Welcome to the November edition of the Community Care NewsDigest, our last publication for 2019.

In major news this month, the Royal Commission into Aged Care handed down their Interim Report laying the foundations for major reform and redesign of Australia’s aged care system. The report characterises the current state of aged care as a “shocking tale of neglect” and identifies critical areas where immediate action should be taken. The Final Report is scheduled to be handed to the Governor-General on 12 November 2020

The Department of Human Services is developing a new Aged Care Provider Portal for providers to access online services and make claims for aged care subsidies and supplements, as part of the Provider Digital Access (PRODA) System designed to deliver secure access to online government services. It is expected that this new system will eventually replace the existing online services for home and residential care.

CHSP providers should receive their link to the Wellness and Reablement online reporting template by mid-November. It is important that those providers who haven’t received the link by 21 November 2019, contact their Funding Agreement Managers.

Dementia Australia is providing information on how to connect with funded services and supports for all stages of dementia including the diagnosis period. The service is available for people with dementia who speak a language other than English and their families living in Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta and The Hills.

On 17 October it was announced that Mr. Martin Hoffman will commence his three-year term as the new NDIA CEO on 4 November. Mr. Hoffman replaces Ms. Vicki Rundle who has been acting in the position since April this year.

Western Sydney Community Forum has collaborated with local councils across Western Sydney to offer Adaptive Leadership Incubator Labs for leaders of organisations working with individuals, families and communities. Designed specifically for the Community Sector in Western Sydney, the training will equip participants to navigate complexity and uncertainty in their day-to-day roles, while providing the theoretical framework and skills required to tackle tough challenges.

Tuesday 3 December marks the International Day of People with Disability with a range of events designed to celebrate the day and highlight achievements happening across Western Sydney. For more information as well as the latest events and industry resources, please follow the NewsDigest link below, and remember to check WSCF’s social media channels to stay up to date.

Finally, the NewsDigest team would like to thank you for your support in 2019.  We hope you have a great and safe holiday season and look forward to next year’s first NewsDigest in February 2020.