Nurses must be included in shaping digital innovations in aged care

Digital technology can assist aged care nurses to manage end of life in nursing homes, however, ensuring its impact requires better tools, training and ongoing support, according to a new study. Published in the journal BMC Nursing, the study interviewed nursing staff in 15 residential aged care facilities across three Australian states. It found nurses […]

Aged Care Act passes Parliament

The Albanese Government’s Aged Care Bill passed Parliament earlier this week, paving the way for a new Aged Care Act and “once-in-a-generation” reforms to the sector. The new legislation, which will come into effect from 1 July 2025, addresses nearly 60 recommendations from the landmark Aged Care Royal Commission, as it aims to create a […]

Fee-free TAFE to help fix skills shortages in nursing and aged care    

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has issued a media release welcoming the Albanese Government’s commitment to expanding fee-free TAFE courses.  ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said enduring funding for free TAFE study would help address skills shortages in the nursing and aged care workforces and save students thousands of dollars a year in […]

The ANMF’s priorities for a new Aged Care Act

The Australian Government is developing a new Aged Care Act, which sets out rules for things like funding, regulation, approval of providers, quality of care and the rights of people receiving funded aged care under the Commonwealth aged care system. The New Aged Care Bill (2024) is set to replace the current Act, which has […]

Virtual reality to improve mealtimes for people with dementia   

A virtual reality experience to assist health workers in caring for patients with dementia at mealtimes has been recently released by Dementia Australia.  Dementia Australia’s Dine with Ted allows participants to engage in a dining experience from the perspective of a person living with dementia.   The three-hour virtual reality program uses avatar technology to educate […]

New Aged Care Act introduced to Parliament

The highly anticipated new rights-based Aged Care Act, stemming from the first recommendation of the landmark Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, has now been introduced to Parliament. The new Aged Care Act legislation includes: Prime Minister Albanese said his government was putting the “care” back into aged care, in marking today’s broad […]