Australia’s aged care system has entered a new era with the introduction of the Aged Care Act 2024 and the $4.3 billion Support at Home program, marking what the Federal Government describes as the biggest overhaul of the sector in a generation.
The reforms are designed to give older Australians more choice, control and dignity in how they receive care, while embedding their rights into law. They respond to 58 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which found the system had been defined by neglect.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said the changes represent a decisive shift in how aged care is delivered. “Today marks the beginning of a new era for older Australians. With these reforms, we are no longer just patching a broken system—we are fulfilling a promise to deliver dignity, choice and respect to every person who has spent their life contributing to their community and our country,” he said.
The Support at Home program, now underway, aims to help Australians remain in their homes longer by providing more flexible and tailored support. Labor has committed to delivering 83,000 Support at Home places by the end of this financial year.
For those entering residential aged care, the new Act changes how places are allocated. Instead of being assigned to providers, they will now be given directly to individuals, allowing people to choose the facility that best suits them and move more freely if their needs change.
From 1 November, all aged care providers will be registered under a strengthened regulatory framework. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission now has expanded powers to ensure providers comply with new quality standards and deliver care that meets expectations.
Mr Rae said the reforms were a response to years of community concern and collaboration. “The Albanese Government has stared down the challenge of rebuilding an aged care system left to crumble under the Liberals and delivered reforms that will take better care of our loved ones for generations to come,” he said.
He added that the new system is built around respect and accountability. “For decades, too many older Australians faced a system that treated them as passive recipients of care. Now we place them at the very heart of a rights-based system where their voice matters, where quality is non-negotiable and people can age with purpose and joy.”
Since taking office, the Government has committed $18 billion to fund wage increases for aged care workers, ensuring a registered nurse is onsite in aged care homes 99 per cent of the time. Residential care standards have also improved, with 79 per cent of homes now rated four or five stars, up from 54 per cent in 2023.
A streamlined Single Assessment System has been introduced to reduce waiting times and simplify access to services. The reforms also include targeted funding for culturally safe and healing-informed care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and greater support for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to become approved providers.
“These reforms are the result of listening to older Australians, their families, providers, and care workers. We know this is not the finish line of aged care reform, but what we deliver today is the foundation of a modern, sustainable system for generations to come,” Mr Rae said.
For more information, visit www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act.
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