2018

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was announced on 16 September 2018. It highlighted many issues of concern through the close examination of some unfortunate and unacceptable situations.

The Royal Commission, itself, raised much negative comment in the press, as Chief Executive Richard Hearn pointed out:

‘[The Commission] … continues to highlight many of the issues of concern that the industry has advocated for change in, as well as some unfortunate and unacceptable situations that must be addressed … Resthaven’s senior managers have been following the developments closely, noting the key issues and reflecting on people’s experience at Resthaven … We have been advocating for reform for years, acknowledging that appropriate resourcing is fundamental to a sustainable industry that offers best practice quality and safety in aged care.’

On 23 November, Resthaven was called to respond to eight questions asked by the Royal Commissioners as one of the 100 largest aged care service providers in Australia. Resthaven’s comprehensive report was lodged on 7 January 2019.

The hearings, which began in February 2019, continued throughout 2019-20 and were held in all capital cities and a number of regional locations. The Commission reviewed all aspects of aged care, highlighting many of the issues of concern that the industry has advocated for change in.

On 17 October 2019, Richard Hearn was called to give evidence. The focus of the hearing was how to enhance capacity and how to make the aged care sector a more attractive and rewarding place to work. His evidence was used in the interim report into aged care quality and safety was released by the Royal Commission on 31 October.

The interim report confirmed the need for significant structural, financial and workforce reform – much of which Resthaven had been advocating for previously, acknowledging that appropriate resourcing is fundamental to a sustainable industry that offers best practice quality and safety in aged care.

The Commission’s three urgent areas of action related to reducing the Home Care packages waitlist for high care need individuals, ensuring minimal reliance on chemical restraint, and finding options for younger people outside of aged care. These matters were all consistent with issues Resthaven had raised for many years.

On 11 December 2019, Peter Jenkin, Resthaven Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, was called to a panel discussion of the Royal Commission. Peter’s expertise was greatly appreciated by the commissioners, and Resthaven’s approach to palliative care was highlighted.

Hearings, while interrupted due to COVID-19, continued throughout 2020 in a variety of formats, ahead of the Commission’s final report. An extension was granted to allow the Commission to consider COVID-19 in an aged care context.

In February 2021, the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was tabled. The Government provided a comprehensive response as part of the May budget announcements and monitoring and compliance systems were quickly implemented as part of the reform package. The new Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) commenced in April 2021.

On the handing down on the final report, Resthaven’s then CEO Darren Birbeck stated: We hope the federal government will implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission with appropriate resourcing, to transform the aged care system and deliver high quality care to every older Australian when and where they need it.  The Commissioners delivered a balanced report. It outlines the systemic issues within the aged care sector over the last 20 years, recognising that the system has been deliberately designed to limit government expenditure.