Aged Care Blog

federal budget 2025-26: aged care focus

Federal Budget 2025-26: what it means for aged care

First published: May 2025

The Federal Budget 2025-26 was announced on the 25th March 2025 which included economic forecasts and what areas would be allocated funding and financial backing this coming year.

Covering areas such as the cost of living, housing prices, education, healthcare and student debt, it offers a projection of what each sector is going to receive in the new financial year.

Funding wage increase for aged care workers

Already part of the aged care reform roadmap, workforce retention and pay increases will be supported further with an investment of $2.6 billion. Pay rises for aged care nurses was awarded at the start of the year, and from 1st March 2025. Included in the wage increases for this year was non direct aged care workers, who did not receive the historic aged care pay rise of 2023.

Improving aged care support

The government has pledged to provide $291.6 million to continue to delivery aged care reforms and high quality aged care services. This funding is to allow older people to live in their homes for longer and to remain independent, whilst improving aged care services within residential aged care homes.

The new Aged Care Act, to be implemented in July 2025, responds to the recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to build an act that puts older people at the centre of the aged care system. This funding will assist with the implementation of this new act.

Strengthening Medicare

Alongside the aged care funding, $1.2 billion will be allocated to a Strengthening Medicare package, to help upskill aged care workers and to care for those with complex care needs. Support will be offered to older people living with dementia who are transitioning from hospital to aged care services and to those recovering from hospital stays.

Cost of medicines will freeze for up to five years for Pensioners and Commonwealth Senior Health Cardholders, and aged care residents will have access to vaccinations with no out of pocket expenses through the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy Program.

Read the Federal Budget 2025-26 recap in full on the government website

 

Register with us

Looking for a new opportunity
in the aged care sector?

Register today

Expert staffing solutions

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

Send an enquiry

Subscribe Here!

Subscribe to our blog!

Leave a Comment





Aged care blog
Touchdown for our PALM Scheme class of 2024!

First published: March 2025 On Tuesday 4th March our PALM Scheme Class of 2024 arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, marking the start of their four year journey in Australia, making a difference in residential aged care homes in Mildura and Port Macquarie for Regis Aged Care. Under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, 40 participants…
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…
Transitioning into aged care

First published: November 2023 A non clinical perspective With the aged care industry being a part of the healthcare space, the common perception is that you need a nursing qualification to be eligible for a role in a residential aged care home. This is true for a large number of job positions, as clinical members…
Journeying through care: insights from a travel nurse exploring Western Australia

First published: February 2025 In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, travel nursing offers a unique opportunity for nursing professionals to expand their horizons while making a significant impact on patient and resident care across different regions of the country. Our contract team oversees short and long-term assignments in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia,…
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…
Aged care reform roadmap explained

First published: May 2024 The Department of Health and Aged Care have set a three-year roadmap to introduce aged care reforms to improve services delivered to the elderly population. These changes are being implemented with the aim to ensure all resources are of high quality, easily accessible and beneficial to the older people of Australia,…
What is a home care package?

First published: March 2025 Home care packages are provided under the Home Care Package Program, which is partially subsidised by the government, aiming to care for those needing assistance to remain in their own homes for longer. It was found that 68% of Australians wish to age within their own homes, meaning the demand for…
Federal Budget 2025-26: what it means for aged care

First published: May 2025 The Federal Budget 2025-26 was announced on the 25th March 2025 which included economic forecasts and what areas would be allocated funding and financial backing this coming year. Covering areas such as the cost of living, housing prices, education, healthcare and student debt, it offers a projection of what each sector…
Create your aged care resume with sample

First published: January 2024 The aged care industry is constantly changing and progressing, with new opportunities being planned in the aged care reform roadmap. When looking to land your dream job, standing out from the competition can be done through a high-quality aged care resume. Showing off your invaluable experience and aged care qualifications is…
Migration stories: From the Philippines to Australia

First published: February 2024 What moving overseas to Australia as a registered nurse looks like Australia is a very multicultural country and its nurses are from a range of different backgrounds. It is estimated that 40% of Australia’s registered nurses and aged carers were born overseas, with this number forecasted to grow in the coming…