Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Hayley Campbell, Content Writer


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.

Latest News

Aged care respite hits record levels, but fewer stays lead to permanent care

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

Dashboards are dead

Sonja Bernhardt OAM argues that traditional dashboards are dying. Instead of forcing humans to act as analytics engines by hunting through disconnected metrics, AI shifts the focus from “showing numbers” to surfacing what genuinely deserves human attention.

Sonja Bernhardt, Contributor

• aged care workforce

Aged care turnover isn’t a pay problem: it’s a visibility crisis

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.

Marion Piper, Contributor

• innovation

Beyond compliance: The leadership challenge shaping aged care’s next chapter

As aged care embeds its post-Royal Commission reforms, sector leaders are asking a new question: what comes after compliance? Experts agree strong governance is essential, but future success will depend on leadership, judgement and creating the conditions for older Australians to genuinely thrive.

Yvette Willison, Content Writer

• finance

What does it actually cost to feed an aged care resident?

Lindsey O’Grady spotlights what the latest AN-ACC price announcement means for aged care kitchens. It reveals a growing gap between food cost and the true cost of feeding residents well.

Lindsey OGrady, Aged Care Hospitality Specialist

Contributors

Hayley Campbell

Hayley Campbell

Hayley Campbell - Content Writer

"Hayley Campbell is a mental health and healthcare copywriter who believes the best stories start with people."

Lindsey OGrady

Lindsey OGrady

- Aged Care Hospitality Specialist

"Lindsey O’Grady is a chef and aged care hospitality specialist with 40 years’ experience."

Yvette Willison

Yvette Willison

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

Michael Foenander

Michael Foenander - Consultant

"Michael Foenander (GAICD) is an executive leader, board member, and former chef who writes on gerontology, foodservice, and aged care operations."

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Every Wednesday, we deliver stories that inspire better leadership, spark ideas & keep you ahead in aged care.

Events

Nov

2026

2026 Ageing Australia National Conference

NOV 24, 2026 | 9 am - 5 pm

The International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney

Mar

2027

ATSA Independent Living Expo Hobart

MAR 04, 2027 | 8 am - 4 pm

Princes Wharf No. 1, Hobart

May

2027

ATSA Independent Living Expo Perth

MAY 19, 2027 | 8 am - 3 pm

Claremont Showground

News

• industry news

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.

• legal

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.

• aged 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.

• aged care sector

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.

• support at home

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.

• industry news

Building the bridge to reshape First Nations aged care

Yvette Willison, Content Writer Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner Jodi Cassar brings more than two decades of public service experience to one of aged care’s newest roles, sharing why listening, cultural safety and community partnerships are essential to creating meaningful, lasting reform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Who will take care of older Australians if migration slows?

• aged care workforce

Hayley Campbell, Content Writer Australia’s aged care workforce already relies heavily on migrant workers, while demand for workers continues to grow. With migration settings under review, providers need to understand what changes to access for overseas workers could mean for staffing.

Topic

Aged care needs experienced leaders. So why is it screening them out?

• recruitment

Aged care is short of experienced leaders, while capable professionals in their 50s and 60s can find themselves pushed out of other industries. Is the sector overlooking a ready-made leadership pool by prioritising aged care experience over transferable corporate skills?

When home is still the answer: why live-in care deserves a place in aged care conversations

• leadership

Residential care isn’t the only option when family support reaches its limit. Discover how live-in care offers a viable, continuous home-based alternative for older Australians – and why aged care leaders should raise this option with families before crisis strikes.

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