Government Policy

Government confirms AN-ACC price rise and 42% hotelling supplement boost

The Albanese Government has confirmed new funding increases for residential aged care from next month – including a significant 42% jump in the hotelling supplement. From 1 October 2025, the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC)...

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Lauren Broomham

12 Sep 2025

Government Policy

Aged care providers wait for AN-ACC price decision – again

12 months after the Government gave operators just two weeks’ notice of an increase in the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), providers are once again left on tenterhooks. In December 2023, then-Minister for Aged Care Anik...

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Lauren Broomham

11 Sep 2025

Government Policy

Aged Care Minister writes to remind providers of staff training obligations

The Minister for Aged Care Sam Rae has written to aged care providers reminding them of their legislated requirement to ensure staff receive training, including rostered paid time to fulfil the obligation.

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Caroline Egan

11 Sep 2025

Aged Care

“Hope is not a strategy” – Tom Symondson warns aged care sector

The clock is ticking to 1 November. With the new Aged Care Act just weeks away, Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson has a blunt message: optimism isn’t enough. In an exclusive interview with SATURDAY, Tom named three hurdles that providers must...

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Lauren Broomham

11 Sep 2025

Government Policy

Pocock: Rationed home care “doesn’t make sense”

Following his Senate victory last week that forced the Government to commit to immediately releasing 20,000 Home Care Packages, ACT Senator David Pocock says he will continue to hold the Government to account on aged care.

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Caroline Egan

10 Sep 2025

Home Care

60% of CHSP clients still waiting on Home Care Packages, warns Community Vision CEO

Perth-based Not For Profit provider Community Vision says nearly 450 of its customers remain stuck on waitlists for Home Care Packages, despite being assessed as needing higher levels of care.

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Caroline Egan

10 Sep 2025

Government Policy

Just 12% of aged care homes take up Govt funded on-site pharmacist

A year into the Federal Government’s $334 million on-site pharmacist program, fewer than 300 aged care homes have signed on.

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Caroline Egan

10 Sep 2025

Aged Care

Lutheran Services expands “proven” aged care nurse practitioner model

The Queensland Not For Profit is doubling down on its nurse practitioner-led aged care model, with new Federal funding set to expand the program across eight sites and provide proof it can ease pressure on hospitals and GPs.

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Caroline Egan

10 Sep 2025

Government Policy

South Australian retirement village operators face new rules from 2026

South Australia’s retirement living sector is preparing for a major regulatory shift, with new laws set to take effect on 2 February 2026.

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Ian Horswill

08 Sep 2025

Home Care

Home care boards falling short on independent director rules, regulator finds

An Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) review of 30 home care providers, conducted between April and June 2025, has identified the requirement to have a majority independent non-executive directors on the board as a key area of non-compliance.

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Caroline Egan

05 Sep 2025

Government Policy

5,000 older Australians died last year waiting for Home Care Packages: Senate Inquiry hears

The Senate Inquiry into Aged Care Service Delivery today heard almost 5,000 older Australians died last financial year waiting for the level of Home Care Package they have been assessed as needing. More than 87,000 wait for the level of home care they have been assessed as needing.

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Caroline Egan

29 Aug 2025

Government Policy

Inspector-General of Aged Care releases first Annual Work Plan with five priorities

The Inspector-General of Aged Care, Natalie Siegel-Brown, who commenced in the role in January, has released the Office’s Annual Work Plan 2025-26, outlining five key priorities. Her vision for aged care includes a system that is “kind” and “compassionate”, that provides “high-quality care”.

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Caroline Egan

03 Sep 2025

Government Policy

Sam Rae hammered in Question Time over home care waiting list

The parliamentary week opened with Aged Care Minister Sam Rae, just three months into the role, facing a barrage of questions about the ballooning home care waiting list – including calls to apologise to the 5,000 families whose loved ones died before receiving their Home Care Package.

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Caroline Egan

02 Sep 2025