Latest Compliance Updates

From 1 July 2026, employers must pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions at the same time as wages, so that contributions are received by the employee’s super fund within 7 business days of payday.

Contribution caps are also expected to increase from 1 July 2026 (through indexation). This may increase employee requests for salary sacrifice and other contribution arrangements

This change affects payroll and finance processes. If your business currently pays super quarterly, you will need to move to payday-based processing and ensure your clearing house and payment method can meet the 7-business-day timeframe.

Late super payments can trigger additional charges and compliance action. Providers should also be prepared to respond quickly to failed payments (for example, incorrect member details, rejected files or returned payments) to avoid breaching the new timing requirements.

Review your payroll cycle and map the full process from payroll finalisation through to fund receipt. Confirm where delays occur (for example, approval steps, clearing house cut-offs, bank processing time).

Work with your payroll software provider and clearing house to confirm the steps required to transition to payday super, including any new file formats, reporting, or acceptance confirmations.

Update onboarding processes so employees provide valid fund details early, and establish an internal ‘exceptions process’ so errors are corrected and resubmitted immediately.

This update relates to the new Restorative Care Pathway Program, replacing the former Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program.

The Program focuses on early intervention and reablement for consumers to continue to live at home safely and independently after a setback e.g. Illness, injury or period of functional decline. The Restorative Care Pathway is designed to help older people regain or maintain day-to-day functioning, prevent decline, and avoid premature entry into long-term care.

It provides short-term, goal-oriented funding for intensive allied health or nursing interventions that support independence.

The Restorative Care pathway sits alongside the Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, and End-of-Life Pathway. Older people can access Restorative Care based on an assessed need.

The Restorative Care Pathway provides separate funding, which does not come from the person’s Support at Home ongoing budget. It includes a defined short-term funding period (typically 16 weeks), and if approved for restorative care, the person receives:

• a support plan and budget for a 16-week period, and
• a separate budget for AT-HM, if required (equipment or minor modifications).

Restorative care services can include any Support at Home service categories, such as:

• Clinical supports (nursing, OT, physio)
• Independence supports (personal care, medication prompts)
• Everyday living supports (cleaning, shopping, gardening)

To ensure effectiveness, the Program must be:

• Person centred
• Culturally safe
• Support greater choice and flexibility
• Promote self-esteem and independence
• Provided with multi-component interventions to improve physical, functional, psychosocial and cognitive abilities of consumers.
• Incorporate effective communication strategies and technology integration to support optimal outcomes for consumers.

Providers who are registered to deliver Restorative Care (Category 4) will need to be familiar with and have in place processes to ensure the following responsibilities are met:

Care Coordination and Management

Appointment of a Restorative Care Partner (Clinical or Allied Health Professional) who has the following added responsibilities for Restorative care beyond standard care that includes:

• Assessment, Planning, Developing Goal Plan / Exit Plan.
• Review of Goal Plans to monitor and document progress towards achieving independence and reablement.
• Flexible Agreement development for Restorative Care.
• Budget Management (Service Evidence and Claiming).
• Coordinating the multi-disciplinary team involved with care and services.
• Managing any Assistive Technology (AT) and Home Modification (HM) needs.
• Worker training to provide appropriate restorative care.

Assessment

Ensure on-going assessment of progress using outcome measures (such as the modified Barthel Index and or Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) method to demonstrate effectiveness and track progress towards reablement and skill building goal therapy of consumers.

Providers must:

• Co-develop a goal plan with the consumer
• Tailor interventions to functional outcomes
• Monitor and report progress toward goals

Restorative care works best when family or supporters participate in the person’s goals and activities so where possible this should be facilitated as part of assessment and service delivery processes.

Service Delivery

Ensure services provided align with the approved government service list which includes clinical support, personal care and everyday living assistance.

Exit Planning

Ensure planning is undertaken for the 16-week episode of Restorative Care which should begin at the start of care and be included in the Goal Plan outlining recommendations and facilitating referrals for ongoing community services, if needed.

Compliance and Reporting

Meet Restorative Care Program requirements for both financial and quality reporting and maintain up to date information on the Aged Care Provider Portal.

Consumer Rights and Choices

Consumers can request or change service providers (multi-disciplinary allied health providers and or clinical care providers) at any time.

Providers must respect consumer preferences, support them in decision making and facilitate smooth transition to ensure continuity of care.

Feedback and Complaints Processes are to be in place and must include information on investigations, corrective actions, open disclosure and consumer support.

• You must ensure that your organisation has in place systems and processes to implement and manage quality Restorative Care Service Provision.
• The new Restorative Care Pathway Program Policy and Procedure by Provider Institute contains detailed information about the Program and requirements for Restorative Care implementation.
• If your organisation chooses to use this Policy and Procedure for Restorative Care Provision, ensure it is adapted to suit your organisational requirements, endorsed by the Business’ governing body, regularly reviewed, considers feedback from staff and consumers and is kept updated. There are also a Restorative Care Goal Plan template and Restorative Care Exit Plan and Outcomes Summary template with this update that can be adapted.
• Establish Flexible Service Agreements for Restorative Care including pricing, budget, Goal Plan and Exit Plan.
• Ensure consumers are informed of and consent to services delivered by Allied Health professionals.
• If a consumer chooses to utilise alternative Allied Health Service Providers, ensure appropriate transition planning to maintain continuity of care.
• Meet national data collection standards for system improvement and funding which involves pre and post Program assessments to evaluate programme effectiveness and measurable improvements in helping individuals regain independence.
• Ensure data is collected to show what goals were met, how independence was maintained and future care needs are clear. Maintain objective and timely Progress Charts to track and document improvements and or setbacks towards established goals including Goal Plans and well-structured Exit Plans to support consumers to maintain continued independence achieved in the Restoration Pathway.
• All data collected to be maintained on the Provider’s electronic consumer record system to identify different clinical and outcome measures used that worked and those that need further consideration as part of continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate tracking of services delivered which can be matched with the nominated budget. It is essential to have correct and transparent budget monitoring and reporting to the consumer on how funds were used during this period.
• Identify and access equipment, aides, assistive technologies as required to assist with Restorative Care in the Home including minor Home Modifications.
• Train Managers and supporting staff on what the Restorative Care Pathway is for, required assessment, how it benefits consumers, multi-disciplinary approach, Goal Plan towards restoring function and Exit Plan to transition consumers to maintenance routines when goals are met including managing documentation and reporting.
• Provider Institute’s Compliance Policy and Procedure for Support at Home Aged Care Providers contains detailed information and guidance of what needs to be reported, how to report and frequency.
• The “Do Checklist” accompanying this update provides detailed implementation steps to help you implement the Restorative Care Program, meet new reporting requirements and ensure compliance with the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.