Financial viability has overtaken workforce shortages as the top concern for home care providers in 2025, according to aged care advisory firm Enkindle Consulting’s third Home Care Provider Outlook Survey.
The 29-page report, based on feedback from over 290 providers, highlights widespread concern about sector sustainability amid rising costs, reduced funding, and a lack of detail about the future pricing model under Support at Home.
“25% of our funding costs have been slashed,” said one respondent. “We are expected to meet new quality standards, but there’s no money to fund the workforce to do this.”
With less than five months to go until the new Aged Care Act and regulatory model are due to begin, providers said their top priority for the year is implementation. Yet just 47% have appointed a project lead and begun actively planning. Even fewer – only 32% – have started implementing a strategy for Support at Home.
Enkindle Consulting Founding Partner Jennene Buckley said the results reflect “pure frustration.”
“The can keeps getting kicked down the road,” she told The Weekly SOURCE. “For four years now, providers have been waiting. How do they plan or mobilise in this climate?”
Despite the frustration, many providers recognised potential opportunities in the reform, particularly in areas like short-term restorative care and palliative support – see below.
“Support at Home appears to be steering providers toward clinical services,” said one respondent. “There’s a real opportunity here – but funding must be sustainable.”
Others noted that the pace and pressure of aged care reform is already limiting their ability to innovate.
“Aged care reform is consuming all our time and resources; there’s little capacity left to focus on growth,” another provider stated.
The message from the sector is clear: without urgent financial clarity and implementation support, reform risks further destabilising home care.
You can read the full report here.
