Election could hinder reform info gap
VIDEO: On the sidelines of ITAC 2025 conference, Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson discusses what providers are still waiting on ahead of 1 July reforms, and how they can be more innovative.
The timelines to adequately prepare for 1 July have always been tight and the impending election isn’t going to help ensure providers have everything they need in time, Ageing Australia chief executive officer Tom Symondson tells Australian Ageing Agenda.
The recent ITAC conference in Melbourne – where over 650 people attended – included a lot of talk about being prepared for 1 July and beyond when the new Aged Care Act and other reforms kick in.
While providers have received a lot of information to date, much of it is in draft form, and some things are still missing altogether such as some of the rules required for the Act to be completely operationalised on 1 July.
“We’re at the point of crossing fingers, but what we’re saying to government is we need to see all of this information, and we need to have a realistic conversation about what happens on 1 July if we’re not ready,” Mr Symondson told AAA on the sidelines of ITAC 2025.
Another common topic at ITAC 2025 was innovation and particularly how aged care providers could do better. Mr Symondson was among speakers who told delegates to look to Asia for inspiration.
Following his presentation, Mr Symondson reiterated to AAA that innovation doesn’t have to cost a billion dollars.
“What we need to see is systemic innovation in our DNA. We need every organisation in aged care, in the aged care sector to feel like it has permission to innovate. That means permission sometimes to fail, and this is a sector that has been very risk averse.”
Watch the full interview here:
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