Aged Care Industry Updates

Australia heads to the polls in just days, and barring an incredibly close Federal Election, will be confidently forging ahead under a re-elected Anthony Albanese-led Labor Government, or in a new direction with Peter Dutton’s Coalition.

Not-for-profit aged care provider Fitzgerald Memorial Aged Care says its future is under threat after its approved plans for a new 24-room expansion hit a roadblock — it is not eligible for government funding due to its location. 

By all appearances, Australia is reforming aged care and the NDIS to make them more “sustainable”, “efficient”, and “person-centred”.

March proved to be a good month for the aged care sector as the AN-ACC price increase boosted the average daily subsidy for providers. Meanwhile, 2025 wage boosts appear to be delivering positive flow-on effects as total direct care minutes bounced back from a February slump.

For 16 residents living in Merriwa, a small town in the Upper Hunter Shire of New South Wales, their security is reaching a tipping point.

​As Australia’s federal election campaign intensifies, both major parties are spotlighting aged care in their policy platforms, unveiling funding commitments aimed at enhancing services in underserved regions.​

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission could be significantly impacted if the Coalition wins the election and implements a freeze on public service recruitment, potentially resulting in up to 26% of the existing workforce being lost.

Bupa Aged Care is at the centre of a new class action issued by Echo Law alleging that between July 1, 2019, and April 11, 2025, Bupa failed to provide the quality of care it promised to residents, and that it was required to deliver under law.

The 13th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards were held this week as part of the World Ageing Festival in Singapore, with Australian organisations picking up 11 awards.

With the Federal Election just over three weeks away, the Minister for Sport and Aged Care, Anika Wells, appeared on 4BC Breakfast this morning with Peter Fegan in a rare appearance directly answering listener questions.