$37 million funding boost for aged care meal services
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In a bid to address rising costs and growing demand, the Australian Government has announced a $37 million funding boost for aged care meal providers, ensuring essential services like Meals on Wheels continue to deliver nutritious meals to older Australians at home.
Starting 1 January 2025, all meal providers under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will receive a 10% cost-of-living adjustment to their funding for 2024–25. This increase is designed to offset cost pressures and sustain vital meal delivery services for older Australians.
The funding commitment spans three years and brings the government’s annual investment in CHSP meal services to $131.64 million. CHSP currently supports over 835,000 older Australians with entry-level aged care services, including meal delivery, helping them maintain their health and community connections.
Announcing the initiative, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells emphasised the critical role played by these services.
“Our $37m investment will help Meals on Wheels and other meals providers deliver an essential service, bringing healthy meals to older Australians to help them stay healthy and connected to their community,” she said.
Wells also highlighted the broader benefits of meal delivery programs: “We’re giving an immediate cost-of-living funding boost to CHSP meals providers servicing communities across Australia. We want to ensure they can continue to deliver better choice, better nutrition, and better social supports for older people living at home.”
These services, she noted, provide more than just meals. “Meals on Wheels and other CHSP meals providers are a vital and well-loved part of our aged care system. Often, they are also valued providers of social support, helping older people to stay connected to their local community and live at home for longer.”
The government’s decision to boost funding reflects a growing recognition of the challenges faced by aged care providers amid increasing costs and demand for services. The additional investment is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring older Australians can continue to access high-quality, nutritious meals and the social connections that come with them.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
