Australian aged care reforms pass parliament

Reforms to the aged care system will now push ahead, with the federal government’s Aged Care Bill having passed through parliament.

Starting from 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will deliver a range of improvements, including a tougher regulatory model, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and a Statement of Rights to ensure older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system.

The federal government has now addressed the number one recommendation of the Royal Commission and 57 further recommendations through the passing of the Bill.

Older people and their loved ones will have a greater say about the care and services they receive. This includes protections to speak up when they’re not satisfied and better equipping providers to handle complaints more effectively.

The new Act also acknowledges older people want to stay in their own homes for longer so they can remain healthy, active and socially connected, with a new Support at Home program to help them achieve that end.

The $4.3 billion dollar Support at Home system is aimed at improving home care wait times, as well as adding 300,000 more places over the next 10 years — with around 1.4 million participants in care in 2035.

Participants will be assessed into one of 10 new funding classifications, increased from four, while Support at Home will also provide for home modifications and assistive technology to maintain independence.

To make sure older Australians have more flexibility and choice to meet their needs, there will be no caps to cleaning and gardening.

In response to the recommendations of the Aged Care Taskforce, new funding measures in the Act will put the sector on a more sustainable footing for the future while creating a fairer system that encourages and rewards quality and innovation.

“The new Aged Care Act is the final piece of the puzzle to create a better way of caring for older people both today and into the future,” said Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells.

“Now that we have followed through on our commitment to deliver a new Aged Care Act, it’s incumbent on all of us to live up to this promise and deliver meaningful change across aged care.

“We have established the Transition Taskforce to work with the sector in preparation for July 1 so we can all make the necessary changes to deliver better aged care.”

Image credit: iStock.com/SolStock