* Updated: 17 February 25 (Original: 4 September 2023) *
From 1 December 2023, existing aged care providers are required to establish and continue Consumer Advisory Bodies and a Quality Care Advisory Body to help improve aged care.
These requirements result from the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. All aged care providers are required to have them in place by 1 December 2023.
The intention of the new Advisory Bodies are to ensure and strengthen positive consumer experiences and to provide valuable feedback to the governing body (our Board of Directors), giving community residents and clients a voice.
Vasey RSL Care has a Consumer Advisory Body at each of our Residential Aged Care Homes and one for our Home Care Service. This adds a further dimension to the consumer engagement activities already in place, such as the quarterly Consumer Engagement Forums, residential aged care Resident Meetings and regular resident/client surveys.
Consumer Advisory Bodies (CABs)
Membership is open to all aged care residents and their representatives and diversity is sought so that all residents are represented. They can be any size or constitution to suit the organisation’s needs, and while they can include past consumers and their representatives, they should include mostly current consumers and their representatives. They should represent the diverse backgrounds and support consumers with barriers to participate. The CABs will meet twice per year and minutes will be forwarded to the Board for their consideration and action. Every aged care resident and every home care client has the opportunity to start or join a CAB.
‘Your Voice Matters’ – if you are interested, please speak to your Residential Manager (aged care residents) or to your Care Advisor (home care clients).
Quality Care Advisory Body (QCAB)
There is just one Quality Care Advisory Body which provides organisation-wide input on care directly to the governing body. Membership must include a representative of consumers’ interests, ie a consumer or representative, a key staff member with aged care provision experience and a staff member directly involved in delivery of aged care or clinical care. This must meet at least twice per year and minutes of the meetings go to the Board for their consideration and action.
Both CABs and the QCAB must meet at least twice per year. Vasey RSL Care is required to keep records of membership, dates joined/left, meeting agendas, minutes and meeting resolutions.
Both bodies can help us improve the experience of our aged care residents and home care clients and are an important development in ensuring that your voices are heard at the highest levels.