AUSTRALIA | The Australian Government has updated and added new requirements to audit Care Minutes Performance Statements.
All residential aged care providers will be required to complete a new Care Minutes Performance Statement, which must be externally audited and submitted to the 2025–26 Aged Care Financial Report.
The Australian Government, specifically the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, has announced it is updating the way it monitors care minutes in aged care homes to increase transparency around how funding is spent.
Starting in the Aged Care Financial Report 2025-26, all residential aged care providers must prepare and submit a new Care Minutes Performance Statement.
Providers will be required to engage a registered company auditor to complete an audit of their Care Minutes Performance Statement. The audit must be conducted under the assurance standard ASAE 3000.
The Care Minutes Performance Statement should include direct care minutes delivered, associated labour hours and costs, registered nurse coverage, and occupied bed days.
In addition, providers must continue to report care minutes and RN coverage through the Quarterly Financial Report and 24/7 Registered Nurse Report.
This requirement applies to all residential aged care services, including specialised and non-specialised services, provided at all locations.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said it encouraged providers to engage with an auditor early and appropriately maintain their records to accurately complete their Care Minutes Performance Statement.
This will be an annual requirement for all residential aged care services, including specialised and non-specialised services, provided at all locations. These new audit requirements are an important part of ensuring that reporting about the delivery of care time is accurate. This protects the integrity of the new care minutes supplement and transparency measures, like Star Ratings.
On 1 October 2024, the Minister for Aged Care wrote to residential aged care providers, identifying that performance against the care minute responsibility was below expectations. Analysis undertaken by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department) indicated that compliance with care minute requirements was lower than expected. In the open letter, the Minister noted they had requested the department identify ways to improve care compliance.
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