Introduction
Social policies are basically set up with an aim to meet the human needs for health, education, economic security and housing, as well as to improve the human welfare based on the country’s requirements. Moreover, social policies are developed to make sure that every member of the society lives in peace and harmony by staying away from unnecessary conflicts. The main aim of social policies is to ensure social development, social justice, social integration, social balance, and social peace. Usually, the changes come in social problems in terms of environmental and economic factors. Based on the state’s social policies and social structure, these social problem changes also vary (Drake, 2018). Additionally, the social policy gives emphasis on the study of social needs, administrative arrangements and policy development with the aim of redressing disadvantages and enhancing citizen wellbeing. Thus, it is very crucial for the community services workers and other human services to understand the main purpose of the Australian social policy and human services that introduces the mechanisms of policy implementation, development, and evaluation. However, research says that Australia’s social system has some contemporary issues that include homelessness, child protection and family violence, Indigenous initiatives, the rights of diverse populations and groups, changes in labor market structure, mental health and disability, education policy, and conceptualizations of citizenship (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Thus, it is essential for a community services worker to understand the emerging issues and contemporary discourses in the current social policy.
The selection of the social care policy
In the present research work, the researcher has selected aged care social policy to get the details about it and explain its relevant social system. This research study has covered the history of aged care policy to make the community services worker understand the main purpose of this policy development. Also, it has given the emphasis on the values of the decision-makers in Government and various theoretical perspectives to understand the shape of the selected social policy. At last, it has highlighted the impact of aged care policy on Australian society or on social systems.
The history of aged care policy
When talking about the Australian social policy, the aged care policy requires paying some attention as it is a serious concern in Australia. At first, the Aged Care Act 1997 was developed that gives focused on complying with the Aged Care Quality Standards legislation for the aged care providers. This act is considered to be the primary legislation that provides details about the Australian Government-funded aged care. It includes specific rules and regulations for funding, subsidies and fees, regulation, quality of care, approval of providers, non-compliance, standards, diversity and discrimination, and rights of people for receiving proper care. Under the Aged Care Act 1997 legislation, there are various types of aged care, including flexible care, home care and residential care (Understanding policies and procedures in aged care. Kew Gardens, 2021).
After this, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission was set up with an aim to enhance and protect the quality of life, health, safety, and wellbeing of people who needs to receive aged care. After the establishment of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 has been established as the better-aged care quality assurance and the new independent statutory body. It has been found that this commission has replaced the ongoing bodies of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner. The main aim of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 is to make sure the quality standards of aged care by focusing on different aspects like promoting quality aged care and services in the Australian region; having the ability to consider and seek clinical advice for customers; improving the quality of life, safety, health, and wellbeing of aged care customers through accreditation; ensuring the agreements of integrity confidentiality; regulating education, complaints, and daily functions; and engaging many families and consumers in the regular aged care functions. Apart from these, there are other aged care policies and legislation, including Records Principles 2014, Accountability Principles 2014, User Rights Principles 2014, Sanctions Principles 2014, Quality of Care Principles 2014, and Information Principles 2014 (Nishtala et al., 2011).
The associated procedures and policies in the aged care are extensively used to implement and communicate values and maintain the standards and responsibilities of the care team. Usually, these values and policies lay out the expectations of both aged care service clients and staff. The implementation of such policies and values is helpful for the aged care groups to provide better amenities, care and facilities requirements to the needy one. These significant values include ensuring every resident gets effective and safe clinical and personal care; accountability for the efficiency, quality, and value of the services; a huge effort is made in managing the entrusted responsibilities; offering continuous ongoing training and education to the staff, and a continuous pursuit of the highest standards of services and care (Understanding policies and procedures in aged care. Kew Gardens, 2021).
The shape of the aged care policies
After looking into different aged care policies, it has been analyzed that the Aged Care Act 1997 legislation has given special focus to the basic needs of aged people, including food, housing and care. But it could not give focus on the challenges and updates that are required for both the clients and staff involved in the policy process. However, it can be said that the Aged Care Act 1997 legislation was shaped by the genuine identified social need. Moreover, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is projected to determine the compliance of procedures and policies and has been determined to assess, accredit and monitor the aged care sector independently. Here, this commission has tried to ensure the high quality of aged care in Australia by taking the responsibility of approving and reporting the aged care providers consistently. However, this commission is the outcome of the values of government decision-makers, and the major focus has not been given to the basic needs of the aged persons (Understanding policies and procedures in aged care. Kew Gardens, 2021). According to Mozammel Haque, there are several factors that influence the policy-making process, including economic, political, national defense, cultural, international aid, the interest of the recipients, and international consultants (Blakemore & Warwick-Booth, 2013). However, these influential factors are influencing the shape of the Aged Care Act 1997 legislation, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and others.
After the establishment of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 has been established that has given priority to establishing a regulatory framework with escalating and graduated responses to non-compliance; removing and integrating duplication in the non-compliance management with the Aged Care Quality Standards; and offering greater clarity to consumers, streamline the present performance assessment processes, and decision making transparency for providers (Commission act and rules. Commission Act and Rules | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, 2021). However, it has been found that this rule has been shaped by a genuine identified social need that gives more priority to the Aged Care Quality Standards and the quality of aged care. Additionally, other aged care policies and the legislation, including Records Principles 2014, Accountability Principles 2014, User Rights Principles 2014, Sanctions Principles 2014, Quality of Care Principles 2014, and Information Principles 2014, are the advanced policies that have given more priority to the basic needs and social needs as well as given the high focus on the values of government decision-makers. As per the researcher Deborah Anne Hatcher, grounded theory can be the best to understand the sustainable living of older people (Hatcher et al., 2019).
Impact of aged care policy on Australian society or on social systems
The aged care policy has a greater impact on Australian society and the social system. As everyone wants to live in their own house after their retirement, but it’s not possible to provide all. Thus, the residential aged care policy is very helpful to ensure the accessibility of aged care for all older people. Residential aged care is funded by the Australian Government by ensuring it is more accessible and affordable (Hatcher et al., 2019). However, it has been found that aged care policy in Australia is improving the quality of care by ensuring all the necessities of the Australian aged people.
One of the great results of the aged care policy is the development of the pension policy that has generated more benefits for retired persons. It has been found that the dominant source of income for retirees in Australia is the public age pension. Research says that nearly 70% of the pensioners are getting a means-tested pension from the Australian Government. Moreover, a reduced government pension is received by nearly 41% of pensioners because of their own assets. Hence, the OECD report states that Australian pensioners’ income is considered to be the second-lowest as compared to the working income population. The following figure-1 shows the current position of the dependency ratio, older employment, senior citizen poverty and pension policy (Stiftung, 2021).
Figure-1: Pension policy in Australia
Source: (Stiftung, 2021)
Conclusion
In the developing world, social policy is growingly a reality. This social policy involves a complex web of institutions, legislation, and provision that needs to achieve the social needs and kind of individual needs that are not met adequately for one or the other reason. This research study has highlighted the history of aged care policy to make the community services worker understand the main purpose of this policy development. Also, it has given the emphasis on the values of the decision-makers in Government and various theoretical perspectives to understand the shape of the selected social policy, as well as given focus on the impact of aged care policy on Australian society or on social systems. Therefore, it has been found that the implemented policies have a positive impact on the social system of the aged people.
References
Blakemore, K., & Warwick-Booth, L. (2013). Social Policy: An Introduction: An Introduction. Mcgraw-Hill Education (UK).
Cambridge University Press. (2018, June 21). An introduction to international relations. Higher Education from Cambridge University Press. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/an-introduction-to-international-relations/1C26C387DAA1F3D2210B56DB884F75BC
Commission act and rules. Commission Act and Rules | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. (2021). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/commission-act-and-rules
Drake, R. F. (2018). The principles of social policy. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Hatcher, D., Chang, E., Schmied, V., & Garrido, S. (2019). Holding momentum: a grounded theory study of strategies for sustaining living at home in older persons. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 14(1), 1658333.
Nishtala, P. S., McLachlan, A. J., Bell, J. S., & Chen, T. F. (2011). A retrospective study of drug‐related problems in Australian aged care homes: medication reviews involving pharmacists and general practitioners. Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 17(1), 97-103.
Stiftung, B. (2021). SGI 2019: Australia: Social policies. SGI 2019 | Australia | Social Policies. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.sgi-network.org/2019/Australia/Social_Policies
Understanding policies and procedures in aged care. Kew Gardens. (2021, November 17). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://kewgardens.com.au/understanding-aged-care/policies-and-procedures-in-aged-care/
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