Jakob Neeland, Contributor
Aged care reports its finances in exactly the form the human brain cares least about. Behavioural scientist Dr Darren Coppin explains which words to retire, how to explain fees without losing families’ trust, and the one-page letter every CEO could send next month.
Latest News
Private health insurance for seniors: Rebate cuts raise aged care funding questions
The government has reintroduced its private health insurance rebate cuts for over-65s after a Senate setback. New modelling and COTA survey findings raise questions about older Australians’ healthcare spending, hospital demand and aged care funding.
Palliative care in residential aged care is core business. Are we measuring it?
A care team may know when a resident’s needs change. For leaders responsible for multiple teams and services, knowing where palliative care gaps are emerging is an entirely different challenge.
Hayley Campbell, Content Writer
More than benchmarking: How to use your ROSA report
The 2026 ROSA reports reveal significant variation in aged care outcomes, introducing new indicators and benchmarking tools. Professor Maria Inacio explains how independent data can help providers and boards better understand care quality, identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen governance.
Yvette Willison, Content Writer
200,000 waiting: aged care providers take fight to Canberra
More than 3,700 older Australians are stuck in hospital beds because aged care has nowhere to put them. Ageing Australia and over 50 providers took it to Canberra last week, putting the funding gap in front of every party.
Marion Piper, Contributor
Aged care waitlist Australia: An executive calls for clearer reporting
After watching a friend navigate aged care for her mother, executive Maria Zappala began questioning how Australia measures unmet care needs. She says waitlist figures, assessment decisions and the support people receive deserve closer scrutiny.
Hayley Campbell, Content Writer
Contributors
Hayley Campbell - Content Writer
"Hayley Campbell is a mental health and healthcare copywriter who believes the best stories start with people."
Yvette Willison - Content Writer
"Yvette is an avid storyteller with a working knowledge base in the Allied Health, Disability and Aged Care sectors."
Michael Foenander - Consultant
"Michael Foenander (GAICD) is an executive leader, board member, and former chef who writes on gerontology, foodservice, and aged care operations."
- Aged Care Hospitality Specialist
"Lindsey O’Grady is a chef and aged care hospitality specialist with 40 years’ experience."
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News
Compliance is the floor. Clinical outcomes lag behind
Marion Piper, Contributor Mirus Australia’s second ACE Index scores aged care 6.3 out of 10 and finds a profitable care business carrying loss-making accommodation. Boards face one question: what happens when care funding stops rising faster than costs?
Who cares for regional Australia when the workers stop coming?
Yvette Willison, Content Writer Australia’s migration debate has focused on housing and population growth, but aged care providers are watching another issue unfold. As regional workforce shortages deepen, the sector is questioning what changing migration settings could mean for recruiting and retaining the people who deliver care.
What Australian Unity learned from its HELF rollout
Marion Piper, Contributor Australian Unity says leaders underestimated the HELF rollout. Its takeaways: evidence the costing, start resident communication early, and give carers tools to know who is entitled to what, so care is not affected.
What it means to leave an aged care organisation well
Yvette Willison, Content Writer Board changes at Southern Cross Care Queensland offer a timely reminder that succession is about more than governance. In a sector built on purpose and stewardship, knowing when to hand leadership to others may be one of a board’s most important responsibilities.
Inputs versus outcomes: RFBI uses parody to take its funding case to the public
Jakob Neeland, Contributor Government is prescribing inputs while capping what it will pay for them. RFBI CEO Frank Price says there is a better way to achieve the outcomes reform was meant to deliver, and he is using an AI-generated Twilight Zone parody to make the case beyond the sector.
Support at Home provider under investigation over pricing
Marion Piper, Contributor A Commission review of 25 higher-risk Support at Home providers found only four fully compliant. One now faces formal investigation over pricing practices, and boards that treat pricing as an operational detail should take note.
The hidden cost of respite: Why Australia’s cheapest aged care investment may save the most money
Yvette Willison, Content Writer Respite has long been viewed as a support for carers. A joint statement from Dementia Australia and Carers Australia says it’s something much bigger: preventative infrastructure that keeps older Australians at home, reduces hospital demand and delays residential aged care. The real cost will be continuing to underinvest.
Topic
Occupancy hits a nine-year high and strains every metric
Occupancy has hit a nine-year high, but Mirus Australia’s data shows a chain reaction for boards: tighter care minutes, costly agency labour, cautious regulation and no new beds. Pull one thread and the rest unravel.
Enough blame – ‘bed blocking’ needs common sense funding
Australia’s aged care ‘bed blocking’ is seniors stranded in hospital, and a hospital system stretched to breaking. Fixing the problem is of national importance for the nation, says Australian Medical Association NSW president Dr Fred Betros. This isn’t a senior problem he says, this is care impacted for all.
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