The Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae have announced this morning (Wednesday 4 June) that commencement of the new Aged Care Act will be delayed until 1 November 2025.
With details of the reforms still unavailable to providers, and until now less than a month until implementation, we were increasingly hearing from providers they would be unable to meet the former 1 July deadline.
The Government has acted after intense demands from Ageing Australia, Catholic Health Australia and the Retirement Living Council.
"We have received advice from the sector and experts that more time will improve the delivery of these reforms and minimise disruption," Butler and Rae said in a joint statement.
"Following careful consideration, the Government will recommend to the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, that she proclaim the commencement of the new Aged Care Act to be 1 November 2025.
"This will allow more time for aged care providers to prepare their clients, support their workers and get their systems ready for the changes.
"It will also give us more time to finalise key operational and digital processes, and for Parliament to consider supporting legislation that will enable the new Act to operate effectively."
Butler said, “We want to make sure that all operational, digital and legislative pieces are in place before the rollout starts.
“This brief deferral allows providers to train their staff and have conversations with their clients, get their IT systems ready and prepare operations for an orderly transition."
Rae said, “I have spent my first weeks as Minister for Aged Care and Seniors listening to older Australians and stakeholders who have generously shared with me both the importance of the new Aged Care Act, and the importance of getting it right.
“This brief deferral will allow more time to bed down key changes to reduce aged care assessment times, in line with community expectations."
