About the reforms
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety final report made 148 recommendations to significantly reform the aged care sector.
It challenged us to create better aged care services and a better standard of care for older people in Australia.
Since then, we’ve made important changes to aged care that ensure older people have:
- greater choice and independence
- access to services that respect and meet their needs
- support to stay independent as they age.
See our priorities for reform and reforms in progress.
Why the reforms are important
Everyone deserves access to high-quality care and support as they age, to remain independent in their own home or if they move to residential aged care.
The reforms will deliver high-quality person-centred care for older people, where and when they need it.
How we're reforming aged care
We are consulting and engaging with people who are living, working and delivering aged care, or have an interest in aged care. Feedback has helped to shape policy and direct the changes we are making.
We have created an aged care reform roadmap to provide an indicative timeline for key reform elements from October 2022 to July 2025. As we update the roadmap, we keep the sector informed.
You can also view our 2025 data and digital roadmap which provides an overview of the data and digital changes required in 2025. We will update this regularly.
Who will be affected
Older people
Aged care reforms will improve the quality of care in Australia.
It will be easier for older people to access Australian Government-funded aged care services and support.
Older people, their families and carers will have more choice and independence, including more information to make informed decisions about care.
Aged care workforce
We are working to build, train and support the aged care workforce. Our aged care reforms recognise the value of aged care workers and the complex work they do.
Aged care providers
Changes to aged care will help providers to:
- plan and develop their business in a competitive market
- deliver transparency and accountability to build trust in the sector.
What we've achieved so far
We have already made major changes to aged care, including:
- introducing the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility in aged care homes
- introducing an average of 200 mandatory care minutes per aged care resident per day
- establishing a Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline for aged care residents
- introducing Star Ratings to help older people compare aged care homes and make informed choices
- funding a 15% wage rise to benefit more than 250,000 aged care workers
- capping care management and package management fees for Home Care Packages
- introducing face-to-face support in Services Australia service centres
- ensuring specialisations on My Aged Care are independently verified
- expanding the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program, by adding consumer experience and quality of life
- introducing a Code of Conduct for Aged Care to ensure services are delivered in a safe, competent and respectful manner.
Read about the reforms we have delivered.
Who we work with
To deliver the aged care reforms and to meet community needs, we work with:
- older people, their families and carers
- aged care providers and workers
- sector peak organisations
- unions and professional bodies
- consumer advocacy groups
- partner government agencies, including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- researchers and experts in the field.
Get involved
Thousands of people have been involved in shaping the reforms so far through:
- surveys
- webinars
- online workshops
- consultation papers
- face-to-face events.
We encourage you to get involved in the reforms.
Visit the Aged Care Engagement Hub to sign up for engagement activities and contribute to positive change.
Stay up to date
Subscribe to the aged care sector newsletters and alerts to get regular updates and information.