From 1 July 2025, the long-awaited Aged Care Act will finally become law, marking a significant milestone in the journey to ensure the care, dignity, and respect that older people in aged care deserve. This Act lays the essential foundations envisioned by the royal commission to put an end to the neglect and mistreatment of older people in aged care it identified.
The new Statement of Aged Care Rights aligns with better aged care practice and the new Aged Care Quality Standards. Training aged care workers about these rights, as part of understanding the aged care standards, creates an opportunity to translate current understanding under quality standards framework into rights-based practices that support aged care participants.
As older people are asked to contribute towards their care and services, ensuring it is right and fair becomes critical
Consumer contributions are new for both frontline workers and participants. Participants are still not aware of what they will be asked to pay for their individual circumstances, highlighting the urgent need for clear, tailored information and calculators.
The announcement that Support at Home price caps will be delayed by one year until July 2026 has raised concerns among participants about potential high prices and what they will be asked to pay. Feedback and complaints about pricing and monthly statements continue to be high.
The HCP Program Assurance Review No 4 Report, identified several issues with providers’ billing practices, including not itemising services (43 per cent of providers), inconsistent advertised prices (8 per cent), charging package management in months when no care or services were provided (18 per cent) and overcharging the maximum care management allowed (7 per cent).
Pricing and billing are complex, of that we have no doubt, but as older people are asked to contribute towards their care and services, ensuring it is right and fair becomes critical.
The government has committed to introducing additional consumer protections during the transition year without price caps. We at COTA Australia will actively engage in the government’s consultations to ensure robust protections and fair pricing, monitored by government.
We acknowledge the challenges ahead as the sector works through the implementation steps involved in the reforms. As a member of the Aged Care Transition Taskforce, we stand ready to engage with these issues.
We are grateful for the countless hours of dedication that will be invested in bringing these reforms to fruition. We firmly believe these significant changes will enhance the safety and quality of aged care services, ensuring that older people receive the care, dignity and respect they deserve.
Corey Irlam is acting chief executive of COTA Australia
More stakeholder views from this edition
- Kym Torresi: Now to implement a rights approach for all
- Tom Symondson: We need time to get it right
- Dr Claudia Meyer: We are warriors for change
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