As a Brisbane-based advocate for gerontology and quality elder care, I’ve spent years working alongside providers, families, and older Australians across Queensland and Australia nationally. Here in the Sunshine State – where our ageing population is growing rapidly and regional communities face unique pressures – the stakes have never been higher.
With the new Aged Care Act now in full effect since November 2025, and the Support at Home program reshaping in-home care, we have an historic opportunity. But first, we must confront the persistent issues head-on if we are to deliver the dignified, rights-based care our elders deserve.
The most pertinent issues right now
Australia’s aged care system is at an inflection point. Baby boomers are turning 80, driving unprecedented demand, yet supply is lagging dramatically. In addition, there’s a web of issues affecting
Workforce shortages
This remains the sector’s Achilles heel. National projections warn of a 70,000+ nursing shortfall by 2035, with aged care facing an immediate gap of over 30,000 direct care workers.
In Queensland, regional and remote areas are hit hardest. Many facilities still struggle to meet the new mandated 200 minutes of daily care per resident (including 40 minutes by a registered nurse) and 24/7 RN presence. Burnout, high turnover, and inadequate dementia-specific and cultural safety training are eroding quality.
Access and hospital bed-blocking crisis
Over 3,000 aged care-eligible Australians – many with complex needs or dementia – are stranded in public hospital beds nationwide, a 25% rise in just three months. In Queensland alone, this crisis costs taxpayers an estimated $912 million annually.
Waitlists for Support at Home assessments exceed 100,000, with modelling suggesting over 300,000 by 2030 if unchecked. New residential places are being delivered far below the required rate (we need at least 10,600 new beds yearly; about 800 were added last financial year).
Reform transition pressures and quality gaps
The landmark Aged Care Act 2024 and Support at Home rollout are transformative, centering older people’s rights, choice, and person-centred care.
However, the Inspector-General of Aged Care’s 2025 Progress Report makes it clear: while funding has increased and accountability tools like star ratings and a Complaints Commissioner are welcome, full systemic transformation hasn’t landed yet.
Providers face compliance burdens amid thin markets, co-payment complexities for non-clinical supports (meals, social activities), and ongoing equity issues, especially for First Nations elders wanting to age on Country and those with dementia or complex needs.
Ageism in broader healthcare, under-provision of allied health, and risks of hospital-acquired complications for those stuck in acute settings compound the human cost.
But these aren’t abstract statistics: they represent grandmothers in Brisbane nursing homes waiting for meaningful social connection, fathers in regional Queensland denied timely home support, and elders whose dignity is compromised by systemic delays.
Practical, forward-looking solutions for better outcomes
We can’t afford incrementalism. The new legislative framework gives us the foundation and now we must build boldly. Here are some actionable solutions I believe we must prioritise in 2026 and beyond:
- Supercharge the workforce pipeline
Expand targeted programs like Queensland’s Migrant Immersion micro-credentials and national essential skills visas for aged care. Pair this with dedicated gerontology training pathways in universities and TAFEs, including mandatory dementia, palliative, and cultural safety modules.
It’s also beneficial to offer retention incentives: better wages (building on recent increases), career progression into specialised roles, flexible rosters, and mental health support. Technology can help, like using AI for administrative tasks to free up staff for human connection.
- Fix the supply-demand gap and hospital interface
Streamline approvals for new facilities and home-care expansions, and accelerate integrated discharge pathways between hospitals and aged care (federal-state collaboration is essential).
Invest in “ageing in place” infrastructure: smart-home tech for falls prevention, remote monitoring, and virtual gerontology consultations, which are especially vital in Queensland’s vast regions.
And to reduce wait times, releasing more Support at Home places faster and trialing pooled funding models may ease the burden on respite care.
- Embed true person-centred, rights-based care
Fully resource the Act’s principles: supported decision-making, reduced restrictive practices, and palliative/end-of-life rights. Strengthen culturally safe options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and expand community-controlled services. Promote intergenerational programs and social prescribing to combat loneliness, which is proven to improve mental health and reduce reliance on clinical interventions.
- Drive innovation and collaboration
Encourage provider consolidation where it delivers scale and quality, while supporting smaller, community-focused operators. Leverage data and digital reforms for transparency. Foster cross-sector partnerships: aged care + primary health + NDIS + local councils. Here in Brisbane, we can lead with pilot projects showcasing tech-enabled, elder-led models.
- Sustained funding and accountability
The 2025-26 pricing advice and budget commitments are positive, but we need long-term certainty. Independent monitoring via the Inspector-General and Council of Elders must continue, with transparent reporting on reform impacts.
Accountability for all of us
As professionals, providers, policymakers, families, and community members, we share responsibility for our elders’ wellbeing. The Royal Commission’s vision is within reach: a system where older Australians live with dignity, choice, and joy.
If you’re in aged care, gerontology, healthcare, or simply care about this issue, let’s connect and discuss. What solutions are working in your organisation or community? How can we better support Queensland’s unique needs?
Together, we can turn 2026 into the year we move from crisis management to compassionate excellence. Our elders built this country, so it’s time we build a care system worthy of them.
