The End of the Activity Model: How Leading Providers are Rebuilding Engagement Programs
Two aged care homes. Same size, same residents. One can answer the accreditation questions about engagement. The other cannot — yet. The difference is not care or staffing. It is whether engagement has been built as something that can survive the people running it.
Aged Care Engagement Programs: Why Enthusiasm Isn’t Enough
Recreational therapists are now recognised as allied health professionals in Australia under the Aged Care Rules 2025—but only if they are certified members of the Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA) and hold a Bachelor-level qualification (AQF Level 7 or higher). This update clarifies a key distinction for aged care providers: while lifestyle and diversional therapy roles remain essential, they are not classified as allied health unless they meet ARTA certification standards. Understanding this difference is critical for compliance, staffing, and delivering evidence-based, person-centred care.
VR in aged care: what MACG learned after 1000 hours
MACG introduced SilVR at Parkdale in Dec 2024 to better reach residents who were isolated or less engaged. Led by Beverly, the team has now delivered 1,000+ hours of VR in 12 months, with 70% of participants rating sessions “Very Good” or “Exceptional,” and staff observing more calm, connection and storytelling. SilVR has since expanded across all MACG homes, with the program earning multiple award nominations and early access to the new SilVR Pathways platform.
Introducing SilVR Pathways: Engagement that Scales
Great engagement shouldn’t depend on who’s on shift. SilVR Pathways is a structured engagement platform that turns individual VR sessions into a consistent, measurable, organisation-wide practice — built for teams, not just champions.
Are Recreational Therapists Allied Health Professionals in Australia? (2026 Update)
Recreational therapists are now recognised as allied health professionals in Australia under the Aged Care Rules 2025—but only if they are certified members of the Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA) and hold a Bachelor-level qualification (AQF Level 7 or higher). This update clarifies a key distinction for aged care providers: while lifestyle and diversional therapy roles remain essential, they are not classified as allied health unless they meet ARTA certification standards. Understanding this difference is critical for compliance, staffing, and delivering evidence-based, person-centred care.
