Calls for govt to release home care packages

Ten federal crossbenchers have written to the government calling for the release of 20,000 home care packages this morning, echoing sentiments put forward by provider and consumer peak bodies and sector leaders.

Chief executive officer of the not-for-profit aged care provider Whiddon, Chris Mamarelis told Australian Ageing Agenda that while they welcomed the new Aged Care Act being delayed to 1 November, they are hoping the more than 80,000 promised home care packages are released sooner.

“We’d really like to see those packages released in line with the original timeline,” Mr Mamarelis told AAA.

“You just have to look at the queue of people waiting to access home care services. I understand there are legislative connections to that release. However, I think the government has the ability to release [or] start releasing some of those packages in advance of the November extension.

“And I think the community and older Australians need those packages now.”

Craig Gear, chief executive officer of the Older Persons Advocacy Network said OPAN is also hoping for the release of the home care packages prior to November, and is seeking clarification from the government on why their release is dependent on the implementation of the new Act.

“As an interim measure, OPAN is calling for 20,000 packages to be released under the existing Home Care Packages Program,” Mr Gear told AAA.

“The current wait times are simply unacceptable. There is a need for a continual flow of Home Care Packages so older people don’t functionally decline while waiting for the care and support they need. Lack of appropriate care and support also pushes older people into residential aged care against their choice.

“While older people on the waiting list for a Home Care Package can access interim support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, that support falls well short of the level of care they need in terms of quality, consistency and accessibility.”

Russell Bricknell, chief executive officer at the Western Australian-based aged care provider Juniper, told AAA that it’s good to see pressure mounting on the government to release at least 20,000 packages by the original 1 July deadline.

“I think the whole sector was a little shocked to learn the delay to the Act also means the rollout of 83,000 new Home Care Packages will be delayed to 1 November 2025,” he said.

“That means more than 83,000 older Australians are stuck without the help they need which, quite frankly, is not acceptable.

“We know the longer people go without appropriate home care support, the higher their risk of injury, hospitalisation and earlier entry into residential aged care. And we know both hospitals and residential aged care facilities are at capacity.’

Mr Bricknell added that Juniper has been very vocal in its advocacy for a large, one-off funding commitment to fully clear the Home Care Package waitlist.

“It’s a practical, necessary step that will ease current pressure on individuals and families and ensure older people can live safely and independently in their homes as they wait for the new Support at Home system to come into place,” he said.

Speaking to ABC this morning, peak body Ageing Australia’s chief executive officer Tom Symondson said packages need to start flowing.

“The waiting list is already more than 80,000 people on it, and that was back in February. We need to see packages start to flow. If we don’t see them flow until November, we’re just going to see potentially well over 100,000 people waiting,” he said.

AAA has contacted the government for comment.

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