Finalising the Act

On 21 October the Senate committee tasked with reviewing Aged Care Bill 2024 has published over 90 submissions and begun the final week of a national tour of public hearings.

While everyone seems to welcome the legislation in general, they don’t always want the same thing when it gets down to the detail.

Aged & Community Care Providers Association chief executive officer Tom Symondson told the Melbourne hearing that ACCPA “unequivocally supports” the bill and is “very excited” about the landmark reforms it provides.

But he added concerns over the time, challenge and cost of transitioning to the new system and called for a staged approach to implementation.

“If we’re going to achieve the changes the bill seeks to deliver on, we need the time to do it properly so that the reform does not just fail,” Mr Symondson told the inquiry. “That requires 6-12 months from when we have all the information, that means all of the rules.”

Appearing at the same hearing was national aged care provider Bolton Clarke.

Speaking with Australian Ageing Agenda prior, CEO Stephen Muggleton said he was “looking forward” to the passage of the new Act and welcomed “provisions that will support greater funding certainty and sustainability” for residential care.

However, he too expressed reservations.

“From the home care perspective, we are recommending elements of the proposed reforms be deferred pending further review to minimise the risk of major service disruptions and reduced services for those who most need them.”

He’s not the only one.

The week earlier, Catholic Health Australia fronted the inquiry and called for the Support at Home to kick off from July 2026, a year later than slated, to ensure an effective implementation.

“We’re calling for a modest delay or a shadow pricing approach to make sure the reforms can be implemented smoothly with no unintended consequences,” CHA’s director of public health and in-home support policy Alex Lynch told AAA.

“Providers also need time to implement the changes, including updating IT systems, training staff and informing clients.”

Lorraine Poulos, managing director of aged care training and consultancy organisation LPA, said pushing back the start date would be delaying the inevitable.

However, she agreed there were significant financial, ICT and workforce ramifications for providers.

“All the elements of the reform changes announced are what we’ve been anticipating and expecting. But we don’t think home care providers have enough information to make sound decisions until we have the pricing information from the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority,” Ms Poulos told AAA.  

LPA would support a 12-month preparation window from the date that the Aged Care Act receives royal ascent, she said.

COTA Australia chief executive Patricia Sparrow is not keen on more delays to the in-home program.

“COTA Australia wouldn’t support a blanket 12-month delay but would consider supporting tailored timelines for specific, complex elements of implementing the program,” she told AAA ahead of her appearance at the inquiry.

You can read more from Ms Sparrow on COTA’s views including concerns about whether older people’s rights will be real and enforceable here.

Likewise Acting Inspector-General of Aged Care shares his views here, where he warns the Bill must pass before Christmas break and be implemented on 1 July 2025.

“If it’s not, then reform will unravel, and it will take years to get it back on track.”

The Senate committee’s final report is due by 31 October.

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