The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care is setting up a Rural, Remote, and First Nations Aged Care Service Development Assistance Panel.

With responsibility for better health and wellbeing for all Australians, the Department is now aiming to strengthen evidence-based policy advice. It wants to improve program management, research, regulation, and partnerships with other government agencies, consumers, and stakeholders.

Through a request for tender (RFT) the Department seeks organisations capable of assisting aged-care providers in rural and remote locations deliver culturally safe and quality services.

The Panel will deliver expert assistance and advice across the following categories to aged-care service providers located in rural and remote areas and/or those providing aged care to a significant number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people located anywhere in Australia.

Category 1 – Provider Capability and Support:

· improving quality care to aged-care recipients and consumers

· meeting regulatory and legislative requirements and quality standards

· ensuring a well-managed organisation with enhanced staff capability

· meeting organisational responsibilities

· assisting with financial practices at the organisational level

· providing the ability to fulfil a funds administrator role

· assisting aged-care providers meet their obligations under specific Australian Government-funded aged-care programs.

Category 2 – Sector Development:

· provide information, tools, and training to assist aged-care services align and comply with the system or changing reforms

· improve sector knowledge and the capability of the rural and remote aged-care workforce.

Category 3 – Project Management:

· develop, manage, and/or deliver a capital project or infrastructure review.

The Australian Government encourages tenderers to include the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their bids. For the purpose of this tender, an SME is an Australian or New Zealand firm with fewer than 200 full-time equivalent employees.

The timeframe for delivery is 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2027 with two one-year extension options.

The closing time and date for responses is 2pm ACT local time on Thursday 21 March 2024.

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