Planning for upcoming aged care act changes

With the government affording providers extra time before the new Aged Care Act comes into force, optimising processes and practices to ensure the delivery high quality care is critical.

Responsible for supporting 258,374 older individuals in their own homes and a further 190,688 in residential care, providers continue to face a range of financial and operational challenges, according to the KPMG’s 2024 Aged Care Market Analysis.

Chief among them are staff shortages and the increasing pressure of regulatory reform. The latter has contributed to a market exodus of small- and medium-sized providers, the report notes, as have ongoing concerns about financial viability.

Getting to grips with a reformed system

The enforcement of the Aged Care Act 2024 on November 1 will see the launch of the government’s new Support at Home program, an umbrella initiative that replaces Home Care Packages and the Short Term Restorative Care program.

It will also see the introduction of a new means-tested approach that benefits customers by offering affordable and equitable access to quality care in both Support At Home and residential aged care settings. For providers, the clear funding structures should enable more targeted service delivery that are aligned with clients’ assessed needs and capacity to pay.

Home care providers and residential aged care providers will need to begin maintaining the higher standards the government has laid down and be able to demonstrate they’re doing so. These standards include ensuring the newly enshrined Code of Conduct for Aged Care, which outlines how providers and their employees must treat recipients of their services, is upheld.

Standing up to scrutiny

These once-in-a-generation reforms have given aged care providers a lot to contend with, at a time when many are already hard pressed to deliver the high-quality care to which older Australians are entitled.

Failing to get to grips with what’s required, and falling short of mandated standards, may put your organisation in the sights of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC). This statutory body is charged with protecting and improving the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life for Australians receiving aged care services.

ACQSC’s tolerance for substandard care diminished following the Royal Commission and the introduction of the aged care reforms on 1 July 2025 aims to prevent neglect and improve transparency in the sector. This increased scrutiny of aged care providers is intended to ensure higher quality, person-centred care, uphold older people’s rights and enhance accountability.

The Commission is looking for assurance from providers that they understand their obligations under the reforms and are actively making comprehensive changes in their organisations to ensure compliance.

Getting on the front foot

This is why it makes sense to get ahead of the curve, with a comprehensive ‘operational readiness’ check.

Having an experienced third party put your organisation under the microscope is the fastest and most reliable way to ensure your entire team understands the latest compliance requirements – and your risk exposure should you fail to address them.

Some of the areas worth homing in on include customer and employee experience, data and reporting, change management, and processes.

Armed with a better understanding of the status quo, means providers are better able to develop a roadmap and a plan to bridge the gaps and provide a higher quality service to the older Australians
whose safety and wellbeing depends upon it.

Tools to make the task easy

Making strategic use of digital systems should be part of the solution. Intelligently implemented, they can be a cost-effective means of getting and keeping your aged care organisation on the fast track to compliance, in the new landscape the reforms have ushered in.

Harnessing the power of AI-powered automation, for example, can alleviate the administrative burden associated with tracking tasks and activities and engaging with residents, families, employees and other stakeholders.

It’s an excellent way to contain overheads and outgoings and minimise the added costs associated with complying – and being seen to comply – with more stringent regulatory requirements.

If being able to continue delivering the highest quality care to senior Australians is your
priority, it’s enabling technology that will help you get where you need to go.

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