Ballooning by 26% in three months – seniors approved but still waiting on home care packages increases by 25,200

Recent documents tabled in senate estimates show a nationally serious situation. These documents show that Australians on the national priority system, who have already been approved for but are waiting on home care packages, have ballooned by 26 per cent in three months. Of increasing concern is that while government may be shaping messaging, to indicate they are tackling the issue of package release, the net result of new packages against waitlists is worsening at a staggering rate.

Senate estimates documents highlight figures that are showing a worrying trend. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing responded to Senator Ruston’s request for information last week Thursday.

Three months – an increase of 25,200 to NPS

Over the course of three months, the numbers on the national priority scheme have jumped.

“As at 30 June 2025, there were 96,709 people on the National Priority System waiting for package at their approved level.”

Come the end of September, “there were 121,909 people on the National Priority System waiting for a package at their approved level.”

It is important to note that these figures are not inclusive of the roughly 120,000 seniors who have not received an approval at all, and are in limbo ahead of being assessed for a formal package.

Ballooning NPS waitlist outstrips newly released home care packages

Ensuring that “packages that have been reallocated from a previous participant” are not included in the new package release figures, ie, where someone has died and the package has been re-absorbed into the current pool, Ruston asked the figure of new Home Care Packages that have been added into the system since July 1.

Over three months, “10,001 new home care packages have been released”, averaging 3,333 a month. 

Seen in the light of the increase to the NPS waitlist of 25,000 over three months, or 8,400 a month, advocates and industry leaders remain adamant; It is desperately warranted that government examine the current rollout of packages, publicly and reasonably explain the seemingly maintained resistance to increasing rollout, and engage with sector leaders and advocates, to the end goal of rapid actioned reform.

Accessible data for accountable quality reform 

Senator Allman-Payne, as Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee looking into Aged care service delivery, noted that, “of particular disappointment to the committee is the way in which the Australian Government would not provide the committee with more recent data regarding the National Priority System (NPS) waiting list.”

“It is astonishing that despite repeated questioning the Australian Government refused to release this data until it was forced to do so.”

Adding insult to injury in an area that is significantly affecting seniors across the country, the data with which to assess the degree of damage is proving opaque and difficult to access, both in accuracy and timeliness. A request for information is not how, or what, the Australian public deserves to understand waitlists for life-saving and life-affirming home care for seniors, and measures to mitigate the worsening hospital crisis.

“Lower level or eligible for CHSP”

In a point that seems to rebut the government’s resistance to releasing packages, noting the wish to prevent overwhelming the sector, the tabled document highlights that, “99% of people on the NPS are either receiving care at a lower level or eligible for CHSP.”

Sector readiness

In the recently released senate inquiry into the government’s handling of home care packages and the rollout, the report noted comments from providers as to the positioning of the sector to meet increased rates of home care package release. 

From the Whiddon group’s submission, as to sector readiness to absorb heightened service fulfilment, optimistic and clear capability is articulated.

“While the Government has expressed concern that providers may not be adequately staffed to manage an expedited release of packages, we believe that many providers are well-prepared and capable of absorbing additional packages, particularly with appropriate support and flexibility.”

Government response

The question as to the sizable increase in NPS waiting numbers has been posed to Minister Butler for urgent comment.

Speaking to the ABC, Senator Ruston commented that the numbers are appalling, indicating that government must immediately, “keep its promises and provide additional support as a matter of urgent priority”.