Nov 26, 2024

Historic Aged Care Reforms Pass: Will They Deliver Real Change?

Historic Aged Care Reforms Pass: Will They Deliver Real Change?
Will the newly passed Aged Care Act be the game-changer seniors need? [iStock].

The Albanese Government’s Aged Care Bill 2024 has passed Parliament, paving the way for what has been touted as the most significant overhaul of Australia’s aged care system in decades.

With a new Aged Care Act set to take effect on 1 July 2025, the government promises a system that prioritises safety, dignity, and respect for older Australians. However, as with any major reform, questions remain about how effectively these changes will be implemented and whether they will truly deliver the promised outcomes.

The legislation responds to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety and Quality, implementing its primary recommendation for a rights-based approach to aged care, along with 57 other recommendations.

While Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has hailed the reform as a monumental step forward, the sector now faces the challenge of ensuring these ideals translate into meaningful improvements on the ground.

The new Act promises to place older Australians—not providers—at the heart of the aged care system. A strengthened regulatory model, enhanced Aged Care Quality Standards, and a Statement of Rights aim to empower seniors and their families with greater choice and protection.

The reforms also claim to offer better mechanisms for voicing complaints and stricter regulations for holding providers accountable.

While these measures sound impressive on paper, the implementation will require careful oversight.

“The Prime Minister said Labor would put the care back into aged care, and we have kept our word,” said Ms Wells. However, critics may question whether the government’s intentions will be met with the necessary resourcing and enforcement to make these changes a reality.

Support at Home: A Game-Changer or a Work in Progress?

A key element of the reforms is the Support at Home programme, which has been pitched as a transformative initiative to help older Australians remain independent for longer.

With a $4.3 billion investment over the next decade, it promises reduced home care wait times, expanded funding classifications, and uncapped services like cleaning and gardening. By 2035, the programme aims to support 1.4 million participants.

“The new Support at Home programme will enable all of us to live independently in our own homes for as long as possible as we age,” Ms Wells said. Yet, as the sector grapples with workforce shortages and rising demand, doubts persist about whether these ambitious goals can be met.

Workforce Challenges and Funding Concerns

The reforms also include measures to support the aged care workforce, which has been plagued by low wages and high turnover. Following an $11.3 billion investment in pay rises, the government insists these changes will create a sustainable, innovative sector.

However, questions remain about whether the broader workforce challenges—such as training, recruitment, and retention—can be adequately addressed.

Moreover, funding mechanisms in the Act will see those who can afford it contributing more towards their care costs. While the government asserts this approach will make the system fairer and more sustainable, it may raise concerns among older Australians worried about affordability and equity.

Describing the Bill as the “final piece of the puzzle,” Ms Wells emphasised the government’s commitment to meaningful change.

“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,” she said.

Despite these assurances, the success of the reforms hinges on their execution. Can the sector deliver on the promise of improved care and dignity for older Australians, or will these sweeping reforms falter under the weight of practical challenges?

As the sector prepares for the 2025 rollout, the spotlight will remain on whether these ambitious reforms can genuinely transform aged care or if they risk becoming yet another chapter in a history of unfulfilled promises.

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  1. These reforms are unenforceable .It is not the consumer who will be the centre of these reforms but the provider. In fact Providers will grow larger and larger and be taken over byoverseas companies. The government will eventually lose control of aged care when these overseasConsortiums gain more and more power. Meanwhile the ged pensioner, especially the renters will fall by the wayside unable to pay for the cleaing of their residence ,unlike Residential care< unable to pay for air conditioning and showering help, unable to pay for shopping, they either fall and die or their family step in and help. This will mean Australia's productivity will fall when so many of the sandwiche generation work less and care more. These reforms are not the answer and will sove nothing but cause more problems

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