorn lease of land on Urraween Road.
“This is a really significant day for the Fraser Coast as we continue to ensure we have the range of medical and support services our region needs,” Mayor Seymour said.
“I am pleased that collectively, we have been able to make this important hospice facility a reality, and that Council was able to support the association through a peppercorn lease of land near our medical precinct.”
This project is part of the $260 million Hinkler Regional Deal between the Australian Government and Fraser Coast Regional Council and Bundaberg Regional Council.
The six-bed hospice is expected to open in mid-2021.
New community-led solution to deliver health care in Wentworth
A new community-driven workforce solution for Wentworth was today launched by Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton in conjunction with local health workers and community.
Minister Coulton, joined by Senator for New South Wales Perin Davey, said the new workforce solution will trial a collaborative health service to build high quality, sustainable health care for local patients.
“We recognise that a one-size-fits all approach to health care doesn’t meet the unique needs of small, rural communities and that’s why we’re funding new collaborative health care models which are developed and driven by local communities,” Minister Coulton said.
“We know that patients in Wentworth have faced difficulties in accessing health care and this community driven model is an important step in creating a viable local health workforce.
“I congratulate the people of Wentworth and stakeholders, including the Coomealla Aboriginal Service, for working together to get this model up and running.”
Minister Coulton said the trial will investigate if viable practices may be better achieved by having a group of GPs, nurses and allied health professionals deliver health services across the region.
Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said the Federal Government wants people living in Wentworth to benefit from continued access to essential health services as well as reduce the time it takes to travel for primary care.
“I know how important it is for the people of Wentworth to have sustainable local GP and health options in town, which will eventually make us less reliant on services on the NSW/Victorian border,” Ms Ley said.
“I want to acknowledge and commend the work of the Wentworth community in co-designing solutions to deliver continuity of care to patients and for progress addressing longstanding workforce challenges.”
Senator for New South Wales, Perin Davey said community was at the core of this approach and Government wants local communities to maximise their local health services, and workforce solutions that are tailored to meet the needs of their communities.
“Having now visited a number of these trial sites across NSW, I see the immense value they will deliver for their communities,” Senator Davey said.
“In addition, we want more health professionals to choose a career in the bush. The rollout of the new model is a good example of how we can improve the scope of practice for doctors and health professionals and provide rewarding lifestyle and career opportunities.”
NSW Rural Doctors Network CEO, Richard Colbran said there wasn’t a single model of care perfectly applicable to every remote and rural community.
“We are trialling a method that combines community development and health service planning methodology to respond to local need,” he said.
“A key enabler of success for this trial will be aligning community and health sector expectations and goals and building a local, team-based approach to workforce and service modelling.
“NSW Rural Doctors Network sees this Collaborative Care project as the start of a method that could hopefully be scaled-up to support similar sub-regional approaches in remote and rural areas across Australia. We look forward to starting work early in the new year.”
The Federal Government has invested $3.3 million in western and southern NSW communities to test new innovative primary care models.
Labour Force Figures for October
Labour force figures released today by the ABS show that labour market conditions in Australia continued to recover in October, with employment increasing by 178,800 over the month, exceeding all market expectations.
Full-time employment increased by 97,000 (or 1.1 per cent), the largest monthly increase on record, while part-time employment rose by 81,800 (or 2.0 per cent).
All states and territories recorded an increase in employment in October, with the exception of Tasmania, where employment remained steady. Employment in Victoria rose by 81,600 over the month, the largest monthly increase on record, as restrictions in the state began to ease.
Hours worked also increased in October, by 20.6 million hours (or 1.2 per cent).
The unemployment rate increased slightly in October, by 0.1 percentage points, to 7.0 per cent.
The rise in the unemployment rate, however, occurred in conjunction with a significant increase in the participation rate, which rose by 0.9 percentage points, to 65.8 per cent in October 2020.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the Government remains acutely aware that the economic and labour market fallout from COVID-19 will continue for some time to come.
“That is why the Morrison Government has committed an unprecedented $507 billion in economic support, to help rebuild the economy and put Australia back on the road to recovery,” Minister Cash said.
“This includes $257 billion in direct economic support including more than $101 billion in JobKeeper payments to help cushion the impact of COVID-19 which has led to the most severe global economic crisis since the Great Depression.
“This is the single largest economic support measure that any Australian Government has introduced, which will help mitigate the difficulties that businesses and employees are encountering as a result of COVID-19.”
Full-time employment increased by 97,000 (or 1.1 per cent), the largest monthly increase on record, while part-time employment rose by 81,800 (or 2.0 per cent).
All states and territories recorded an increase in employment in October, with the exception of Tasmania, where employment remained steady. Employment in Victoria rose by 81,600 over the month, the largest monthly increase on record, as restrictions in the state began to ease.
Hours worked also increased in October, by 20.6 million hours (or 1.2 per cent).
The unemployment rate increased slightly in October, by 0.1 percentage points, to 7.0 per cent.
The rise in the unemployment rate, however, occurred in conjunction with a significant increase in the participation rate, which rose by 0.9 percentage points, to 65.8 per cent in October 2020.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the Government remains acutely aware that the economic and labour market fallout from COVID-19 will continue for some time to come.
“That is why the Morrison Government has committed an unprecedented $507 billion in economic support, to help rebuild the economy and put Australia back on the road to recovery,” Minister Cash said.
“This includes $257 billion in direct economic support including more than $101 billion in JobKeeper payments to help cushion the impact of COVID-19 which has led to the most severe global economic crisis since the Great Depression.
“This is the single largest economic support measure that any Australian Government has introduced, which will help mitigate the difficulties that businesses and employees are encountering as a result of COVID-19.”
Update on NDIS Coronavirus supports in South Australia
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, has confirmed NDIS participants in South Australia have access to a range of temporary measures to ensure they can receive their disability-related supports, in line with public health advice.
In addition, with a focus on the safety of NDIS participants during the COVID-19 restrictions period in South Australia, the NDIA is reaching out to connect and check-in with vulnerable participants, to ensure they continue to have supports in place and offering phone or online planning meetings during lockdown.
Minister Robert said the government recognises that the immediate restrictions are difficult for NDIS participants and it is our priority to ensure they receive the essential supports they require.
To assist with continuation of essential supports in a COVIDSafe manner, NDIS participants and providers in South Australia will temporarily be able to directly claim the costs of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face masks.
Temporary measures in place to assist participants in South Australia, in light of the changing circumstances, include:
- eligible NDIS participants able to use plan funding to purchase low-cost Assistive Technology, including smart devices (up to $1500);
- greater plan flexibility to ensure access to supports;
- deep cleaning of residences in the event a support worker returns a positive COVID-19 test;
- additional support, including a deep cleaning service, for participants who test positive for COVID-19 or who are required to isolate who live in a Supported Independent Living (SIL) setting;
- NDIS participants in South Australia who rely on face-to-face supports and assistance with their daily living will be able to use an existing support item (Low Cost Disability-Related Health Consumables) to claim on the cost of PPE for their own use at times their worker is with them; and
- Providers in South Australia able to claim an allowance of $1.70 per hour of support delivered in the Activities of Daily Life Support Category, to cover the cost of PPE for workers, directly from the NDIA, ensuring participant plan funds are not impacted by the use of PPE by their providers and workers.
Minister Robert said as the pandemic evolves, the NDIA and the Government will continue to review the temporary measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of participants.
‘The Commonwealth has a clear plan and will continue to respond to changing circumstances across the entire country to ensure all NDIS participants are supported and are safe during the pandemic,’ Mr Robert said.
‘In March, as the threat of COVID-19 emerged, the Morrison Government outlined a number of temporary measures to ensure every NDIS participant could continue to receive the everyday supports and services they need.
‘These temporary measures have proven effective and reflect our need to live our lives in a COVIDSafe society, knowing additional measures can be easily accessed if an infection, or outbreak occurs, without delay.’
The NDIS Call Centre has a dedicated referral line for COVID related queries. NDIS participants who have questions or whose circumstances may have changed are encouraged to contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to discuss their needs or to seek further information.
NDIS providers who have questions about delivering quality and safe supports and services to NDIS participants during the coronavirus pandemic should contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.
Temporary measures, with the exception of direct claim of PPE, were announced earlier this year and are in place nationally until February 2021.
Further information on NDIS coronavirus support can be found at www.ndis.gov.au.
City of Newcastle celebrates 40th Sister City anniversary with Ube, Japan
City of Newcastle honoured a relationship steeped in history and culture on Thursday ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Sister City declaration between Newcastle and Ube, Japan.
On 21 November 1980, the City’s first female Lord Mayor, the late Joy Cummings, turned a new page in history as she joined the Mayor of Ube, the late Mr Hideo Futatsugi, to sign the Sister City agreement.
Built upon the burgeoning port harbour cities’ shared industrial backgrounds in coal exports and steel manufacturing, the declaration was and remains today a sign of goodwill, mutual understanding and friendship.
Mayor of Ube, Mr Hideo Futatsugi, and Newcastle Lord Mayor Joy Cummings sign the declaration while Town Clerk Barrie Lewis looks on. Image courtesy Newcastle Libraries Local History Collections.
Over the decades, Newcastle and Ube have developed strong connections in education, youth exchange, economics, sport and art, which were celebrated when the City hosted Consul-General Mr Kiya Masahiko and Consul in Charge of General Affairs and Information and Culture, Mr Shinichi Murata on a diplomatic visit to Newcastle.
Mr Masahiko and Mr Murata were presented with a commemorative book, titled Sister Cities Newcastle and Ube: celebrating 40 years, produced by the City to mark the auspicious occasion.
The Consuls also received a demonstration of a curated, interactive digital story-wall exhibition showcasing the Sister City history at the City Administration Centre’s Digital Library.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes presents the commemorative book to the Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, Mr Kiya Masahiko, in front of the digital story-wall exhibition at the City’s Digital Library.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes recognised the ongoing significance of this mutually beneficial relationship as both Newcastle and Ube continue to undergo growth and transformation.
“It was Lord Mayor Joy Cummings’ vision, when the declaration was signed, for our two great cities to enjoy lasting friendship, good health and prosperity, and I am proud to say our Sister City ties remain as strong as ever,” Cr Nelmes said.
“While we are living through an unprecedented time due to the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, it is but another chapter in the history book of our Sister City relationship, as we rise together to overcome adversity as we have done in the past.
“City of Newcastle congratulates Ube City on achieving this joint milestone and looks forward to the continuation of our cities’ relationship over the years to come.”
Sister Cities Newcastle and Ube: celebrating 40 years is available for loan from Newcastle Libraries. A digital version is accessible via the website.