Aged care bill passes parliament

First published: November 2024

In line with the Once in a Generation aged care reform that was announced in September, on the 25th November 2024, the Albanese government has passed the aged care bill allowing for elderly Australians to have access to better aged care services and delivery.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care and Quality listed 148 recommendations in their final report, published in 2021, with the bill acknowledging the first one: a new Aged Care Act.

What will the new Aged Care Act mean for aged care residents?

To be implemented on the 1st July 2025, the new Act focuses on three major areas of reform:

• Strengthening of the existing 8 Aged Care Standards
• Toughening the regulatory model
• Introducing a Statement of Rights to ensure that voices of older persons receiving aged care in Australia are heard, their rights are addressed and their needs are met

In conjunction with the new Act, the Support at Home program launches on the same date, with $4.3 billion being invested into those wanting to stay in their homes for longer. This aims to improve wait times for home care and add 300,000 more places on the program by 2035. Home modifications will be provided to champion independence and accessibility and focus on meeting the needs of the individual as a priority.

For those already receiving aged care, services and funding will be improved. The Government will remain as the biggest contributor financially. For every $1 an aged care resident provides, the Government will contribute $3. The new Act will not introduce new taxes or levies.

Public consultation on Aged Care Rules

The discussions around the Aged Care Rules are ongoing, and the Government is inviting the public to share their thoughts and feedback. These Rules will determine how the Aged Care Act operates.

The aim of collecting feedback to use in implementation is to:

• set out how the Rules will affect the elderly population and the care services they receive
• providers to liaise with the Government so they can better understand what they need to be prepared for the Aged Care Act changes
• for older people who are receiving aged care and home care to fully understand what the new Rules will mean for them

To find out more about submitting feedback and public consultations, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website

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