Below is is a media release from the Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, on Aged Care Reforms, released 25th November:
The Albanese Labor Government’s Aged Care Bill has today passed Parliament, ensuring once-in-a-generation reforms to aged care.
The historic passing of this Bill and a new Aged Care Act means older Australians and their loved ones will access a better system that puts quality care and safety first.
The rights of older people are now at the heart of the Aged Care Act, as we build a new way of working that values the safety, dignity and respect of older people in aged care.
The Albanese Labor Government has now addressed the number one recommendation of the Royal Commission and 57 further recommendations through the passing of the Bill.
Starting from 1 July 2025, the new 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.
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 – enacting a new Support at Home program to help them do just that.
Our $4.3 billion dollar Support at Home system will improve home care wait times and add 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 Act comes following significant reforms in aged care, including 24/7 nursing, Star Ratings, an $11.3 billion dollar investment in worker pay rises, capped management fees and improved transparency around the finances and operations of providers.
Further information on the new Act is available at: health.gov.au/aged-care-act.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:
“The Prime Minister said Labor would put the care back into aged care and we have kept our word.
“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.
“This process has been testament to our government’s unrelenting commitment to make positive, lasting change for older people who have spent their lives contributing to Australia.
“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.”
