Govt to phase in digital changes until Feb

The Albanese Government’s once-in-a-generation reforms are changing aged care for the better for older people, their families and carers.

Supporting you through this transition is a key focus area for the Aged Care Transition Taskforce, which I established to work with the aged care sector to 1 July 2025 and beyond.

Focus areas for the taskforce include implementing the Aged Care Rules, developing education and training materials, communications and change management support that resonates with your needs, funding and fee structure, data and digital.

The Transition Taskforce brings together representatives from government, industry, peak bodies, education and training institutions, and regulators to identify problems, risks, and opportunities that arise during the transition so that we can work to address them early. The Taskforce has met four times so far and the summaries of what was discussed are publicly available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

The reforms are changing the way providers do business, not least of all enhancing the digital systems that underpin your operations.

I understand that adapting business to new requirements, upgrading ICT systems, and implementing new workplace processes is a significant change for providers who are still in the thick of delivering services every day.

This is something that the Taskforce has discussed – specifically that ICT delivery is a big undertaking, and more time is needed for providers to meet the requirements. I have taken this onboard, and this is reflected in the way we will stage digital changes. We will continue to work with the Taskforce to deliver the critical elements for 1 July, with full implementation by February 2026.

Staging digital changes will ensure there is continuity and continued access to quality aged care services for older people by giving providers more time to get their systems ready.

There are several resources on the department’s website that will be helpful to providers who are contemplating what this means for them – like the full digital specifications that they must meet, which are available on Services Australia’s Aged Care Provider Portal for registered users, and via DOHAC’s data and digital roadmap.

This, along with other resources like Navigating the reforms, the GPMS guide to digital changes for providers and the Support at Home Program Provider Transition Guide, can help you plan for and manage change. 

We understand that upgrading technology can be expensive and so the government is offering providers once-off funding of $10,000 towards the cost of upgrading IT systems for Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Programme providers through the Aged Care Transition Support Grant.

There is a tremendous amount of work going on both by providers and within government as we approach 1 July and the commencement of the new Aged Care Act. The government is aware that we are asking a lot of the sector, and that is why we are doing what we can to ease the transition by providing funding, resources and channels to raise concerns.

I am proud to say that the reforms that are ushered in by the new Act mark the most significant changes to our aged care system in a generation, superseding the outdated 1997 legislation and addressing contemporary challenges that have arisen this century.

There has been a huge effort across government and the sector to get us to this point, and I am so grateful for the providers, peaks, and other groups that have leaned in to help make this happen. We are in the final sprint now as we race towards a future where Australia’s aged care system is something to admire. I look forward to crossing the line with all of you.

Anika Wells is the Minister for Aged Care

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