Navigating the New Aged Care Landscape: How Digital Tools Can Boost Productivity

The aged care sector is on the cusp of significant transformation with the rights-based Aged Care Act starting in Australia from 1 July 2025. While these changes aim to create a more person-centered and quality-driven system, they also bring new administrative demands for providers and front-line employees.

For providers striving to deliver exceptional care under this evolving framework, boosting productivity through digitisation is paramount Digital transformation offers Aged Care providers the opportunity to reduce manual, paper-based tasks for frontline staff, centralise and streamline resident records, enable telehealth consultations, and minimise the risk of infection during outbreaks such as gastroenteritis or COVID-19

The upcoming reforms, driven by the new Aged Care Act 2024 and the introduction of the Support at Home program, are expected to increase administrative demands and the need for efficient information management.

With the introduction of the new Statement of Rights, enhanced care planning requirements and tailored support packages, managing consent forms, service agreements, and care plans manually can be time-consuming and error-prone, which takes valuable time away from delivering quality care.

This is where digital solutions like Docusign can offer a powerful advantage. Docusign streamlines these crucial administrative processes by digitising document workflows by:

• Securely obtaining electronic signatures: No more printing, scanning, and chasing signatures for admission forms, consent for services, or updated care plans. This speeds up onboarding and ensures timely access to necessary care.

• Automating document routing: Care plans and agreements can be automatically routed to relevant staff members for review and action, ensuring everyone is working with the latest information

• Centralising document storage: Forget overflowing filing cabinets. Docusign provides a secure, cloud-based repository for all essential documents, making them easily accessible to authorised personnel anytime, anywhere. This improves compliance and simplifies audits.

• Reducing errors and improving accuracy: Digital forms with built-in validation rules minimise the risk of incomplete or inaccurate information, leading to fewer administrative errors and rework.

• Enhancing communication and collaboration: Real-time visibility into document status keeps everyone informed and facilitates smoother communication between care teams, clients, and their families

By freeing up valuable time spent on manual administrative tasks, aged care professionals can dedicate more focus to what truly matters: providing high-quality, person-centered care. The efficiency gains from adopting digital tools like Docusign can translate directly into improved staff satisfaction, better resource allocation, and ultimately, enhanced outcomes for older Australians.

As the aged care sector embraces these pivotal reforms, embracing digital solutions is no longer a luxury but a necessity for providers looking to thrive. By leveraging the power of tools like Docusign, organisations can navigate the changing landscape with greater efficiency, compliance, and a renewed focus on the individuals they serve.