2023 MM category has the same meaning as in the Aged Care (Subsidy, Fees and Payments) Determination 2014.
Act means the Aged Care Act 1997.
aged care financial report, for a financial year for an approved provider, means the report required by section 35.
Australian accounting standards means the accounting standards in force under section 334 of the Corporations Act 2001.
Note: In 2017, the Australian accounting standards were accessible at http://www.aasb.gov.au.
charge exempt resident has the meaning given by repealed section 44‑8B of the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997.
Department in this instrument means the Department of Health and Aged Care.
financial support statement, for an approved provider, has the meaning given by section 40.
financial year, for an approved provider, has the meaning given by subsection 32(1).
general purpose financial report, for a financial year for an approved provider, means a report prepared by the provider as required by section 35A.
home care setting has the meaning given by section 4 of the Subsidy Principles 2014.
multi‑purpose service has the meaning given by section 104 of the Subsidy Principles 2014.
National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual means the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual 4.0–Part A, published on the Department’s website, as existing at the commencement of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quality Indicator Program) Principles 2024.
Division Division 1 - Accountability Principles 2014 - Information about residential care services | Zoe
NDIS worker screening clearance means a clearance within the meaning of the NDIS worker screening rules.
NDIS worker screening rules means the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards—Worker Screening) Rules 2018.
participating care recipient: a care recipient is a participating care recipient for a Pricing Authority advice activity if:
(a) consent for the care recipient to participate in the activity has been given by:
(i) the care recipient; or
(ii) if the care recipient lacks capacity to give consent to participate in the activity—a representative of the care recipient; and
(b) that consent has not been withdrawn by:
(i) the care recipient; or
(ii) if the care recipient lacks capacity to withdraw consent to participate in the activity—a representative of the care recipient.
permitted uses reconciliation has the meaning given by subsection 40A(1).
police certificate, for a person, means a report about the person’s criminal conviction record prepared by:
(a) the Australian Federal Police; or
(b) the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission; or
(c) an agency accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission; or
(d) the police force or police service of a State or Territory.
Pricing Authority advice activity means an activity mentioned in paragraph 131A(1)(c) of the National Health Reform Act 2011 conducted for the purpose of performing a function mentioned in paragraph 131A(1)(a) of that Act.
process of obtaining an NDIS worker screening clearance means the process of obtaining a clearance within the meaning of the NDIS worker screening rules.
quarter, of a financial year for an approved provider, has the meaning given by subsection 43(7).
quarterly financial report has the meaning given by subsection 43(1).
residential care setting has the meaning given by section 4 of the Subsidy Principles 2014.
service staff, in relation to an aged care service, has the meaning given by section 4 of the Quality of Care Principles 2014.
short‑term restorative care has the meaning given by section 106A of the Subsidy Principles 2014.
staff member, of an approved provider, means a person who:
(a) is at least 16 years old; and
(b) is employed, hired, retained or contracted by the approved provider (whether directly or through an employment or recruitment agency) to provide care or other services under the control of the approved provider; and
(c) has, or is reasonably likely to have, access to care recipients.
Note: Examples of persons who are staff members of an approved provider:
(a) key personnel of the approved provider; and
(b) employees and contractors of the approved provider who provide care to care recipients; and
(c) allied health professionals contracted by the approved provider to provide care to care recipients; and
(d) kitchen, laundry, garden and office personnel employed by the approved provider; and
(e) consultants, trainers and advisors for accreditation support or systems improvement who are under the control of the approved provider.
Note: Examples of persons who are not staff members of an approved provider:
(a) visiting medical practitioners, pharmacists and other allied health professionals who have been requested by, or on behalf of, a care recipient but are not contracted by the approved provider; and
(b) tradespeople who perform work otherwise than under the control of the approved provider (that is, as independent contractors).
Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1 means the Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1 “Definition of the Reporting Entity”, issued by the Australian Accounting Research Foundation and the Accounting Standards Review Board, as existing at the commencement of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Reporting) Principles 2017.
Note: In 2017, the Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1 was accessible at http://www.aasb.gov.au.
subsidiary has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001.
transition care has the meaning given by section 106 of the Subsidy Principles 2014.
ultimate holding company has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001.
volunteer, for an approved provider, means a person who:
(a) is not a staff member of the approved provider; and
(b) offers his or her services to the approved provider; and
(c) provides care or other services on the invitation of the approved provider and not solely on the express or implied invitation of a care recipient; and
(d) has, or is reasonably likely to have, unsupervised access to care recipients; and
(e) is at least 16 years old or, if the person is a full‑time student, is at least 18 years old.
Part 1A—Allowing delegates of Secretary access to service to assess care needs of care recipients
4A Purpose of this Part
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(ha) of the Act, this Part requires an approved provider to allow delegates of the Secretary under subsection 96‑2(15) of the Act access to an aged care service through which the approved provider provides aged care in order to assess, under section 29C‑3 of the Act, the care needs of care recipients provided with care through the service.
4B Access to service
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a delegate of the Secretary under subsection 96‑2(15) of the Act gives the approved provider notice in writing that the delegate requires access to the service on a day specified in the notice to assess, under section 29C‑3 of the Act, the care needs of care recipients provided with care through the service; and
(b) the notice is given at least 2 days before the specified day.
(2) The approved provider must allow the delegate timely access to the following on the specified day as required for the delegate to make the assessments:
(a) all areas of the premises used to provide care through the service;
(b) staff members of the approved provider who are on those premises on the specified day;
(c) the care recipients whose care needs are to be assessed;
(d) records relating to the care needs of those care recipients.
Part 1B—Access, facilities and assistance for Pricing Authority advice activities—residential care services
4C Purpose of this Part
For the purposes of paragraphs 63‑1(1)(hb) and (hc) of the Act, this Part requires an approved provider of a residential care service to:
(a) allow persons performing Pricing Authority advice activities access to the service; and
(b) provide such persons with all reasonable facilities and assistance necessary for the performance of those activities.
4D Allowing access to service and providing facilities and assistance—general
(1) This section applies if:
(a) the Pricing Authority gives the approved provider of a residential care service notice in writing that access to the service is required on a day specified in the notice for the conduct of a Pricing Authority advice activity; and
(b) the notice is given at least 14 days before the specified day.
Access
(2) The approved provider must allow the persons performing the activity timely access to the following on the specified day as required for the persons to perform the activity:
(a) all areas of the premises of the service, other than the personal rooms of care recipients who are not participating care recipients for the activity;
(b) service staff in relation to the service who are on the premises of the service on the specified day;
(c) the care recipients who are provided with residential care through the service and are participating care recipients for the activity;
(d) records kept by the approved provider.
Note: For paragraph (d), examples of records kept by the approved provider that may be required for the persons to perform the activity include the following:
(a) records relating to the care needs of care recipients who are provided with residential care through the service;
(b) records relating to the costs of providing residential care.
Facilities and assistance—general
(3) The approved provider must provide the persons performing the activity with all reasonable facilities and assistance necessary for the performance of the activity, including but not limited to any of the following:
(a) site orientation, including guidance on how to safely navigate the premises of the service;
(b) dissemination of information to service staff in relation to the service and care recipients and their families or representatives;
(c) access to facilities at the premises of the service for working onsite at the premises;
(d) instructions necessary for accessing records of the service.
4E Providing assistance—data
(1) This section applies if:
(a) the Pricing Authority gives the approved provider of a residential care service notice in writing of data that is necessary for the conduct of a Pricing Authority advice activity; and
(b) the notice specifies a day for providing the data; and
(c) the notice is given at least 14 days before the specified day.
(2) The notice may specify requirements for the form or quality of the data or the manner for providing the data.
(3) The approved provider must provide the data in accordance with the notice.
4F Providing assistance—access to relevant persons
(1) This section applies if:
(a) the Pricing Authority gives the approved provider of a residential care service notice in writing that access to a person mentioned in subsection (2) (a relevant person) is required for the conduct of a Pricing Authority advice activity; and
(b) the notice specifies a day by which arrangements must be made for the access; and
(c) the notice is given at least 14 days before the specified day.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), the persons are the following:
(a) a specified member of the key personnel of the provider;
(b) a member of the key personnel of the provider who is responsible for a specified matter for the provider;
(c) a specified member of the service staff in relation to the service;
(d) a member of the service staff in relation to the service who is responsible for a specified matter for the service.
(3) The approved provider must:
(a) before the end of the specified day, make arrangements to allow the persons performing the activity timely access to the relevant person; and
(b) facilitate the access in accordance with the arrangements.
Part 2—Information to be given to Quality and Safety Commissioner
5 Purpose of this Part
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part specifies the responsibilities of an approved provider of a residential care service to give certain information about the service to the Quality and Safety Commissioner.
6 Information about unexplained absence of care recipients
(1) An approved provider of a residential care service must inform the Quality and Safety Commissioner if:
(a) a care recipient is absent from the service; and
(b) the absence is unexplained; and
(c) the absence is reported to the police.
(2) The information must be given to the Quality and Safety Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than 24 hours after the care recipient’s absence is reported to the police.
Part 3—Information to be given to Secretary
Division 1—Information about residential care services
24 Purpose of this Division
This Division specifies:
(a) for paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act—the responsibilities of an approved provider of a residential care service to give certain information to the Secretary about the service; and
(b) for sections 63‑1B and 63‑1BA of the Act—the period within which an approved provider of a residential care service must notify the Secretary of certain matters.
26 Information about quality of residential care
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, an approved provider of residential care must, in accordance with the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual:
(a) make measurements or other assessments that:
(i) relate to care recipients to whom the approved provider provides residential care; and
(ii) are relevant to indicating the quality of the residential care;
whether or not making the measurements or other assessments involves collecting or using personal information, or health information, and therefore sensitive information, within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988, about the care recipients; and
(b) compile or otherwise derive from those measurements and assessments (and any relevant measurements and assessments made before the commencement of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quality Indicator Program) Principles 2024 in accordance with previous versions of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual) information that:
(i) is relevant to indicating the quality of the care; and
(ii) is not personal information about any of the care recipients; and
(c) give the information to the Secretary.
27 Document about a care recipient to be provided with palliative care
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, an approved provider of a residential care service must give the Secretary a document in relation to a care recipient who enters the service to be provided with non‑respite care in the form of palliative care.
(2) The document under subsection (1) must:
(a) be in a form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) contain the information required by the form; and
(c) be given within 14 days, or such longer period as the Secretary allows, after the approved provider notifies the Secretary of the entry of the care recipient into the service under section 63‑1B of the Act.
27A Information or documents relating to care recipient with palliative care status
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, an approved provider of a residential care service must, if requested by the Secretary, give the Secretary information or documents of the kind specified in the request in relation to a care recipient in the service who has been assessed as having palliative care status under subsection 36(2) of the Classification Principles 2014.
(2) The approved provider must comply with the request within 7 days after the day the request was made.
27B Information about allocated places in respect of which approved provider is, or will be, unable to provide residential care
(1) This section is made for the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act.
(2) If:
(a) an approved provider operates a residential care service through which residential care is provided; and
(b) the service is located in the 2023 MM category known as MM 6 or the 2023 MM category known as MM 7; and
(c) the provider is, or will be, unable to provide residential care in respect of all of the places allocated under Part 2.2 of the Act to a person in respect of the service for a period of time;
the provider must, by written notice, inform the Secretary of that matter as soon as the provider becomes aware of it.
(3) The notice must specify:
(a) the residential care service to which it relates, including the service’s street address; and
(b) the number of places (the offline places) allocated under that Part in respect of which the approved provider is, or will be, unable to provide residential care through the service; and
(c) the period during which the approved provider is, or will be, unable to provide residential care in respect of those offline places.
28 Period for notifying Secretary about entry of care recipient to residential care service
For subsection 63‑1B(2) of the Act, the period within which an approved provider of a residential care service must notify the Secretary of the entry of a care recipient (other than as a recipient of respite care) into the service is 28 days after the day on which the care recipient enters the service.
28A Period for notifying Secretary about the cessation of the provision of certain residential care
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1BA(b) of the Act, an approved provider of a residential care service must notify the Secretary of the cessation of the provision of residential care (other than respite care) to a care recipient through the service within 28 days after the day on which the cessation occurs.
Division 2—Information about home care services
29 Purpose of this Division
For paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Division specifies the responsibility of an approved provider of a home care service to notify the Secretary of certain information about care recipients who start or cease to be provided with home care through the service.
30 Notification of start of home care through a home care service
(1) An approved provider of a home care service must notify the Secretary, in writing, of each care recipient who starts to be provided with home care through the service.
(2) The notice under subsection (1) must:
(a) be in a form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) be given within 28 days after the care recipient starts to be provided with home care through the service.
30A Notification of cessation of home care through a home care service
(1) An approved provider of a home care service must notify the Secretary, in writing, of:
(a) each care recipient who ceases to be provided with home care through the service on or after 27 February 2017; and
(b) the day the care recipient ceases to be provided with that home care.
(2) The notice under subsection (1) must:
(a) be in a form approved, in writing, by the Secretary; and
(b) be given within 31 days after the care recipient ceases to be provided with home care through the service.
Division 3—Information about vaccinations
30B Purpose of this Division
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Division specifies the responsibility of an approved provider of certain kinds of aged care services to give a report to the Secretary about the numbers of service staff and care recipients who have, or have not, received certain vaccinations.
30BA Reports about service staff—influenza vaccinations
Residential care services, certain flexible care services, and home care services
(1) An approved provider of:
(a) a residential care service; or
(b) a flexible care service through which transition care is provided (whether in a residential or community setting); or
(c) a flexible care service through which short‑term restorative care is provided (whether in a residential care setting or a home care setting); or
(d) a home care service;
must, on request by the Secretary, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that sets out the following information in relation to the service staff in relation to the service, as at the reporting day specified in the request:
(e) the total number of service staff in relation to the service;
(f) the number of those service staff who have informed the approved provider, whether voluntarily or as required under a law of a State or Territory, that they have received the annual seasonal influenza vaccination for the calendar year that includes the reporting day (whether or not under the approved provider’s influenza vaccination scheme (if any)).
Note: Certain approved providers must have an influenza vaccination scheme for service staff: see sections 8 and 15BA of the Quality of Care Principles 2014.
Multi‑purpose services
(2) An approved provider of a multi‑purpose service must, on request by the Secretary, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that sets out the following information in relation to the service staff in relation to the service who access, or are reasonably likely to access, any premises where residential care is provided through the service, as at the reporting day specified in the request:
(a) the total number of those service staff;
(b) the number of those service staff who have informed the approved provider, whether voluntarily or as required under a law of a State or Territory, that they have received the annual seasonal influenza vaccination for the calendar year that includes the reporting day.
Secretary may request report
(3) The Secretary may, at any time, request an approved provider to give to the Secretary a report under subsection (1) or (2).
(4) A request under subsection (3) must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) specify a reporting day that is not more than 3 years before the request is made.
(5) An approved provider must comply with a request under subsection (3) within 7 days after the request is made, or such longer period as is agreed, in writing, between the Secretary and the approved provider.
30C Reports about service staff—COVID‑19 vaccinations
Residential care services, certain flexible care services, and home care services
(1) An approved provider of:
(a) a residential care service; or
(b) a flexible care service through which transition care is provided (whether in a residential or community setting); or
(c) a flexible care service through which short‑term restorative care is provided (whether in a residential care setting or a home care setting); or
(d) a home care service;
must, on request by the Secretary, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that sets out the following information in relation to the service staff in relation to the service, as at the reporting day specified in the request:
(e) the total number of service staff in relation to the service;
(f) the number of those service staff who have voluntarily informed the approved provider that they have, in the period specified in the request before the reporting day, received a COVID‑19 vaccination.
Multi‑purpose services
(2) An approved provider of a multi‑purpose service must, on request by the Secretary, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that sets out the following information in relation to the service staff in relation to the service who access, or are reasonably likely to access, any premises where residential care is provided through the service, as at the reporting day specified in the request:
(a) the total number of those service staff;
(b) the number of those service staff who have voluntarily informed the approved provider that they have, in the period specified in the request before the reporting day, received a COVID‑19 vaccination.
Secretary may request report
(3) The Secretary may, at any time, request an approved provider to give to the Secretary a report under subsection (1) or (2).
(4) A request under subsection (3) must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) specify a reporting day that is not more than 3 years before the request is made.
(5) An approved provider must comply with a request under subsection (3) within 7 days after the request is made, or such longer period as is agreed, in writing, between the Secretary and the approved provider.
30CA Reports about residential care recipients—influenza vaccinations
(1) An approved provider of:
(a) a residential care service; or
(b) a flexible care service through which transition care is provided in a residential setting; or
(c) a flexible care service through which short‑term restorative care is provided in a residential care setting; or
(d) a multi‑purpose service;
must, on each influenza vaccination reporting day, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that states the number of care recipients to whom residential care is provided through the service who have voluntarily informed the approved provider that they have received the annual seasonal influenza vaccination for the calendar year that includes the influenza vaccination reporting day.
Meaning of influenza vaccination reporting day
(2) In this section:
influenza vaccination reporting day means each of the following:
(a) 31 July 2025;
(b) each subsequent 31 July.
30D Reports about residential care recipients—COVID‑19 vaccinations
(1) An approved provider of:
(a) a residential care service; or
(b) a flexible care service through which transition care is provided in a residential setting; or
(c) a flexible care service through which short‑term restorative care is provided in a residential care setting; or
(d) a multi‑purpose service;
must, on request by the Secretary, give the Secretary a report, in a form approved by the Secretary, that sets out the following information, as at the reporting day specified in the request:
(e) the total number of care recipients to whom residential care is provided through the service;
(f) the number of those care recipients who have voluntarily informed the approved provider that they have, in the period specified in the request before the reporting day, received one or more COVID‑19 vaccinations;
(g) the number of care recipients covered by paragraph (f) who informed the approved provider that they had received only one COVID‑19 vaccination;
(h) the number of care recipients covered by paragraph (f) who informed the approved provider that they had received 2 COVID‑19 vaccinations.
(2) The Secretary may, at any time, request an approved provider to give to the Secretary a report under subsection (1).
(3) A request under subsection (2) must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) specify a reporting day that is not more than 3 years before the request is made.
(4) An approved provider must comply with a request under subsection (2) within 7 days after the request is made, or such longer period as is agreed, in writing, between the Secretary and the approved provider.
Part 4—Aged care financial report
Division 1—Preliminary
31 Purpose of this Part
For paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part:
(a) specifies financial reporting responsibilities of approved providers described in any of paragraphs 31A(a), (b) and (c); and
(b) provides for the period that is a financial year for those approved providers.
Note: Part 4A of these principles specifies additional financial reporting responsibilities of approved providers.
31A Application of this Part
This Part applies to an approved provider if the approved provider is:
(a) an approved provider of a residential care service; or
(b) an approved provider of a home care service; or
(c) an approved provider of a flexible care service through which short‑term restorative care is provided.
32 What is an approved provider’s financial year
(1) A financial year for an approved provider is:
(a) a period of 12 months beginning on 1 July; or
(b) if, under subsection (3), the Secretary determines another period of 12 months (being a period that begins on the first day of a month)—that other period.
(2) An approved provider may apply to the Secretary to determine a period of 12 months, other than the period starting on 1 July, to be the approved provider’s financial year.
(3) If the Secretary receives an application from an approved provider for a determination under subsection (2), the Secretary must:
(a) make, or refuse to make, the determination; and
(b) notify the approved provider, in writing, of the Secretary’s decision:
(i) within 28 days; or
(ii) if the Secretary has requested further information in relation to the application—within 28 days, excluding the period within which the information is requested and received.
Note: A decision to refuse to make a determination is a reviewable decision under section 33.
(4) The Secretary may determine another period to be the approved provider’s financial year under subsection (3) only if the Secretary is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that it would be impracticable for the approved provider to comply with the requirements of Division 2 in relation to a period of 12 months starting on 1 July.
(5) If the Secretary’s decision is to refuse to make a determination for the approved provider under subsection (3), the Secretary must also give the approved provider a written statement of the reasons for the decision.
33 Reviewable decision
(1) A decision under subsection 32(3) to refuse to make a determination that a period of 12 months, other than the period starting on 1 July, be an approved provider’s financial year is a reviewable decision under section 85‑1 of the Act.
(2) Part 6.1 of the Act applies to a reviewable decision mentioned in subsection (1) as if a reference in that Part to this Act included a reference to these principles.
Division 2—Responsibilities of approved providers
34 Purpose of this Division
This Division specifies responsibilities in relation to financial reporting of an approved provider.
35 Aged care financial reports—general
(1) An approved provider must prepare in accordance with this section a report for a financial year for the approved provider (the aged care financial report).
Note: The aged care financial report prepared by an approved provider that provides services mentioned in 2 or more subsections of this section must be prepared in accordance with each of those subsections.
Who must sign the aged care financial report?
(2) If the approved provider is not a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, the aged care financial report must be signed by:
(a) if the provider is a body corporate that is incorporated, or taken to be incorporated, under the Corporations Act 2001—a director of the body corporate for the purposes of that Act; and
(b) otherwise—a member of the provider’s governing body.
(2A) If the approved provider is a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, the aged care financial report must be signed by one of the approved provider’s key personnel who is authorised by the provider to sign the report.
Residential care services—providers generally
(3) If the approved provider is an approved provider of one or more residential care services, the aged care financial report must include information about the matters mentioned in paragraphs 63‑2(2)(ca), (cb), (d) and (f) of the Act, in a form approved by the Secretary.
Note 1: This information is information that the Minister needs to prepare a report under section 63‑2 of the Act.
Note 2: The aged care financial report of an approved provider of a residential care service must also include the approved provider’s annual prudential compliance statement required to be given under section 51 of the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2)—see paragraph 51(2)(d) of those principles.
Residential care services—non‑government providers
(4) If the approved provider is an approved provider of one or more residential care services, and is not a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, the aged care financial report must:
(a) be in a form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) be accompanied by a copy of each general purpose financial report relating to any of those services for the approved provider for the financial year that has been audited in accordance with section 36; and
(c) be accompanied by a copy of each audit opinion obtained in accordance with section 36 about such a general purpose financial report.
Note: If a non‑government approved provider of a residential care service is a subsidiary of another body corporate, the aged care financial report must also be accompanied by a financial support statement for the provider: see subsection 39(2).
Residential care services—government providers
(6) If the approved provider is an approved provider of one or more residential care services, and is a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, the aged care financial report must include a financial report relating to those services for the financial year, in a form approved by the Secretary.
Home care services
(7) If the approved provider is an approved provider of one or more home care services, the aged care financial report must include a financial report relating to those services for the financial year, in a form approved by the Secretary.
Flexible care services involving short‑term restorative care
(8) If the approved provider is an approved provider of one or more flexible care services through which the approved provider provides short‑term restorative care, the aged care financial report must include a financial report relating to those services for the financial year, in a form approved by the Secretary.
35A General purpose financial reports for non‑government approved providers of residential care services
(1) An approved provider mentioned in subsection 35(4) must prepare in accordance with this section one or more reports for a financial year for the approved provider (each of which is a general purpose financial report). Together those reports must deal with all the residential care services provided by the provider in the financial year (whether or not any of those reports also deals with other matters).
Note: Copies of general purpose financial reports for a financial year for an approved provider must be given to the Secretary at the same time as the aged care financial report for the year: see paragraph 35(4)(b). Copies of general purpose financial reports must also be given to certain other persons on request, and must be published on a website: see sections 37A and 37B.
(2) Each general purpose financial report must:
(a) be a general purpose financial report within the meaning given by section 6 of the Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1; and
(b) be in accordance with the Australian accounting standards in force at the time the report is prepared; and
(c) give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the approved provider for the financial year in relation to one or more residential care services provided by the provider during the financial year (whether or not the report also deals with other matters); and
(d) be written as if the approved provider were, so far as it provided those services, a distinct reporting entity within the meaning of the Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1.
(3) If a general purpose financial report deals with a matter other than a residential care service provided by the provider in the financial year, the report must be prepared as if the residential care provided through the residential care services it relates to were a reportable segment for the purposes of the Australian accounting standards relating to segment reporting in force at the time the report is prepared.
(4) Despite subsections (2) and (3), if all the information about a residential care service that is required by the form mentioned in paragraph 35(4)(a) is included in the approved provider’s aged care financial report for the financial year, none of that information need be included in a general purpose financial report of the approved provider for the financial year.
36 Auditing of general purpose financial reports
(1) An approved provider that prepared a general purpose financial report must have it audited by:
(a) a registered company auditor within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001; or
(b) a person approved by the Secretary under subsection (3).
(2) The approved provider must obtain an audit opinion about the general purpose financial report from a registered company auditor or a person approved under subsection (3) that includes a statement as to whether the report complies with paragraphs 35A(2)(b) and (c).
(3) The Secretary may approve a person to audit a general purpose financial report if the Secretary is satisfied that the person has appropriate qualifications and experience.
(4) The Secretary may revoke an approval of a person under subsection (3) if the Secretary is satisfied that the person is no longer a fit and proper person to audit a general purpose financial report.
(5) A decision under subsection (4) is a decision reviewable under section 85‑1 of the Act.
(6) Part 6.1 of the Act applies to a reviewable decision mentioned in subsection (5) as if a reference in that Part to this Act included a reference to these principles.
37 Provision of aged care financial report to Secretary—general
An approved provider must give the aged care financial report for a financial year for the approved provider to the Secretary within 4 months after the end of the financial year.
37A Provision of general purpose financial report to care recipients etc.
An approved provider mentioned in subsection 35(4) must give a copy of its most recently audited general purpose financial report relating to a residential care service to each person who asks for a copy and is:
(a) a care recipient of the residential care service; or
(b) approved as a recipient of residential care and considering receiving residential care through the residential care service; or
(c) a representative of a person covered by paragraph (a) or (b).
37B Publication of general purpose financial reports and audit opinions
(1) If an approved provider is required under section 35A to prepare one or more general purpose financial reports for a financial year for the approved provider, the approved provider must ensure that, for a period of at least 3 years starting no later than 5 months after the end of the financial year for the approved provider:
(a) each such report is published, in a way that makes the report readily accessible to members of the public, on:
(i) a website of the approved provider; or
(ii) if the approved provider does not have a website—another website; and
(b) each audit opinion about such a report that is obtained in accordance with section 36 is published on the same website as the report, in a way that makes the audit opinion readily accessible to members of the public.
(2) All material required to be published under subsection (1) must, at any given time, be published on a single website. However, that single website may change from time to time.
38 Service provided during part only of financial year
If an approved provider of an aged care service was responsible for the operations of the service during part only of a financial year for the approved provider, the approved provider is taken to have complied with sections 35 to 37A in relation to the service for the financial year if the approved provider complied with those sections in relation to the service and that part of the financial year.
39 Provision of financial support statements
Scope of this section
(1) This section applies in relation to an approved provider if:
(a) the provider provides a residential care service; and
(b) the provider is not a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority; and
(c) the provider is a subsidiary of another body corporate.
Financial support statement to be given with aged care financial report
(2) If an approved provider is required under section 37 to give the Secretary an aged care financial report for the provider for a financial year, then the provider must, when giving the report to the Secretary, also give the Secretary a financial support statement for the provider signed within the period of 4 months starting on the day after the end of the financial year.
Note: For who must sign a financial support statement, see subsection 40(4).
(3) However, subsection (2) does not apply to an approved provider in relation to a financial year if:
(a) the aged care financial report for the provider for the year includes an explanation of why the provider has not complied with subsection (2) in relation to that year; and
(b) the provider has a reasonable excuse for not complying with subsection (2) in relation to that year.
Financial support statement to be given on request
(4) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary a financial support statement for the provider signed within the period for signing specified in the notice.
Note: For who must sign a financial support statement, see subsection 40(4).
(5) An approved provider must comply with a notice under subsection (4) within the period for complying specified in the notice or, if no such period is specified in the notice, within 28 days after the day when the notice is given.
(6) However, subsection (5) does not apply to an approved provider in relation to a notice under subsection (4) if:
(a) at or before the end of the period within which the provider would (but for this subsection) be required to comply with the notice, the provider gives the Secretary a written explanation of why the provider is not able to comply with the notice; and
(b) the provider has a reasonable excuse for not complying with the notice.
Secretary may request further information and documents
(7) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary specified information or documents that the Secretary considers are, or may be, relevant to assessing whether a provider has a reasonable excuse for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) or (6)(b).
(8) An approved provider must comply with a notice under subsection (7) within the period for complying specified in the notice or, if no such period is specified in the notice, within 28 days after the day when the notice is given.
40 What is a financial support statement?
(1) A financial support statement, for an approved provider, is a written statement by the ultimate holding company in relation to the provider that satisfies the requirements in subsections (2), (4) and (5).
(2) The statement must either:
(a) state that the ultimate holding company is willing and able, while the provider remains an approved provider, to provide any financial support to the provider that is needed in order to enable the provider to pay the debts of the provider specified under subsection (3) in relation to the statement; or
(b) state that the ultimate holding company is not willing and able, while the provider remains an approved provider, to provide such financial support to the provider.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), the following debts of the provider are specified in relation to the statement (whether or not the debts relate to the provision of aged care services by the provider):
(a) any debts of the provider that are outstanding immediately before the start of the day (the giving day) when the statement is given to the Secretary;
(b) any debts of the provider that:
(i) are debts that become due during the period that starts on the giving day and ends immediately before the start of the first day after the giving day when the provider gives the Secretary another financial support statement for the provider; or
(ii) if the provider never gives the Secretary another financial support statement for the provider after the giving day—are debts that become due on or after the giving day.
(4) The statement must be signed by:
(a) if the ultimate holding company is a body corporate that is incorporated, or taken to be incorporated, under the Corporations Act 2001—a director of the body corporate for the purposes of that Act; and
(b) otherwise—a member of the ultimate holding company’s governing body.
(5) The statement must be in a form (if any) approved by the Secretary for the purposes of this subsection.
40A Permitted uses reconciliation
(1) A form approved by the Secretary for an aged care financial report for an approved provider may require such a report to include a statement (a permitted uses reconciliation) that sets out information, as specified in the form, about reportable uses of funds by the approved provider during a financial year or years for the approved provider specified in the form.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a reportable use of funds is any of the following:
(a) a permitted use of refundable deposits or accommodation bonds;
(b) a use of funds (other than refundable deposits or accommodation bonds) which was such that, if the funds had been refundable deposits or accommodation bonds, the use would have been a permitted use of refundable deposits or accommodation bonds.
Note: For the permitted uses of refundable deposits and accommodation bonds, see section 52N‑1 of the Act.
41 Provision of further information and documents to Secretary
Approved provider must comply with notices under this section
(1) An approved provider must comply with a notice under subsection (3) or (5) within the period specified in the notice or, if no period is specified in the notice, within 28 days after the day when the notice is given.
(2) An approved provider complies with a notice under subsection (3) or (5) requiring the provider to give information or documents only if the provider gives the information or documents in a form (if any) approved by the Secretary for the purposes of that subsection.
Notice to provide updated information
(3) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary updated information about a matter, as specified in the notice, if information about the matter is included in, or is required by or under the Act to be included in:
(a) an aged care financial report for the provider given to the Secretary in accordance with section 37 of this instrument; or
(b) a general purpose financial report for the provider that is required under paragraph 35(4)(b) of this instrument to accompany such an aged care financial report.
Note: Since an aged care financial report for an approved provider must include an annual prudential compliance statement for the provider (see paragraph 51(2)(d) of the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2)), the Secretary may, under this subsection, require updated information about a matter if information about the matter is included or required to be included in such an annual prudential compliance statement.
(4) A notice under subsection (3) may require an approved provider to give updated information about a matter in relation to a period that is:
(a) the same as the period to which a report for the provider (as mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) or (b)) relates; or
(b) different from the period to which such a report relates.
Notice to provide supporting information or documents
(5) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary specified information or documents that the Secretary considers are, or may be, relevant to assessing the accuracy of:
(a) information included in a report for the provider mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) or (b); or
(b) updated information given to the Secretary by the provider in accordance with a notice under subsection (3).
(6) To avoid doubt, a notice under subsection (5) may require an approved provider to give the Secretary information or documents whether or not the information or documents are required by or under the Act to be included in a report for the provider mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) of this section.
Part 4A—Quarterly financial report
42 Purpose and application of this Part
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part specifies financial reporting responsibilities of approved providers.
Note: Part 4 of these principles specifies additional financial reporting responsibilities of approved providers.
(2) This Part applies to an approved provider if the approved provider is:
(a) an approved provider of a residential care service; or
(b) an approved provider of a home care service; or
(c) an approved provider of a multi‑purpose service.
43 Quarterly financial report
Provision of quarterly financial report
(1) An approved provider must, for each quarter of a financial year for the approved provider, give the Secretary a report (a quarterly financial report) for the approved provider for the quarter in accordance with this section.
Note: For a quarter of a financial year for an approved provider, see subsection (7).
(2) A quarterly financial report for a quarter of a financial year for an approved provider must be given to the Secretary:
(a) for a quarter ending at the end of 31 December—within 45 days after the end of the quarter; and
(b) for any other quarter—within 35 days after the end of the quarter.
(3) A quarterly financial report for an approved provider must:
(a) be in writing; and
(b) be in a form approved, in writing, by the Secretary in relation to the approved provider or a class of approved providers to which the approved provider belongs; and
(c) include any information or statements required by that approved form to be included in the report.
(4) To avoid doubt, the Secretary may, for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), approve different forms in relation to different approved providers or classes of approved providers.
Who must sign the quarterly financial report?
(5) If an approved provider is not a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, a quarterly financial report for the approved provider must be signed by:
(a) if the approved provider is a body corporate that is incorporated, or taken to be incorporated, under the Corporations Act 2001—a director of the body corporate for the purposes of that Act; or
(b) otherwise—a member of the approved provider’s governing body.
(6) If an approved provider is a State, a Territory, an authority of a State or Territory or a local government authority, a quarterly financial report for the approved provider must be signed by one of the approved provider’s key personnel who is authorised by the approved provider to sign the report.
Quarter of financial year for an approved provider
(7) Each of the following is a quarter of a financial year for an approved provider:
(a) the period of 3 months beginning on the first day of the financial year for the approved provider;
(b) each successive period of 3 months that occurs during the financial year for the approved provider after the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (a).
Note: Under paragraph 32(1)(b), a financial year for an approved provider may begin on a day other than 1 July.
44 Provision of further information and documents to Secretary
Approved provider must comply with notices under this section
(1) An approved provider must comply with a notice under subsection (3) or (5) within the period specified in the notice or, if no period is specified in the notice, within 28 days after the day when the notice is given.
(2) An approved provider complies with a notice under subsection (3) or (5) requiring the provider to give information or documents only if the provider gives the information or documents in a form (if any) approved by the Secretary for the purposes of that subsection.
Notice to provide updated information
(3) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary updated information about a matter, as specified in the notice, if information about the matter is included in, or is required by or under the Act to be included in, a quarterly financial report for the provider given to the Secretary in accordance with section 43 of this instrument.
(4) A notice under subsection (3) may require an approved provider to give updated information about a matter in relation to a period that is:
(a) the same as the period to which a quarterly financial report for the provider relates; or
(b) different from the period to which the report relates.
Notice to provide supporting information or documents
(5) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary specified information or documents that the Secretary considers are, or may be, relevant to assessing the accuracy of:
(a) information included in a quarterly financial report for the provider given to the Secretary in accordance with section 43; or
(b) updated information given to the Secretary by the provider in accordance with a notice under subsection (3) of this section.
(6) To avoid doubt, a notice under subsection (5) may require an approved provider to give the Secretary information or documents whether or not the information or documents are required by or under the Act to be included in a quarterly financial report for the provider.
Part 4B—Information about registered nurses
44A Purpose of this Part
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part specifies the responsibility of certain approved providers to give a report to the Secretary about registered nurses at residential facilities.
44B Report about registered nurse responsibility at residential facility
Provision of report
(1) An approved provider who provides residential care through a residential care service to care recipients in a residential facility during a calendar month must give the Secretary a report about the responsibility relating to registered nurses in section 54‑1A of the Act (whether or not the approved provider has been granted an exemption from section 54‑1A of the Act in relation to the residential facility).
(2) The report must be given to the Secretary within 7 days after the end of the calendar month, or within a longer period specified by the Secretary by notice in writing given to the approved provider.
Form and content of report
(3) The report must:
(a) be in a form approved, in writing, by the Secretary; and
(b) include the following information in relation to the residential facility:
(i) each period, on a day during the calendar month on which residential care was being provided to care recipients in the residential facility, of 30 minutes or more that a registered nurse was not on site and on duty at the residential facility;
(ii) for each such period, the reason a registered nurse was not on site or not on duty (or both) during the period;
(iii) for each such period, the alternative arrangements that were made for the period to ensure the clinical needs of care recipients in the facility were met, or a statement that no alternative arrangements were made;
(iv) any other information required by the approved form to be included in the report.
44C Provision of further information and documents to Secretary
Approved provider must comply with notices under this section
(1) An approved provider must comply with a notice under subsection (3) or (4) within the period specified in the notice or, if no period is specified in the notice, within 28 days after the day when the notice is given.
(2) An approved provider complies with a notice under subsection (3) or (4) requiring the provider to give information or documents only if the provider gives the information or documents in a form (if any) approved by the Secretary for the purposes of that subsection.
Notice to provide updated information
(3) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary updated information about a matter, as specified in the notice, if information about the matter is included in, or is required to be included in, a report by the provider under section 44B.
Notice to provide supporting information or documents
(4) The Secretary may at any time, by notice in writing, require an approved provider to give the Secretary specified information or documents that the Secretary considers are, or may be, relevant to assessing the accuracy of:
(a) information included in a report by the provider given to the Secretary under section 44B; or
(b) updated information given to the Secretary by the provider in accordance with a notice under subsection (3).
(5) To avoid doubt, a notice under subsection (4) may require an approved provider to give the Secretary information or documents whether or not the information or documents are required to be included in a report by the provider under section 44B.
Part 5—Participation in aged care workforce census
45 Purpose of this Part
For paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part specifies responsibilities of an approved provider of an aged care service to participate in an aged care workforce census.
46 Participation in aged care workforce census
(1) If an approved provider of an aged care service receives an aged care workforce census form sent by or on behalf of the Department, the approved provider must complete the form and return it to the Department by the date specified in the form.
(2) If an approved provider of an aged care service was not responsible for the operations of the service during all or some of a period covered by an aged care workforce census, the approved provider is taken to have complied with subsection (1) in relation to the service and the census.
Part 6—Responsibilities in relation to certain staff members and volunteers
47 Purpose of this Part
For paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, this Part specifies the responsibilities of an approved provider to ensure:
(a) that each person who is a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider:
(i) has been issued with a police certificate or has an NDIS worker screening clearance; and
(ii) if necessary, has made a statutory declaration stating that the person has not been convicted of certain offences; and
(b) that persons with certain criminal convictions do not provide aged care.
48 Requirements in relation to new staff members and volunteers
(1) An approved provider must not allow a person to become a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, unless the approved provider is satisfied that subsection (2) or (3) applies to the person.
Police certificates
(2) This subsection applies to a person if:
(a) subject to subsection 49(1), there is for the person a police certificate that is dated not more than 3 years before the day on which the person would first become a staff member or volunteer; and
(b) the police certificate does not record that the person has been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault; and
(c) for a person who has been, at any time after turning 16, a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than Australia—the person has made a statutory declaration stating that the person has never been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
NDIS worker screening clearances
(3) This subsection applies to a person if:
(a) subject to subsection 49(2), the person has an NDIS worker screening clearance that:
(i) was issued not more than 5 years before the day on which the person would first become a staff member or volunteer; and
(ii) is not suspended; and
(b) for a person who has been, at any time after turning 16, a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than Australia—the person has made a statutory declaration stating that the person has never been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
49 Arrangements for new staff members or volunteers who do not yet have a police certificate or an NDIS worker screening clearance
Police certificates
(1) Despite paragraph 48(2)(a), an approved provider may allow a person to become a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, if:
(a) a police certificate has not been issued for the person; and
(b) the care or other service to be provided by the person is essential; and
(c) an application for a police certificate for the person has been made before the day on which the person would first become a staff member or volunteer; and
(d) until the police certificate is issued, the person will be subject to appropriate supervision during periods when the person has access to care recipients; and
(e) the person makes a statutory declaration stating that the person has never been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
NDIS worker screening clearances
(2) Despite paragraph 48(3)(a), an approved provider may allow a person to become a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, if:
(a) the person is in the process of obtaining an NDIS worker screening clearance; and
(b) the care or other service to be provided by the person is essential; and
(c) until the person has an NDIS worker screening clearance, the person will be subject to appropriate supervision during periods when the person has access to care recipients; and
(d) the person makes a statutory declaration stating that the person has never been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
50 Continuing responsibilities of approved providers
(1) An approved provider must ensure that for each person who is a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, either:
(a) there is a police certificate for the person that is not more than 3 years old and that does not record that the person has been:
(i) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(ii) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault; or
(b) the person has an NDIS worker screening clearance that:
(i) is not more than 5 years old; and
(ii) is not suspended.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a period during which there is no police certificate for a person, or the person does not have an NDIS worker screening clearance, as permitted by section 49.
(2) An approved provider must ensure that each person who is a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, is not allowed to continue as a staff member or volunteer unless the approved provider is satisfied that neither a police certificate issued for the person (if any), nor any statutory declaration made by the person, records that the person has been:
(a) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(b) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
(3) An approved provider must take reasonable measures to require each person who is a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, to notify the approved provider if the staff member or volunteer is:
(a) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(b) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
(4) An approved provider must ensure that a staff member of the approved provider, or a volunteer for the approved provider, is not allowed to continue as a staff member or volunteer if the approved provider is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the staff member or volunteer has been:
(a) convicted of murder or sexual assault; or
(b) convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault.
51 Spent convictions
Nothing in this Part affects the operation of Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914 (which includes provisions that, in certain circumstances, relieve persons from the requirement to disclose spent convictions and require persons aware of such convictions to disregard them).
Part 7—Responsibilities relating to the suitability of key personnel of approved providers
52 Purpose of this Part
For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1A(b) of the Act, this Part specifies the requirements that a record of the suitability matters considered by an approved provider must comply with in relation to an individual who is one of the key personnel of the approved provider.
53 Record of consideration of suitability matters
The record must include the following:
(a) the name of the individual in relation to whom the suitability matters were considered;
(b) the date or dates on which the suitability matters were considered in relation to the individual;
(c) the outcome of the approved provider’s consideration of each suitability matter in relation to the individual;
(d) the reasons for reaching that outcome.
Part 7A—Responsibilities of certain approved providers relating to their governing bodies etc.
53A Purpose of this Part
This Part specifies:
(a) the requirements about membership of the quality care advisory body required to be established and continued in existence by an approved provider; and
(b) the requirements that the report the quality care advisory body is required to give to the governing body of the approved provider must comply with.
53B Requirements about membership of quality care advisory bodies
(1) For the purposes of subparagraph 63‑1D(6)(a)(i) of the Act, a quality care advisory body established by an approved provider must comply with the requirements about membership specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The requirements are that the quality care advisory body must include:
(a) a member who:
(i) is one of the key personnel of the approved provider; and
(ii) has appropriate experience in the provision of aged care; and
(b) a member who is directly involved in:
(i) the delivery of aged care; or
(ii) if the approved provider delivers clinical care—the provision of clinical care; and
(c) a member who represents the interests of care recipients, for example:
(i) a care recipient; or
(ii) a member of a consumer advisory body (if established); or
(iii) a member of an organised consumer advisory service; or
(iv) a consumer advocate.
Note: A quality care advisory body may also include other persons with an interest in the quality of aged care delivered by the approved provider.
53C Report about quality of aged care provided
(1) For the purposes of subsection 63‑1D(7) of the Act, a written report given to the governing body of an approved provider by a quality care advisory body under subparagraph 63‑1D(6)(a)(ii) of the Act about the quality of aged care that the approved provider provides through an aged care service must comply with the requirements specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The report must include any concerns that the quality care advisory body has about the quality of aged care provided by the approved provider through the service in the period (the report period) covered by the report, taking into account the following:
(a) feedback provided in the report period by care recipients and staff members of the approved provider about the quality of aged care provided by the approved provider through the service;
(b) complaints received in the report period by the approved provider about the quality of aged care provided by the approved provider through the service and action taken by the approved provider to address the complaints;
(c) regulatory action taken in the report period by the Quality and Safety Commissioner in relation to the quality of aged care provided by the approved provider through the service;
(d) progress made in the report period in relation to the approved provider’s plan for continuous improvement (within the meaning of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018), particularly improvements made in the provision of aged care by the approved provider through the service;
(e) performance reports given to the approved provider in the report period by the Quality and Safety Commissioner, in accordance with rules made under the Quality and Safety Commission Act, in relation to the quality of aged care provided by the approved provider through the service;
(f) staffing arrangements at the service during the report period, including details of the following, as applicable:
(i) the availability of allied health practitioners or other health support at the service;
(ii) the availability of registered nurses (within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act 1973) at the service;
(iii) staff turnover at the service;
(g) any reportable incident for the approved provider that occurred in the report period at the service and any action taken by the approved provider in response to the reportable incident;
Note: Reportable incident is defined in the Aged Care Act 1997.
(h) if the service is a residential care service:
(i) feedback received in the report period from care recipients at the service about the quality of food provided by the service to care recipients;
(ii) changes in the report period in the quality of food provided, and the food preparation model used, by the service;
(iii) menu assessments conducted by an accredited practicing dietitian in the report period in relation to food and nutrition provided by the service;
(iv) information compiled or derived from a measurement or other assessment made by the approved provider in the report period in accordance with section 26.
Part 7B—Responsibilities relating to the giving of information relating to reporting periods
53D Purpose of this Part
This Part sets out the responsibilities of an approved provider under section 63‑1G and paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act to give the Secretary specified information and statements in relation to a reporting period for the approved provider.
Note: Reporting period for an approved provider is defined in clause 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act as having the meaning given by subsection 63‑1G(3) of the Act.
53E Providers of residential care and home care—responsibility relating to the giving of information relating to reporting periods
For the purposes of subsection 63‑1G(1) of the Act, the following kind of information is specified in relation to a reporting period for an approved provider that provides a residential care service or a home care service:
(a) information about the kind of feedback and complaints received by the approved provider in the reporting period in respect of each residential care service and home care service provided by the approved provider;
(b) information about improvements made by the approved provider in the reporting period in relation to the quality of each residential care service and home care service provided by the approved provider;
(c) information about:
(i) the representation of different demographic groups in the membership of the governing body (but, for any group, only if a member of the governing body who is a member of the group consents to that information being provided); and
(ii) initiatives that the approved provider has implemented in the reporting period to support a diverse and inclusive environment for care recipients and staff members in relation to each residential care service and home care service provided by the approved provider;
(d) whether the approved provider was, in the reporting period, a person or body mentioned in any of paragraphs 63‑1D(1)(a) to (c) of the Act;
(e) if subsection 63‑1D(2) of the Act applied to the approved provider during the reporting period—whether the approved provider complied with the responsibilities set out in paragraphs 63‑1D(2)(a) and (b) of the Act;
(f) whether any of subsections 63‑1D(3) to (5) of the Act applied to the approved provider during the reporting period.
53F Providers of flexible care—responsibilities relating to the giving of information relating to reporting periods
For the purposes of subsection 63‑1G(1) of the Act, the following kind of information is specified in relation to a reporting period for an approved provider that provides flexible care as transition care (within the meaning of the Subsidy Principles 2014):
(a) information about the kind of feedback and complaints received by the approved provider in the reporting period in respect of each flexible care service provided by the approved provider through which transition care is provided;
(b) information about improvements made by the approved provider in the reporting period in relation to the quality of each flexible care service provided by the approved provider through which transition care is provided.
53G Responsibilities to prepare and provide statements
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 63‑1(1)(m) of the Act, the following responsibilities are specified for an approved provider that provides a residential care service or a home care service:
(a) to prepare a statement for a reporting period for the approved provider that complies with the requirements specified in subsection (2) of this section;
(b) to give a copy of the statement to the Secretary within 4 months after the end of the reporting period for the approved provider.
(2) The statement must:
(a) be in the form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) if the governing body of the approved provider believes that the approved provider has complied with the responsibilities of the approved provider under the Act and the requirements under the Quality and Safety Commission Act—state that fact; and
(c) if the governing body of the approved provider believes that the approved provider has failed to comply with one or more responsibilities of the approved provider under the Act or requirements under the Quality and Safety Commission Act—state that fact and set out details of:
(i) each responsibility or requirement that the governing body believes that the approved provider has failed to comply with; and
(ii) the reasons why the approved provider has failed to comply with the responsibility or requirement; and
(iii) the actions that the provider has taken, has started to take or will take to rectify the non‑compliance; and
(d) include any other statements or information required by the approved form; and
(e) be signed by a member of the approved provider’s governing body on behalf of all members of the governing body.
Note: Example: For subparagraph (c)(iii), under the Quality and Safety Commission Act an approved provider may be required:
(a) to give undertakings about remedying non‑compliance (see section 63T of that Act); or
(b) to agree to certain matters if revocation of approval is being considered (see section 63U of that Act).
53H Service provided during part only of reporting period
If an approved provider of an aged care service was responsible for the operations of the service during part only of a reporting period for the approved provider, the approved provider is taken to have complied with sections 53E, 53F and 53G in relation to the service for the reporting period if the approved provider complied with those sections in relation to the service and that part of the reporting period.
Part 8—Application, transitional and savings provisions
54 Application—amendments made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Reporting) Principles 2017
The amendments of these principles made by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Reporting) Principles 2017 apply to a financial year for an approved provider that begins on or after 1 July 2016.
55 Transitional—approvals of auditors
An approval of a person that was in force under subsection 36(3) immediately before the commencement of the amendment of that subsection by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Reporting) Principles 2017 continues in force on and after that commencement as if it had been given under that subsection as amended by those principles.
57 Application—amendments made by the Accountability Amendment (Financial Information) Principles 2021
(1) The amendments of section 35, and the addition of subsection 39(2), by the Accountability Amendment (Financial Information) Principles 2021 apply in relation to an aged care financial report that is given to the Secretary on or after the commencement of that instrument, whether the financial year to which the report relates begins before, on or after that commencement.
(2) Subsections 41(3) to (6), as added by the Accountability Amendment (Financial Information) Principles 2021, apply in relation to a report mentioned in paragraph 41(3)(a) or (b) of this instrument that is given to the Secretary on or after 1 July 2021, whether the financial year to which the report relates begins before, on or after that date.
58 Application—amendments made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Information) Principles 2022
Quarterly financial report
(1) Part 4A of these principles, as inserted by Part 1 of the amending Schedule, applies in relation to a quarter of a financial year for an approved provider if the quarter ends on or after the commencement of that Part.
Publication of general purpose financial reports and audit opinions
(2) Section 37B of these principles, as inserted by Part 2 of the amending Schedule, applies in relation to a financial year for an approved provider beginning on or after 1 July 2021.
Permitted uses reconciliation
(3) Section 40A of these principles, as inserted by Part 4 of the amending Schedule, applies in relation to an aged care financial report for a financial year for an approved provider if the financial year for the approved provider begins on or after 1 July 2021.
(4) An approved form for an aged care financial report for an approved provider may, under section 40A of these principles (as inserted by Part 4 of the amending Schedule), specify a financial year or years for the approved provider whether the specified financial year, or any of the specified financial years, began before, on or after the commencement of Part 4 of the amending Schedule.
Definitions
(5) In this section:
amending Schedule means Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Information) Principles 2022.
59 Application—amendment made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Palliative Care Classification and Other Measures) Instrument 2022
Section 27, as inserted by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Palliative Care Classification and Other Measures) Instrument 2022, applies in relation to a care recipient who enters a residential care service to be provided with non‑respite care in the form of palliative care on or after 23 July 2022.
60 Amendments made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Governance and Reporting for Approved Providers) Principles 2022
Responsibilities of approved providers relating to their governing bodies etc.—existing providers
(1) If a person is an approved provider immediately before 1 December 2022, Part 7A, as inserted by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Governance and Reporting for Approved Providers) Principles 2022, applies in relation to the person on and after 1 December 2023.
Responsibilities of approved providers relating to their governing bodies etc.—new providers
(2) If a person becomes an approved provider on or after the 1 December 2022, Part 7A, as inserted by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Governance and Reporting for Approved Providers) Principles 2022, applies in relation to the person on and after the day the person becomes an approved provider.
Responsibilities relating to giving information
(3) Part 7B, as inserted by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Governance and Reporting for Approved Providers) Principles 2022, applies in relation to a reporting period that starts on 1 July 2022 and each later reporting period for the approved provider.
61 Amendments made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quarterly Financial Reports) Principles 2023
Section 44, as inserted by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quarterly Financial Reports) Principles 2023, applies in relation to a quarterly financial report given to the Secretary on or after the commencement of that section, whether the report relates to a period that begins before, on or after that date.
62 Application—amendments made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Vaccination Information) Principles 2024
The amendments of sections 30BA, 30C, 30CA and 30D made by the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Vaccination Information) Principles 2024 apply in relation to information given to an approved provider, as mentioned in those sections, regardless of whether the information was given before, on or after 6 December 2024.