Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Legislation au F1997B02056 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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1978 No. 247

REGULATION UNDER THE NURSING HOMES ASSISTANCE ACT 1974*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974.

Dated this thirtieth day of November 1978.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for Health

 

AMENDMENTS OF THE NURSING HOMES ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS†

Schedule 1

Schedule 1 to the Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting item 16 from Part I and substituting the following item:

“ 16. Lidcombe Hospital—Wards 5, 6, 7, 20, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 27A, 27B, 34, 35, 36 and 42 only, Lidcombe.”;

(b) by inserting in Part I, after item 18, the following item:

“ 18a. Lucy Gullett Nursing Home, Bexley.”;

(c) by inserting in Part II, after item 14b, the following item:

“ 14c. Maryborough and District Hospital—Nursing Home Unit only, Maryborough.”;

(d) by inserting in Part II, after item 21, the following items:

“ 21a. Polworth House, being part of the Colac and District Hospital, Colac.

* Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 December 1978.

† Statutory Rules 1975, No. 65 as amended by Statutory Rules 1975, Nos. 67, 166, 205 and 206; 1976, No. 114; and 1977, Nos. 10 and 113, 180 and 244; and 1978, No. 67.

13558/78 Cat. No. —Recommended retail price 10c 12/24.8.1978


21b. Portland and District Hospital—Seymour Cundy Wing only, Portland,”;

(c) by inserting in Part II, after item 23, the following item:

“ 24. Wimmera Base Hospital—Nursing Home Unit, Horsham.”;

(f) by omitting from item 10 in Part III “ and C5 to C11 (inclusive) ” and substituting “, C5 to C8 (inclusive), C10 and C11 ”; and

(g) by omitting item 4 from Part IV and substituting the following item:

“ 4. Royal Adelaide Hospital-Geriatric, Rehabilitation and Long Term Sections of Northfield Wards—Ward C in Block 1 of New Wing, Wards A, B, C and D in Block 2 of New Wing and Ward B2 in Old Wing only, Northfield.”.

Printed by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer

Overview

The Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations were made in 1978 under the Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974, an Act of the Australian Parliament, to provide funding assistance for nursing homes and hospital-based nursing units to help alleviate the financial burden of care on the elderly and infirm. These regulations were enacted to ensure that the assistance provided under the Act was accurately and effectively targeted to the appropriate facilities, thereby addressing a gap in the availability of adequate care for those needing long-term nursing assistance. The policy objective of these regulations is to support the provision of essential nursing care services to those who require it, particularly in hospital-based settings or nursing homes, by ensuring that the funding reaches the right institutions to maintain the quality and availability of care.

Scope and Application

The Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations 1978, made under the Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974, apply to specified nursing homes and hospital units across various locations in Australia. These regulations determine which facilities are eligible for Commonwealth financial assistance under the Act. The specified nursing homes and units include Lidcombe Hospital's Wards 5, 6, 7, 20, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 27A, 27B, 34, 35, 36 and 42 in Lidcombe, Lucy Gullett Nursing Home in Bexley, Maryborough and District Hospital's Nursing Home Unit in Maryborough, Polworth House in Colac, Portland and District Hospital's Seymour Cundy Wing in Portland, and Wimmera Base Hospital's Nursing Home Unit in Horsham. Additionally, certain wards within the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Northfield are included. The regulations have a national jurisdictional reach, affecting facilities across multiple states and territories. Any amendments or further specifications regarding eligibility or exclusions are addressed through subordinate instruments under the Act.

Key Provisions

The Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations, made under the Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974, have been amended to specify particular wards and units within nursing homes and hospitals that are eligible for assistance. Specifically, item 16 in Part I has been revised to list the eligible wards at Lidcombe Hospital, while item 18a adds Lucy Gullett Nursing Home in Bexley to the list of approved facilities. In Part II, new entries such as Maryborough and District Hospital's Nursing Home Unit, Polworth House in Colac, Portland and District Hospital's Seymour Cundy Wing, and Wimmera Base Hospital's Nursing Home Unit have been included. The amendments also adjust the list of eligible wards at Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia, specifying particular wards in the Northfield, Block 1, Block 2, and Old Wing sections. Additionally, changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for certain wards, omitting and modifying the listings to ensure precision in identifying eligible areas for financial assistance. These regulations impose specific obligations on the entities governed by them. Nursing homes and hospitals that wish to receive assistance must ensure that their facilities comply with the criteria set out in the amended regulations. This includes verifying that the wards or units listed are accurately identified and maintained according to the specified standards. Furthermore, these entities are required to provide necessary documentation and reports to demonstrate compliance with the criteria. The regulations also mandate that any changes to the facilities or their operations must be promptly reported to the relevant authorities to ensure ongoing eligibility for assistance. Failure to comply with the Nursing Homes Assistance Regulations can result in various consequences. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. For instance, knowingly providing false or misleading information could lead to criminal charges. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the amendments but are detailed in the primary Act and could vary based on the specific offence. It is essential for the governed entities to adhere strictly to the regulations to avoid these potential consequences.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.