The surprise announcement in Adelaide yesterday morning by Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae, alongside Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler, to delay the new Aged Care Act from 1 July to 1 November has exposed significant challenges both within the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and at the frontline of aged care delivery.
The decision to delay the new Aged Care Act, for the third time, has seen a wide variety of responses. We have curated 10 views from media releases sent to DCM Group and from LinkedIn.
Dale Fisher AM, Silverchain CEO
"The sector must have all the information before implementation in order to be able to reassure older people about these changes.
“Our focus has been on preparing our clients for these changes, but without the key subordinate legislation and grandfathering detail available, we cannot reassure them on how the change affects them."
Stephanie Buckland, Amana Living CEO
“With the original implementation date fast approaching, the sector was still seeking clarity on key aspects of the reforms. This decision by Minister Sam Rae and the Albanese Government is a considered and constructive response.
“These reforms represent a vital step in strengthening aged care in Australia. With additional time, we can help ensure the system is robust, well understood and genuinely person-centred.”
Raad Richards, Richards Advisory Service
"Finally some commonsense prevailed. The Sector is not ready and the implementation of the changes should be gradual if we are to ensure success and financial sustainability of the sector."
Simon Miller, Anglicare Sydney CEO
“Taking the time to get this right will lead to stronger outcomes for everyone, especially older Australians who rely on quality care and support."
Annette Hili, AlayaCare's General Manager Australia & New Zealand
"We were ready for 1 July. By November, it will be even better. For AlayaCare, this gives us more time to spend with our customers to support them through the transition.
"For providers, it’s a moment to breathe and prepare. Many are still grappling with workforce constraints, internal change fatigue, and system transitions. This delay gives you space to engage more deeply and roll out changes in a steady and supported way."
Greg Bartley, Dovida (formerly Home Instead Australia) Chief Operating Officer
"The deferral to November 1, 2025, provides the Department with a window to deliver on the program’s final design components, while allowing providers additional time to transition operational structures and IT systems to align with the changes.
"Ultimately, this is an opportunity to deliver a better program for ageing Australians while enabling a more sustainable approach for providers."
Sarah Barter, Sarah Barter Consulting (health and aged care)
"Today's announcement of the delay of the Aged Care Act and Support at Home until November 2025 is welcome to give providers and the Government a bit more breathing room. But it doesn't do anything to address the fundamental flaw in SAH (Support at Home) which is how to reconcile fee-for-service delivery and capped care management with care that accords with the Statement of Rights, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and care management goals.
"If we continue to design aged care programs independently of health care systems we will fail to create better experiences and outcomes for older people, perpetuate workforce challenges, and blow out government budgets."
Gary McDonald, Epicor Software Aged Care Territory Manager
“The complexity of adapting funding models, care management expectations, and more compliance regulatory requirements is where most of the concern was previously for the providers. At Epicor, we witnessed an uplift in enquiries all stating that it was taking up more time and distracting the limited staff they have in operation from completing paperwork and other care duties. So, the revised launch date of the initiative of 1 November 2025 is a welcomed one.
“We must also not lose sight that these changes have been brought in to continue to best support our aged care residents across Australia, providing them with the holistic and day-to-day care they deserve. Technology is a key part of this – for example, integrating the functions of delivering and scheduling home services and streamlining this with billing and funding platforms".
Peter Hoppo, Chief Executive, Aged Care Industry Association
"Giving both providers and government (who, lest we forget, are under pressure too) a chance to prepare and pressure test systems before the new Act begins – the real winners are older Australians.
"Without this pause, they risked becoming the equivalent of crash test dummies in a rushed implementation, with hopes pinned on the legislation living up to the hype. Don’t get me wrong – I fully support a person-centred Act and everything that entails. But reforms of this scale need to be implemented with care, not speed, if we’re to genuinely deliver the respect, dignity, and choice older Australians deserve."
Cathy Thomas, UnitingCare Queensland Interim Chief Executive
“Supporting our customers through these changes is a key priority and this decision is good news for the more than 50,000 people we support each year living in their own homes in the community, as well as the more than 5,000 residents of our aged care homes across the state.
“This additional time will allow us to continue preparing our workforce, systems and services to deliver on the promise of a more person-centred, rights-based aged care system."
