Last week’s Senate Estimates hearing – held just three weeks before sweeping reforms roll out – gave politicians the chance to ask Government heavyweights the questions they’re getting from constituents and to interrogate the once-in-a-generation changes.
The hearing ran for five hours late into the night, and the tone swung between friendly congeniality and deep frustration, concern and even anger.
For those interested in aged care policy, there was a smorgasbord of detail, but three highlights stood out:
1. Only 802 aged care beds were built in 2024-25, when 10,600 a year are forecast to be needed over the next decade.
This is up from the 9,300-beds-per-year figure the Department was still citing as recently as July.
Blair Comley, Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing, was blunt: “The number in recent times will not be sufficient to meet that demand if it is maintained going forward.”
2. The Inspector-General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown (pictured top) said her office is aware that providers are refusing some residents because of their complex care needs; to a lesser extent, their inability to pay a RAD.
Natalie said, “We have heard about people being refused service on the basis of their complexity, and that might sometimes be when somebody is being released from hospital into aged care and their behaviours are more complex than an aged-care provider is, perhaps, prepared to take on.”
3. The Department did not model possible behaviour changes from Support at Home co-payments for pensioners and part-pensioners.
The Inspector-General warned co-payments could mean people go without basics such as cleaning or showering, potentially forcing a premature move into residential aged care.
Asked about modelling, Susan Trainor, Assistant Secretary, Contributions and Accommodation Reform, said: “In terms of modelling around what behaviours we might see, I’m not aware of modelling.”
As a footnote, Sonja Stewart, Deputy Secretary of the Ageing and Aged Care Group with the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing (pictured inset), confirmed “the reforms will be delivered on 1 November,” while noting the digital implementation will be staged.
