Reform

Multiple crises need bigger thinking to solve for the present day and for future sustainability.

Dental clinic collapses with millions in upfront payments, drawn from Super. Without treatment, and left out of pocket, hundreds of Australians are worse off as they head into retirement.

As strains on health and aged care capacity worsen, short-sighted policy surrounding Support at Home pricing to speed up damage for individuals and critical sectors.

From 1 November, in-home care providers must complete a new annual Child Safety Compliance Statement under the Aged Care Act, alongside registration and reporting changes outlined in the government’s digital readiness guide.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released new guidance on complaints handling ahead of the Aged Care Act starting 1 November, requiring providers to embed rights-based, resolution-focused systems that restore trust and drive improvement.

Australia’s aged care reforms are falling short of the Royal Commission’s vision, says Inspector General of Aged Care, Natalie Siegel-Brown. The new Aged Care Act is a step forward, but vulnerable Aussies could miss out on critical care due to co-payments.

To tackle the complexity of concurrent crises across health and aged care, questions and answers across party lines must improve

The Aged Care Act introduces a Statement of Rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, ensuring culturally safe, trauma-aware care. While $2.9B in funding supports reforms, barriers like limited access in remote areas and historical mistrust need ongoing work.

Uniting Care ACT.NSW CEO Tracey Burton is warning that the current aged care reform pricing model could force providers into an impossible choice between accepting financially vulnerable residents or remaining financially viable. She is calling for the government’s accommodation supplement review to be brought forward from 2026, warning that without urgent action, tens of thousands of low-means Australians risk losing access to quality residential aged care.

When Theresa Flavin first stepped into advocacy for dementia and aged care, she noticed a pattern that was as troubling as it was familiar. “In research, older people and those with dementia were kept at arm’s length,” she recalls. “It felt like the system was built around us, not for us.” Diagnosed with younger onset […]