Ageing Australia’s six point plan to improve aged care system
The peak body for aged care providers has met with State and Federal Governments and politicians across the political spectrum, pressing for fixes to problems with the recent reforms.
“We’ve been working tirelessly to rectify issues with the new Aged Care Act, with a raft of recommendations to the Government to ensure aged care grows in line with Australia’s ageing population,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson told The Weekly SOURCE.
In the past fortnight, Tom and General Manager Policy and Advocacy, Roald Versteeg, have met with Health Minister Mark Butler, Aged Care Minister Sam Rae, Shadow Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston and more than a dozen backbenchers and crossbenchers.
They have also met with State health ministers as well as representatives of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
More Support at Home Packages required
Ageing Australia’s top priority is for the Federal Government to release more Support at Home Packages.
There were more than 131,000 older Australians waiting for a Support at Home Package as of 31 December 2025. The 83,000 new Packages being released in 2025-26 are “nowhere near enough given the surge in demand,” Tom said. Interim funding is “compromising access to care”, he added.
The peak body’s other key priority is making aged care more investable.
“That means creating a sector that the banks will invest in. Banks don’t want to invest in a sector that has lost around $5 billion over the past five years,” Tom underlined.
“Last year Australia added about 800 aged care beds. We need over 10,000 per year for the next two decades.
“Providers must be funded properly for accommodation and all of the services and care they provide. Sadly, that’s still not happening.”
Ageing Australia is calling for a review of the AN-ACC funding model to more accurately align care funding with provider costs, the introduction of a national low-interest loan scheme, and expansion of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
In addition, it wants the Federal Government to delay the introduction of Support at Home price caps until at least 1 January 2027.
“We need current data on the costs to deliver home care services, and we won’t have it by 1 July 2026,” Tom said. “If we get it wrong, there is a real risk that providers will close their doors or reduce services.”
Ageing Australia also wants an increase in the care management cap for Support at Home.
“The decision to reduce the cap to 10% of a person’s package means those with higher needs can’t get the support they need,” Tom said.
The peak is also calling for an increase in CHSP funding to ensure continuity of care before the CHSP program is rolled into Support at Home.
