Royal Commission request to providers
In late November, the Royal Commission wrote to the top 100 aged care providers requesting they respond to a survey asking for details of instances of sub-standard care and complaints received over the last five years. Providers have also been asked to identify what actions they have taken in response, what they have done to improve their service and what they see as barriers to improving service.
The top 100 providers were asked to submit their response by 7 January 2019 and other providers by 8 February 2019.
Providers can elect not to respond to the request. However, for those who do, they will need to gather a lot of information in a short timeframe.
If you are asked to assist in collecting information, remember the request must be reasonable and all the usual conditions of employment apply – such as breaks and overtime payments.
The Royal Commission is seeking evidence from providers within a legal framework. If you are asked to exclude or alter any information, or feel pressured not to tell your own story to the Commission, it is imperative that you contact ANMF (Vic Branch) for advice.
Please see the ANMF Federal Office’s fact sheet for more details about legal obligations under a Royal Commission.
Remember, if you are concerned about any conduct affecting quality of care in your facility, you should contact the Aged Care Complaints Commission on 1800 550 552 or visit the website.
ANMF response
The ANMF has established a working group of union officers from across the country, all with expertise in aged care, to prepare a national submission to the Royal Commission. The submission will draw on the extensive material already gathered by the ANMF over many years of campaigning and responding to
inquiries into aged care. Key to the submission will be presenting the evidence in support of minimum staffing ratios and appropriate skill mixes in aged care.
The Federal Office has engaged legal representatives to provide advice and representation at the Commission. Via our lawyers, the ANMF has introduced itself to the Commissioners and outlined the approach the submission will take. We will listen carefully at the preliminary hearing of the Royal Commission on 18 January 2019, where the procedure for making submissions and attending hearings will be set out for the coming months.
We will continue to provide updates on the progress of the Royal Commission throughout 2019. You can contact ANMF (Vic Branch) confidentially for urgent issues in relation to the Royal Commission.
