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Thank you, Virginia.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Yugambeh people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to Elders past and present, as well as any First Nations people with us today.
Can I also acknowledge Ageing Australia Chair Mick Reid, CEO Tom Symondson, and the Shadow Minister, Senator the Honourable Anne Ruston.
It’s wonderful to be here; thank you for the invitation.
Ageing Australia plays such an important role in our sector – representing not just providers, but the interests of the older Australians they care for.
In my first months as Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, I’ve been grateful for the frank, constructive, and sometimes robust conversations we’ve shared.
That honesty has helped shape the new Aged Care Act into the strong, rights-based framework we’re now preparing together to deliver. It’s been made better by your willingness to engage and contribute.
I also want to pay tribute to your commitment to caring for our older loved ones with compassion and respect.
It’s been a busy year, after a run of busy years – no-one in this room needs me to tell you that.
If the past few years were about design and consultation, this year has been about preparing for change.
And now, here we are: tomorrow marks just one month until the new Act begins – the most significant change to aged care in decades.
So let me start by thanking all of you – for your advocacy, your expertise, and your persistence. We simply wouldn’t be here without it.
When our government came to office, aged care was at a low point.
It was unsustainable and not delivering – for government, for many providers, and mostly for the people who depend on its care.
The Royal Commission made that clear, but it also gave us a roadmap.
Its 148 recommendations, alongside the Prime Minister’s vision for a fairer, more sustainable, rights-based system, have guided everything we’ve done since.
And while the Act begins in November, the reforms are already underway. You’ll know them well:
• Star Ratings and Dollars to Care, giving families greater transparency.
• Nurses on site, 24/7, in residential homes.
• Wage increases for the people who care for our loved ones – with the latest pay increase set to take effect tomorrow.
We’re already seeing results. Surveys, data, and – most importantly – conversations with older people and their families show real improvements in dignity, respect, and quality of care.
One of the joys of this portfolio is that whether I’m in a lounge room, a care home, or a boardroom, people are not afraid to tell me exactly what they think.
That honesty keeps us grounded – and it shows that people are noticing the changes.
There’s always more to do.
But thanks to the strong partnerships between government, providers, the workforce, and advocates, we are building momentum – and I’ll keep leaning on you to help us make aged care the best it can be.
One of my first decisions as Minister, alongside Minister Butler, was to defer the Act’s start date from 1 July to 1 November.
That decision wasn’t taken lightly – but it was the right call.
That extra time has been about ensuring older people experience a seamless transition.
Because 1 November is also not the end of reform – it’s the start of a new era in aged care.
An era that finally puts people at its centre.
At the heart of this is our belief that every older Australian has the right to dignity, respect, and access to care through a sustainable system.
One important task we are progressing ahead of 1 November is the Accommodation Pricing Review – a key component of our work to deliver an equitable aged care system.
And I’m pleased to announce that this Review is now underway—with Mr Nigel Ray PSM and Associate Professor Nicole Sutton appointed to lead this critical work.
We know that getting the accommodation supplement and pricing right are essential to a sector that affords all older Australians world-class care, no matter their background and resources.
The review is a priority for government and we know time is of the essence – which is why the consultation paper is being released today for comment.
I have heard from many of you how important this review is to shaping a fair and sustainable aged care system, which is a priority for the government too.
For many people, aged care starts at home.
That’s why one of the most significant reforms is Support at Home – helping 1.4 million older Australians stay healthy, active, and connected in their own homes for longer.
It will replace the Home Care Packages program, while the Commonwealth Home Support Program will continue until at least July 2027.
Central to Support at Home is the No Worse Off principle.
Everyone currently receiving or assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package when we announced our reforms last September will pay the same, or less, than they currently do.
For new entrants, a means test will apply for independent and everyday living services, but government will fund all clinical care – with hardship provisions and a lifetime payment cap in place.
This ensures aged care remains equitable, sustainable, and high quality: something that was far from guaranteed under the old system.
We’ve also listened to the strong advocacy for more Home Care Packages. We've already started releasing 20,000 additional packages – a big step, and one we’re able to deliver quickly thanks to the sector’s assurances that the capacity is there in the system.
Of course, we will continue this delivery at pace once 1 November arrives, with another 63,000 extra Support at Home places by June 2026 – so more people can get the care they need, when they need it.
Colleagues – we are on the cusp of generational reform.
I want to acknowledge the work each of you does, every day, to make life better for older people. You’ve been critical to getting us here, and I thank you for it.
From here, we’ll bed down these reforms, and once the new Act is in place we’ll keep working with you to drive continuous improvement and investability.
Because whether it’s at home or in residential care, every older Australian deserves the chance to age well, with dignity and respect.
That’s the goal. And every one of these reforms gets us closer to it.
Thank you – and I hope you enjoy the conference.