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.
Latest News
Retirement village capital investment meets the challenge of changing care needs
Billions in financing are supporting Australia’s retirement living sector via sustainability linked loans (SLLs). But as residents move in later and stay longer, operators must plan for changing care needs while relying on services beyond their villages to deliver additional support.
Rationed care isn’t rights-based care, Uniting NSW.ACT tells Senate
Some older Australians assessed as eligible for Support at Home are going without care because the co-contributions are out of reach. See what Uniting NSW.ACT’s Saviour Buhagiar recently told the Senate inquiry about the highly-criticised program.
Marion Piper, Contributor
Time over tasks: inside Whiddon’s dementia care pilot
A resident who pushed everyone away now hugs staff. A man who slept all day now talks about his fears. Whiddon’s RBC Enrich pilot shows what emotional connection does in dementia care, and what leaders must change to sustain it.
Marion Piper, Contributor
Beyond HELF: What boards should learn from aged care’s latest policy reset
The latest HELF rule changes have prompted providers to review charging arrangements, but the bigger lesson extends well beyond one fee. Paul Sadler argues that governance during reform requires continual review, local judgement and the willingness to revisit decisions made in good faith.
Yvette Willison, Content Writer
Health department knew IAT override was impossible
Freedom of Information (FoI) emails show senior health department staff knew, three days before rollout, that the aged care assessment algorithm (IAT) couldn’t legally be overridden – despite months of public assurances to assessors.
Marion Piper, Contributor
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
Aged care respite hits record levels, but fewer stays lead to permanent care
Marion Piper, Contributor Respite care usage just hit a record high, but fewer of those stays are turning into permanent admissions than ever before. For providers banking on that conversion, new Mirus data suggests it’s time to revisit the FY27 occupancy forecast.
Aged care turnover isn’t a pay problem: it’s a visibility crisis
Marion Piper, Contributor New polling from Mirus Australia reveals aged care turnover is driven by workload, burnout, and culture – over pay. Leaders face a visibility crisis, leaving preventable resignations hidden in roster patterns and unmeasured morale.
Bupa’s $2 billion exit strategy: why buying aged care is cheaper than building it
Marion Piper, Contributor Four years after shelving its divestment plans, Bupa APAC is re-testing the market to sell its $2 billion ANZ aged care portfolio. The move highlights a stark sector reality: buying existing beds is now far cheaper than building them.
National alignment: Australia’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) landscape
Marion Piper, Contributor With Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) now legislated across every Australian state and territory, aged care leaders face a critical operational shift. Here’s how the legal framework evolved, what you need to plan for, and how to balance compliance with compassion in care.
The $5.6 million payroll wake-up call
Marion Piper, Contributor The Fair Work Ombudsman’s $5.6 million audit recovery exposes a critical governance vulnerability for aged care leaders: basic payroll, rostering, and Award classification errors compound into massive compliance liabilities across large workforces.
What lies ahead for CHSP beyond the 2029 extension
Marion Piper, Contributor Australia’s Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is extended until June 2029, avoiding a planned merger with Support at Home. While the certainty is welcome news, providers now face the crucial challenge of shaping the program’s long-term future.
Interim funding rule Removes 53,000 clients from official aged care waitlist
Jakob Neeland, Contributor 53,718 people vanished from Australia’s aged care waitlist after a methodology change, removed once interim 60% payments start, not full funding. Providers report clients waiting up to five months, with the missing 40% never backdated.
Topic
Shared purpose: The foundation of every strong partnership
Residents and patients don’t see different uniforms, just the people caring for them. Cirka’s Pat Donato and Emma Yee on why the strongest outsourced partnerships in aged care are built on trust and shared outcomes, not contracts.
Support at Home administration fees: when payment delays hit small providers
A Victorian remedial massage therapist has waited up to 10 weeks to be paid under Support at Home. She says inconsistent processes and mounting administration are making the system increasingly difficult for small providers.
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