$900 million for rural, remote and specialist aged care

Following the Albanese government's recent reform announcements, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has confirmed that $900 million will be provided for rural, remote and specialist aged care.

The funds are part of the government's $5.6 billion aged care reform package which was released on 12 September and has promised to drive "once in a generation" change for the sector.

Specifically, $600 million will be invested in Support at Home, a program developed to supercede the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 July 2025, as well as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme from 1 July 2027.

Support at Home aims to streamline the application, assessment and delivery of home care, whilst also improving service accessibility and community connection.

The further $300 million will be spent on infrastructure, and will be made available to aged care providers operating in "thin markets."

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the government is working to alleviate some of the challenges faced by providers and older people, not only for those in more isolated areas of the country but for everyone.

“Access to aged care is a fundamental right for every older person in Australia, regardless of where they live or the type of care they need," she said.
 
"The $900 million in funding that we are delivering from 1 July 2025 will support aged care providers to operate in areas that need it most, and to deliver care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable people into the future.”

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This announcement comes at a time when rural healthcare is under the spotlight.

The 17th National Rural Health Conference, held earlier this month in Perth, addressed aged care issues including sustainable integrated care models, workforce shortages and access to urgent care.

The conference saw the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) urge Australians to sign a petition calling on the federal government to commit to a 10-year National Rural Health Strategy to hold the government accountable on rural health issues.

NRHA chief executive Susi Tegen said people living in rural and remote Australia still receive less access to health care and spend less on their health care per person than those who live in the cities.

“Nearly seven million Australians living and working outside of cities are being denied the basic human right to health care and wellbeing and are dying 12 to 16 years younger than their urban counterparts,” she said.

“This petition underscores that rural health has been neglected in policy, budgets and priority settings for too long and that Commonwealth and State investments and policies are neither coordinated nor sustained.

“Rural Australians make up 30 per cent of the Australian population, bring in two-thirds of Australia’s export earnings, 50 per cent of tourism income and produce over 90 per cent of Australia’s food. Yet, governments spend $848 less per person, per year, on the health of a person living rurally than someone who lives in the city."

The petition remains open until October 10.

Read more: Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges | Could geriatric hospitals reduce pressure on the health system? Maybe – but improving aged care is paramount | Sector reacts positively to new Aged Care bill

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