Official update · document review
MPSP direct care minutes trial: what participating services should check
The next phase of the Multi-Purpose Service Program (MPSP) Direct Care Target Trial starts on 1 October 2026. Participating providers will trial 200 direct care minutes per resident per day, including 40 registered nurse minutes, during Stage 1 to 31 December 2026; Stage 2 starts on 1 January 2027 with a 215-minute target. Participating providers report trial information in the month after each quarter ends. These are trial targets for participating MPS services, not a new care-minutes requirement for every MPS or a compliance or enforcement measure. The separate MPSP 24/7 registered-nurse responsibility began on 1 July 2026.
Document and workflow checks
Turn the official change into reviewable actions
- Confirm whether each MPS service participates and check the Department's current trial guide before assigning a reporting owner or timetable.
- Map existing rosters, payroll, timesheets and other authorised records to the trial reporting questions; the Department does not require a new system or document solely for the trial.
- Keep the trial targets separate from the existing 24/7 RN responsibility and from mainstream residential care-minutes and CMPS requirements.
Who may need to review this
- Participating Multi-Purpose Service Program providers and reporting owners
Impact areas
- Direct care minutes trial
- Quarterly trial reporting
- MPSP scope distinction
Team review question
For a participating MPS, who owns the trial guidance check and authorised reporting handoff?
Usage boundary
The 200- and 215-minute figures are trial targets for participating MPS services, not a sector-wide MPS care-minutes mandate. The Department says no regulatory, compliance or enforcement action is associated with trial reporting or participation. CaresLink does not calculate, validate, certify or submit care minutes, and staff or resident records must stay in authorised systems.