Transforming aged care
A range of changes are being made to aged care, in response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The changes to aged care in Australia aim to achieve six key outcomes:
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reforming aged care (this page)
Our goal is for all Australians to be able to access high-quality and safe aged care, where and when they need it.
The Australian Government’s commitment to improve aged care includes a range of practical measures, such as:
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a registered nurse in every aged care home on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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mandating an average of 215 minutes of care per day for aged care residents
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a pay rise for aged care workers
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better food for residents
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improved transparency and accountability for how government funding is spent to deliver care and services to older Australians.
We will put security, dignity, quality and humanity back into aged care.
Our progress to date
Since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Final Report, we have made a range of improvements to aged care, including:
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Changes made to legislation to improve the care, pricing, transparency, accountability, financial management and sustainability of aged care providers
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Submission to the Fair Work Commission to support a wage increase for aged care workers
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Older Australians have a formal voice to government through the new Council of Elders
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Increased number of home care support packages
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New local, face-to-face support in Services Australia centres, to help older Australians and their families navigate the aged care system
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Introduction of a Serious Incident Response Scheme, to make aged care residents safer
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Initiatives to support providers to grow a skilled workforce
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Provided the new Basic Daily Fee supplement to improve care and services –especially food and nutrition – for aged care residents
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Stronger controls around restrictive practices
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Mandatory quality indicators for residential aged care
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Business support for aged care service providers.
Council of Elders
A recommendation from the Royal Commission, the Council of Elders is a group of older Australians with diverse backgrounds and lived experience. They play an important role in representing the views of all older Australians and provide advice to the Government about aged care reform and ageing well.
Read more about the Council of Elders.
Hello, hi, hi, hello, hi, gday
We are the Council of Elders.
Our job is to listen to you about what really matters when it comes to ageing and aged care.
And our job is to share what we hear, so that government can better design aged care and aged care providers can deliver better care and support services that meet your needs. Care and support that is all about you.
We have diverse backgrounds, skills and areas of interest.
We come from all around Australia.
We want to talk to as many people as possible, and be a voice for senior Australians.
You can get involved by going to the Aged Care Engagement Hub, or call My Aged Care.
National Aged Care Advisory Council
Also a recommendation from the Royal Commission, the National Aged Care Advisory Council provides expert advice to Government on the aged care sector to support the implementation of the reforms. The advisory council is made up of leaders from across the not-for-profit, government and private sectors, and reports directly to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and the Minister Aged Care.
Get involved
There are a range of ways you can be involved in the reforms, including surveys, webinars, online workshops, consultation papers and face-to-face events.
GET INVOLVEDOlder Australians
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter EngAged, for updates on changes to aged care, news from the Council of Elders and alerts about upcoming consultation activities.
SIGN UPAged care workers and providers
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Your Aged Care Update, for news and alerts about the aged care reforms, and information for the sector.
SIGN UP