Aged Care Minister Sam Rae ushered in the start of Australia’s new aged care era with a visit to Homestyle Aged Care’s 120-bed Sunset Views Manor in Tarneit, western Melbourne, on Saturday 1 November – the day the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home officially took effect.
After touring the facility and meeting residents, the Minister told reporters:
“This is not the beginning of the reform process to aged care in our country, and it’s not the end – but it is certainly a very significant step forward.”
Only six months into the role, the Minister faced pointed questions about higher co-contributions for personal care services under Support at Home – an issue fast emerging as one of the reforms’ key flashpoints.
He said he would be monitoring co-payments “very closely”, promising to make “whatever changes are necessary to get the best possible outcomes for older people.” The remarks echoed similar comments he made earlier – and repeated later in the week.
Homestyle Aged Care CEO Tim Humphries welcomed the Minister’s visit, describing the rollout as a “significant change” for providers.
“Are we completely perfect in our compliance with everything? No, we’re not,” he said. “I don’t think any provider is.”
The visit was a symbolic set-piece to mark the long-awaited reform rollout – but as the Minister acknowledged, the real work of fine-tuning the system begins now.
