Aged care leaders have welcomed Anthony Albanese’s election victory but say the re-elected Labor government must extend implementation deadlines or risk chaos for older Australians and the providers who serve them.
Ageing Australia Chief Executive Officer Tom Symondson congratulated the Prime Minister, adding that bipartisan momentum behind the new Aged Care Act cannot stall. “We congratulate Prime Minster Albanese on winning the Federal Election and we look forward to continuing to work with his government on meaningful, well-designed reform,” he said.
The peak body helped secure cross-party support for the legislation in the last parliament, a rare outcome in aged care policy. “Politicians of all persuasions put older Australians ahead of party politics to land these historic reforms, but the job has only just begun,” Symondson noted.
His bigger worry now is timing. The Act is due to take effect on 1 July, but providers still lack key guidance on funding rules, staffing ratios and reporting. “We fully support the introduction of the new Act and the charter of rights for older Australians, but the plain truth is providers simply won’t have enough time to implement all of the reforms by 1 July, with the real risk of creating mass confusion for older Australians and the sector as a whole.”
With staff shortages and rising costs already straining services, the transition could overwhelm facilities and home-care operators alike. “Supporting transition to the new Act, addressing the workforce crisis and improving access for older Australians must be a national priority moving forward,” Symondson said.
Financial pressures add to the uncertainty. Providers say they are willing to lift care standards but need clarity on funding to recruit nurses and personal-care workers. “Both providers and older people need to get across the changes to the aged care system, however we don’t yet know what those final changes are and we still don’t have all the information we need to get on with the job,” the CEO warned.
Ageing Australia argues that a short delay, combined with clear guidance, would protect residents and avoid a repeat of past policy missteps. “We have an opportunity to deliver these once-in-a-generation reforms in a way that makes the lives of older people better – we cannot afford to squander it.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
