Govt's aged care experts panel shares public's concerns
A panel of Government-appointed aged care experts wants "clearer communication" about the Government's automated decision making in aged care.
At its meeting on 25 February 2006, the National Aged Care Advisory Council (NACAC) "highlighted concerns" in the aged care sector about automated decision making.
This week in The Weekly SOURCE we report one provider saying half their Support at Home reassessments requests are declining higher-level care - decisions made by the automated Integrated Assessment Tool without human oversight.
The Council wants improved communication about the took and for older people, families and clinicians to "have confidence in the human oversight of the system". However, the IAT had human oversight removed for Support at Home decisions from 1 November 2025.
Since the meeting, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has launched an inquiry of the IAT after it received a series of complaints.
NACAC also considered "ongoing concerns" about people forgoing support services such as showering, meal preparation and transport when faced with consumer co-contributions. Yesterday, the Government announced from 1 October - over five months away - essential personal services of showering, dressing and support with continence management will be paid for by the taxpayer.
The Government has addressed these issues in part with yesterday's (22 April 2206) announcement that showering, dressing, and continence care will be categorised as clinical care from 1 October 2026, and subsequently fully Government funded.
The group was briefed on the Residential Aged Care Accommodation Pricing Review - released on 22 April 2026 - and spoke about workforce challenges, particularly for rural and remote providers. The vital role of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) was reaffirmed, noting the importance of a careful, staged process for transition to Support at Home, slated for "no earlier than 1 July 2027".
What is NACAC?
NACAC is an independent panel that provides expert advice to the Government on aged care policy, services and performance, focusing on aged care reform. It was established in 2021, in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The body is Chaired by Professor Sue Gordon, former Research Director of the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (AIIRA). Members include Charles Moore CEO BaptistCare, Simon Miller CEO Anglicare, and Tom Symondson CEO Ageing Australia.
The next NACAC meeting was scheduled for 22 April 2026 - the same day the Government pledged an additional $3 billion for the sector.
