UPDATE: The Australian federal government has just announced an urgent acceleration in the rollout of 20,000 home care packages for older Australians, as the number of people waiting for aged care remains critically high. Following intense political pressure, these packages will now be available from September to October, rather than the initially planned November start.
Aged Care Minister Sam Rae emphasized the pressing need for action, stating, “I don’t want to see people sitting on the national priority system without aged care.” This announcement comes amid growing concerns over the backlog of elderly individuals requiring assistance, which Rae described as “too high.” His remarks were made during an interview on Sky News earlier today.
The decision to bring forward these packages follows a previous delay of aged care reforms, which were set to begin in July but postponed due to fears from the sector about their readiness. However, Rae expressed confidence in the sector’s ability to meet the new demand, citing recent assurances from providers. “They’ve now told us… they believe they can rise to the challenge of meeting an additional demand,” he stated.
This swift action is expected to alleviate pressure on hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), where many aged care patients are currently occupying beds due to a lack of available facilities. NSW Premier Chris Minns highlighted the urgent need for reform, stating, “We’ve got a lot of aged care patients in our hospitals that could be discharged this afternoon, but there’s nowhere for them to go.”
In addition to the immediate rollout, the government plans to release an additional 43,000 home care places by the first half of 2026, ensuring that more older Australians can access the care they need.
As these developments unfold, all eyes will be on how effectively the government can implement these changes and reduce the waiting list for aged care. The urgency of the situation highlights the ongoing challenges within Australia’s aged care system and the critical need for reform.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation continues to evolve.
