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:

• respect, care and dignity

• real choice and control

• safe and high-quality care

• prioritise independence through care at home

• easy, consistent and equitable access

• appropriately skilled care.

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:

• a registered nurse in every aged care home on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• mandating an average of 215 minutes of care per day for aged care residents

• a pay rise for aged care workers

• better food for residents

• 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:

• Changes made to legislation to improve the care, pricing, transparency, accountability, financial management and sustainability of aged care providers

• Submission to the Fair Work Commission to support a wage increase for aged care workers

• Older Australians have a formal voice to government through the new Council of Elders

• Increased number of home care support packages

• New local, face-to-face support in Services Australia centres, to help older Australians and their families navigate the aged care system

• Introduction of a Serious Incident Response Scheme, to make aged care residents safer

• Initiatives to support providers to grow a skilled workforce

• Provided the new Basic Daily Fee supplement to improve care and services –especially food and nutrition – for aged care residents

• Stronger controls around restrictive practices

• Mandatory quality indicators for residential aged care

• 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.

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.

Read more about the National Aged Care Advisory Council.