Timeframes for implementing the new Charter of Aged Care Rights

The new Charter of Aged Care Rights is now in effect and all providers have responsibilities, including to:

• give consumers a signed copy of the Charter
• assist consumers to understand the Charter
• ensure that consumers, or their authorised person, are given a reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.

Timeframes for implementing these new requirements are:

• 1 July 2019 – all requirements apply to new care recipients of all aged care programs.

• 30 September 2019 – all requirements apply to existing consumers of:
  • transition care
  • multi-purpose services in a residential setting
  • residential care
  • short-term restorative care in a residential setting.

• 30 September 2019 – a copy of the Charter must be sent to all existing CHSP care recipients.

• 31 December 2019 – all requirements apply to existing consumers of:
  • multi-purpose services in a community setting
  • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care
  • home care
  • short-term restorative care in a home setting.
• 30 June 2020 – existing CHSP care recipients must be helped to understand the Charter and be given a reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.

The Department has provided information for CHSP providers about the following:

• your responsibilities under the Charter
• resources to help you, including a letter that you could use (or adapt) to inform your existing consumers about the Charter.

Further information and resources is available on the Department’s website