AGED care providers have been sent letters by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety asking for input and posing question about abuse and care standards.
The commission has also announced a new joint head as Commissioner Joseph McGrath steps down citing personal family reasons.
He has been replaced by Federal Court judge Richard Tracey who joins Commissioner Lynelle Briggs.
Until August 2018, Mr Tracey served as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia for 12 years and has been President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal and Judge Advocate General for the Australian Defence Force.
Senior Australians and Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said Mr Tracey’s appointment would have no impact on the timeframe for the royal commission with an interim report to be submitted October 31, 2019 and a final report by April 30, 2020.
The letters sent to aged care providers contain a number of questions including asking providers if since July 2013 their service had provided substandard care, including mistreatment and all forms of abuse or received complaints? What they had done to ensure services provided were of high quality and safe and person-centred, including through allowing people to exercise greater choice, control and independence in relation to their care and whether they had provided care to those under 65?
The commission’s opening hearing is in Adelaide on January 18. It expects to conduct hearings and/or round table discussions in capital cities and some regional centres.
Details: agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au
