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Policy & Reform
Aged care workers’ national push for staffing ratios
Aged care nurses and carers have launched a national campaign calling for mandated staffing ratios, stronger action on workplace violence and greater transparency over aged care funding, arguing the sector remains under significant pressure despite recent reforms.
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Policy & Reform
NSW warns bed block could hit 1700 patients
More than 1,300 patients are stranded in NSW hospitals awaiting aged care or NDIS support, with health authorities warning the number could reach almost 1,700 by mid-2027, placing growing pressure on hospital beds.
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Digital Health
First National Health Literacy Framework launched
A new national framework will guide governments, health services and community organisations in improving health literacy, with modelling suggesting better health literacy could save Australia $7.3 billion annually.
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Governance
Closing the governance insight gap
The Aged Care Act and Strengthened Quality Standards demand unprecedented accountability from governing bodies. Yet new research shows boards may struggle to access the insights required to ensure safe, high quality care.
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Clinical Practice
Report reveals aged care VAD failures
A new national report has found that most aged‑care providers are failing to support residents’ access to voluntary assisted dying, with 73 per cent offering unclear or no access and two‑thirds providing no public information about the legal end‑of‑life option.
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Opinion
Aged care model needs rethinking: Opinion
Despite major reforms, older Australians are waiting weeks for assessment and more than 200 days for services, while operators warn the sector is becoming less sustainable and increasingly dominated by large corporate providers.
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Policy & Reform
States push for action on aged care bed block
State and territory health ministers are pressing Canberra for more Support at Home packages, arguing delays in aged care placements are worsening hospital bed block and straining public health systems.
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Workforce
Fuel relief for aged care workers
Thousands of aged care and community workers will receive a temporary increase in their vehicle allowance after the Fair Work Commission lifted the kilometre rate to help offset rising fuel and transport costs.
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Funding
Aged care development ‘constipated’: Minister
The Federal Government has committed $25.9 million to expand six aged care homes across the Illawarra, with the projects expected to deliver 73 new beds and help ease pressure on local hospitals.
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Wages
Aged care nurses receive final wage increase
Aged care nurses have received a fifth wage increase, completing a series of Fair Work Commission-ordered pay rises that have lifted annual earnings by up to $36,000 since 2022 and increased investment in workforce retention.
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Tech & Innovation
Tech a double-edged sword for over 65s
Many older people say rapid digital change is leaving them behind, with technostress, scams and inaccessible online services creating new barriers to essential care, social connection and financial security.
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In-home Care
Preventing hospitalisations using a multidisciplinary care model
For too many older people, the supports they need don’t arrive early enough, or in a way that keeps them safe and well at home. Avoidable hospitalisations continue to place enormous pressure on older people, families and the health system.
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