The ink may be dry on the new Aged Care Act, but providers across the country are still waiting for a manual. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese begins his second term, the aged care sector is calling for breathing space—not more speeches.
The reforms, hailed as historic when passed with bipartisan backing, are due to take effect from 1 July. But behind closed doors, there’s mounting anxiety that the sector isn’t ready, and the government hasn’t fully understood how far behind the rollout actually is.
“We support the new Act. We support the rights charter. But we still don’t know what half the rules look like,” said Tom Symondson, CEO of Ageing Australia. “There’s a very real risk of confusion—for providers, for families, and most importantly for older Australians.”
The warning isn’t abstract. Providers are juggling workforce shortages, rising operational costs, and outdated IT systems. Implementing sweeping reforms without clear guidance, Symondson warns, could lead to gaps in care or unintended compliance failures. “You can’t overhaul a system this big with patchy timelines and half the information still missing.”
The aged care workforce crisis hasn’t eased either. Many providers are still struggling to meet minimum care minute requirements introduced in the last round of reforms. And while the government’s commitment to better pay for aged care workers is welcome, providers say without transitional funding and clearer guidance, even well-intentioned changes could backfire.
The broader reform package includes a charter of rights, stronger access guarantees, and improved regulatory oversight. Sector leaders agree these are long overdue. But the timeline, they argue, is overly ambitious—and risks undermining the very goals it sets out to achieve.
“The sector is not asking for the clock to be turned back. But we are asking for time to do this properly,” Symondson said. “We’ve come this far with bipartisan support. We can’t lose momentum now because of unrealistic implementation.”
Providers are also asking the government to be realistic about financial sustainability. Many are operating on tight margins, especially smaller and regional providers. With inflation still biting and aged care costs rising, there’s growing concern that some operators may not make it through the transition without targeted support.
The sense from the sector is one of cautious optimism, underpinned by a clear message: reform is only meaningful if it works in practice. And while the political symbolism of 1 July is understood, the logistics of hitting that date without adequate preparation are being questioned by those expected to deliver the change.
For now, aged care leaders are hoping the second-term government swaps urgency for clarity. The challenge isn’t about rolling back reform—it’s about giving the sector enough time, resources, and a clear path forward.
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