Aged Care Blog

once in a generation aged care reform

Once in a generation aged care reform

First published: September 2024

On the 12th September 2024 the Albanese Government announced their plans to deliver historic aged care reforms, with $5.6 billion being invested into a package that will bring the greatest improvement to aged care in 30 years.

It is projected that within the next 40 years, those aged 65 and over will double, and those aged 85 and over will triple. The longevity of the population and average life expectancy is increasing, furthering our need for high quality, sustainable aged care services. The sector has seen a lot of changes in the past few years, from the aged care reform roadmap to the 15% pay rise in 2023. The need for aged care nurses to care for our elderly population is at an all time high, with workforce shortages across Australia sitting at at least 110,000. Fulfilling the aim of having a retained satisfied workforce will get harder with the age population growth, so this has been a key motivator for the reforms and changes to wages over the past few years.

Elderly persons wanting to remain at home

The announcement stated that by 2035, around 1.4 million Australians will benefit from a new Support at Home program, encouraging their independence by allowing them to remain in their homes for longer. Importance is being placed on keeping Australians happy, healthy and comfortable in their own environments, with Support at Home including:

  • Clinical care
  • Everyday living
  • Independence

Alongside this, the program aims to offer more tailored support, shorter average wait times from assessment, modifications to make homes safer and fast access to technology in a new equipment loan scheme.

The Government plan to pay 100% of clinical care services, with individuals contributing towards the latter two.

These participants will also be eligible for up to $25,000 to spend their final three months at home so they can spend these precious moments with their loves ones.

Residents in aged care

For those in aged care homes, a ‘No Worse Off’ principle will be put into place. This means that they will not make a greater contribution to their care.

For every $1 an individual contributes, the Government will contribute an average of $3.30. The government will pay the majority of aged care costs over all, including 73% of residential care costs and 89% of Support at Home costs.

New laws for older Australians

Alongside the program, the new Aged Care Act includes laws that protect the rights of our elderly community. This includes:

  • New Quality Standards for continuous improvement
  • New whistleblower protections
  • New duties to hold providers and people in positions of leadership accountable.

The current Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said “Our government is working to ensure that the aged care system that supports them is stronger now and sustainable into the future.”

This is on track to come into effect on the 1st July 2025.

Read the media release in full

Register with us

Looking for a new opportunity
in the aged care sector?

Expert staffing solutions

Need staffing support on a temporary, contract or permanent basis?

Subscribe Here!

Subscribe to our blog!

Leave a Comment





Aged care blog
An interview with our nursing team

First written: August 2024 The second in our ‘Meet the team’ series, we spoke to Rhys, one of our wonderful Sydney based AINs. He has been part of the Sanctuary team for the past three years, working on a casual basis in homes across Western and Northern Sydney, NSW. He has worked in a variety…

Meet our Sanctuary Recruitment nursing team

First published: September 2024 Getting to know our nurses on a personal as well as clinical background is important to us. When you join the Sanctuary team, the sense of community that you get through building relationships with other nurses and your consultant provides a foundation of support and opportunity. Kingsley, a AIN based in…

On the road to remote care: my journey as a travel nurse in Western Australia

First published: February 2025 Travel nurses experience the unique thrill of packing their bags and spontaneously setting off on a new adventure. When the destination is Western Australia—home to stunning coastlines, vast outback, and a diverse healthcare landscape—the experience becomes something truly unforgettable. At Sanctuary, our contract team specialise in the placement of experienced and…

PALM Scheme Cohort of 2024 graduation!

On 10th May 2025, our Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme cohort of 38 participants graduated with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) from Alphacrucis University College. After an 18-week course with a four-week placement in Harts Nursing Home and Father Law Home in Suva, Fiji, our participants transitioned to Australia to work for…

What is home care?

First published: April 2025 Home care, or care at home, is the support and assistance provided by healthcare professionals to allow those who need a helping hand to live independently at home for longer. The number of people wanting to remain at home is increasing, with 80% of older people opting to continue to live…

The Australia Federal Budget 2024 – 25: what it means for aged care

First published: July 2024 Last month, the Federal Budget for 2024 – 25 was released. It is broken down into five main initiatives: Easing cost-of-living pressures Building more homes for Australians Investing in a Future Made in Australia Strengthening Medicare and the care economy Broadening opportunity and advancing equality All of these initiatives are underpinned…

Care minutes in residential aged care

First published: November 2024 As part of the aged care reform roadmap, the Department of Health and Aged Care are making changes to the number of direct care minutes a resident in residential aged care receives each day from a clinical aged care worker. As of 2023, it sat at 200 minutes per day with…

Ideas for engaging aged care activities

First published: September 2024 An important part of an aged care resident’s health and wellbeing includes lifestyle and leisure activities that call to their needs, interests and desires. The 13th recommendation in the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety report was ‘Embedding high quality aged care’, which includes supporting the resident to engage in recreational…

Once in a generation aged care reform

First published: September 2024 On the 12th September 2024 the Albanese Government announced their plans to deliver historic aged care reforms, with $5.6 billion being invested into a package that will bring the greatest improvement to aged care in 30 years. It is projected that within the next 40 years, those aged 65 and over…

An interview with an Aged Care AIN

First published: June 2024 We are proud of our incredible nursing team, showing dedication day in and day out to the residents that they care for. Our aged care recruitment services are spread across Australia, providing staffing solutions on an ad-hoc, short term contract/block booking and permanent basis in metro, regional, rural and remote areas…