Aged Care Reforms Mark First Anniversary as Further Improvements Continue
03 Nov 2026
The Aged Care Act 2024 came into effect on 1 November 2025, introducing changes to make aged care more focused on the needs and rights of older Australians.
The reforms followed the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which released its final report in March 2021. Since then, the government and aged care sector have worked together to improve services for older people, their families and carers.
Key changes include:
- The introduction of the Support at Home program.
- Stronger regulation and governance.
- Changes to aged care access and assessment processes.
- Updates to residential aged care funding.
- Improvements to workforce skills and care quality.
Protecting the Rights of Older Australians
The Statement of Rights outlines what older people can expect when receiving government-funded aged care services.
These rights include access to services, clear information, involvement in care decisions, respect for personal culture and identity, and opportunities to stay connected with their communities.
Greater Choice and Clearer Information
Older Australians now have more options for receiving care at home. The number of ongoing Support at Home services has increased by 20 per cent over the past year to support more people who want to remain independent.
The My Aged Care website also provides information to help older people and their families make informed decisions. This includes provider prices, service details, assessment processes and care-related fees.
Further Changes Underway
The government continues to work with aged care providers, workers and older people to improve the system.
Recent updates include:
- Moving personal care contributions under Support at Home into the clinical category.
- Extending the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
- Providing a second round of funding for the End-of-Life Pathway.
However, long assessment waiting times remain a major concern.
Assessment completion rates have improved since the new Act began. The number of completed assessments increased from 127,649 between October and December 2025 to 140,028 between April and June 2026.
Further work is continuing to improve access and ensure Australia's aged care system can meet the needs of older people now and in the future.
Aged Care Reforms Mark First Anniversary as Further Improvements Continue
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.