WA aged care leaders call for decade-long reform plan

Western Australia could face a shortage of up to 2,800 residential aged care beds by 2030, according to a new report from a coalition of the state’s largest aged care providers.

Advance Ageing WA, which represents seven major providers, has released its inaugural Green Paper, From Rights to Reality, outlining a series of reforms it says are needed to prepare the sector for growing demand as the state's ageing population continues to expand.

The report warns that meeting future demand will require at least $1.8 billion in investment for new residential aged care beds alone, based on current construction costs.

Advance Ageing WA chair Dr Catherine Stoddart said the sector is under immense strain.

“Our aged care system is already under pressure and, with demand for residential and home care set to rise sharply, now is the time to strengthen WA’s readiness for a sustainable aged care future,” she said.

The report also highlights significant workforce challenges, estimating the sector will need at least 2,179 additional full-time direct care workers over the next five years, including more than 440 registered nurses.

The Green Paper sets out nine recommendations aimed at improving the long-term sustainability of the sector, including a joint Commonwealth-Western Australia aged care infrastructure pipeline, a workforce compact and the creation of a statewide aged care data and planning platform.

Dr Stoddart said the recommendations were designed specifically for Western Australia's unique circumstances.

“WA’s vast geography and economic landscape create a unique set of challenges compared to the rest of the nation, but they also present opportunities to innovate and build a stronger future for our ageing population,” she said.

Advance Ageing WA presented the report to federal parliamentarians, government agencies and industry stakeholders in Canberra earlier this month as part of its push for long-term reform.

“The pressures are real, but so is the opportunity to act now and build a stronger, more sustainable aged care system for Western Australia,” Dr Stoddart said.

Advance Ageing WA represents Amana Living, BaptistCare, Bethanie, Brightwater Care Group, Hall & Prior, Juniper and Southern Cross Care WA, which collectively support more than 27,000 older Western Australians and employ around 13,500 staff.