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Aged Care Reforms

The Australian Government is rolling out significant aged care reforms, including the Aged Care Act 2024, Support at Home program, and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

Learn more about what’s changing below:

Why are there reforms?

The Reforms come after Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety final report made 148 recommendations to significantly reform the aged care sector. The Reforms will ensure that older people have: 

Greater choice and independence

Access to services that respect and meet their needs

Support to stay independent as they age.

These changes align with our commitment at Anglicare to deliver person-centred care and create a stronger, more sustainable aged care system. 

Who will the reforms affect?

The Reforms will impact both Residential Aged Care as well as our Support at Home. For more information please follow the links below, or visit: The Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.

Contact us

We’re here to help answer your questions about the upcoming aged care reforms.

Aged Care Reforms:
Support at Home 

Under the Aged Care Reforms, a new aged care program called Support at Home will be introduced. The goal is to create a simpler, fairer, and more flexible system for older Australians who want to live independently at home. 

What’s Changing?

The new Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages Program (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme (STRC) from 1 July 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will transition to the new program no earlier than 1 July 2027. 

To ensure Home Care Package recipients successfully transition to Support at Home, The Government has developed transition guidelines. Based on these guidelines, recipients may be considered either a ‘Grandfathered’ or a ‘Transitional’ participant.  

 

Key changes include:

Grandfathered Participants

Those approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024:

  • You’ll automatically move into the Support at Home program.
  • You’ll keep your current provider and care arrangements with Anglicare Southern Queensland.
  • A “no worse off” rule protects you from higher personal contributions.
  • You will retain any unspent funds in your account as at 30 June 2025. However new limits will apply to how much you can carry over each quarter
  • You will continue to receive care based on your current package level
  • Your budget will change to quarterly from annually
  • Care Management will be capped at 10% and be a separate budget to your service budget.

Transitional Participants

Those approved for a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024:

  • You’ll automatically move into the Support at Home program.
  • You’ll keep your current provider and care arrangements with Anglicare Southern Queensland.
  • You will maintain your current level of funding and be able to keep any unspent funds  in your account as at 30 June 2025. However new limits will apply to how much you can carry over each quarter.
  • You will continue to receive care based on your current package level
  • Your budget will change to quarterly from annually
  • Care Management will be capped at 10% and be a separate budget to your service budget.
  • You will begin paying personal contribution fees, depending on your income and the type of service you receive.

Aged Care Reforms:
Residential Aged Care

The new Aged Care Act 2024 will come into effect from 1 July 2025.  It’s focused on strengthening resident’s rights and supporting safe, respectful, and high-quality care.

Key changes include:

Rights-Based Framework

Ensuring that older individuals are central to the aged care system.  

  • A Statement of Rights will clearly outline what residents can expect from providers and aged care workers. 
  • Residents will have the ability to register a supporter who must adhere to supported decision-making principles. This is different from an EPOA 

Enhanced Regulatory Oversight

  • The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will have strengthened powers to ensure providers comply with the new standards.  
  • New complaints arrangements will facilitate access to restorative outcomes, and individuals who raise concerns will be protected from reprisal actions 

Contact us

We’re here to help answer your questions about the upcoming aged care reforms.

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