“Should not be rushed”: Peaks express post-budget concerns for reform rollout

As the deadline for the new Aged Care Act is drawing ever closer, providers are under increasing pressure to adapt.

In the wake of Tuesday night's federal budget announcement, industry leaders have again voiced concerns that the sector is simply not ready for the July 1 rollout.

Ageing Australia (previously ACCPA) released a statement calling for more transition time for providers, “more work needs to be done to prepare for sweeping reforms.”

“As the Government has acknowledged in the past, our sector can only afford these types of [staffing] increases if they receive Government funding,” Ageing Australia chief Tom Symondson said.

“We know that the previous increases are working. We’re hearing reports from across the sector that it’s becoming easier to attract and keep aged care workers, so this is another important step in that journey.” 

“The cost to providers of delivering these reforms is immense, with some already spending millions of dollars. Individual grants of $10,000 clearly aren’t enough.” 

In the body's pre-budget submission, Ageing Australia also called for $600 million in government funding to be allocated to the establishment of the vital information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure required.

“Without more time to implement such sweeping reforms, we run the very real risk that we’re going to get to 1 July without everything in place. This will have very real consequences for older people and we’re concerned that there could be disruption to services, and confusion and uncertainty for older Australians and providers alike. That’s why we’re called for a staged approach to implementation,” Mr Symondson said. 

“We’re not calling for a delay to the start date of the Act, and in particular its charter of rights for older Australians. What we are calling for is a staged approach to implementation of some of the reform programs. We all want these reforms to succeed, but to deliver them, providers need certainty on what is required and enough time to achieve it.” 

“The administrative and technical challenges of this reform cannot be underestimated. Providers are committed to ambitious reform, but it takes time and should not be rushed.” 

Related: Tit for tat: Major parties put health at the centre of pre-election promises | Close the gap: 10-year plan for First Nations aged care | Latest round of ACCAP grant opportunities now open

A positive step for culturally safe care

There were some positives in the budget said OPAN chief Craig Gear, with $47 million being allocation to First Nations organisations to deliver culturally appropriate care.

“We know that First Nations communities are particularly vulnerable, so we are glad to see tailored support for their aged care assessments – but this could have been taken further,” Mr Gear said.  

“Unsurprisingly, this Budget had a strong focus on easing the cost of living pressures facing Australian families in the lead-up to a Federal election.

“Our aged care sector is facing many challenges right now, including significant workforce shortages and a growing number of older people waiting for support.  

“OPAN would have liked to see increased access to hardship provisions for older people who have limited financial means, to make sure they don’t slip below the poverty line.

“Further, we continue to see an increase in people waiting for Home Care Packages, and that hasn’t been addressed in this Budget. We are increasingly concerned that this figure will continue to grow.”

Australia’s second biggest killer largely ignored

Among the Labor government's various healthcare pledges, there is one disease affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians that has been largely overlooked in the federal budget, according to Dementia Australia (DA).

Although $5.7 million was allocated in 2025/26 for the National Centre for Monitoring Dementia to provide dementia data and monitor progress with the National Dementia Action Plan, there was little else.

“With an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and an estimated 29,000 people living with younger onset dementia – dementia is the public health, disability and aged care challenge facing Australia,” DA chief Professor Tanya Buchanan said.

“The National Dementia Action Plan requires funding if we are to see it have an impact. The lack of funding to implement this Plan has a real impact on people living with dementia, their families and carers.

“Dementia Australia encourages all parties, independents and candidates to consider how they can support actions to reduce the impact of dementia.”

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