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?
Latest News
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.
What Australian Unity learned from its HELF rollout
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.
Marion Piper, Contributor
Dementia is not just a medical problem – it’s a community problem
A dementia diagnosis changes more than one person’s memory: it reshapes families, neighbourhoods and the places people live. Michael Foenander urges sector leaders to design for identity, dignity and purpose, and to treat families as partners in care, not visitors.
Michael Foenander, Consultant
Sexuality and intimacy in aged care: why a policy isn’t enough
Sexual safety and sexual rights are firmly on the aged care regulator’s agenda for 2026–27. Kate Lamont says providers need to look beyond policy and ask whether staff know what to do in practice.
Hayley Campbell, Content Writer
What it means to leave an aged care organisation well
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.
Yvette Willison, 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
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.
Beyond HELF: What boards should learn from aged care’s latest policy reset
Yvette Willison, Content Writer 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.
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.
Topic
Free personal care raises a capacity question for boards
Personal care is now free at the point of use for eligible Support at Home customers. One provider says cost kept people from asking. Boards now need to know whether their workforce can answer.
Without a living asset management system, boards fly blind
An Asset Management Plan starts going stale the moment the project ends. A living asset management system keeps the register current as equipment is installed, replaced and retired. So when your board asks what capital spend is coming, will you have the right answer?
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