Aged care reform roadmap

About the roadmap

We have created an aged care reform roadmap to provide a timeline for key reform elements from October 2022 to July 2025. 

 As we update the roadmap, we keep the sector informed.

The dates on the roadmap are subject to change, and this page will be updated regularly to keep you informed.

We will continue to let you know about upcoming activities through our regular email newsletters. For updates and information, please subscribe to the aged care sector newsletters and alerts.

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Download the Aged care reform roadmap – 2022 to 2025

Recent reforms

Together, we are improving the quality of care for older people and making aged care equitable, sustainable and trusted. For information about recent reforms that have taken effect, see aged care reforms delivered. 

Upcoming activities

January 2025

• Funding Award Wage Increases for Aged Care Workers. Award wage increases start for many aged care workers. 
• Single Assessment System workforce starts. ACAT, RAS and AN-ACC workforces will transition into the Single Assessment Workforce to deliver the Single Assessment System.
• Maximum accommodation price increases to $750,000.
• The National Redress Scheme payments will be exempt from the residential aged care asset test.
• IT Transition Support Grant for in-home aged care providers: GOGs from January 2025.

February 2025

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program – 2 years of transition support for providers to move under the new Aged Care Act. 

March 2025 

• Support at Home Pricing Guidance published.

April 2025

• Expansion of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program to include enrolled nurses, allied health and lifestyle staffing measures in residential aged care and work to expand quality indicators to In-home aged care. Start recording new staff indicators. 

June 2025

• The Elder Care Support Program will provide face to face support to assist First Nations elders with 250 trusted facilitators across Australia. The initiative is in partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

July 2025

• The new rights-based Aged Care Act starts. This is to ensure people accessing government-funded  aged care services,  are treated with respect and have the quality of life they deserve.
• Beginning of the new residential aged care system, Places to People. Places will be assigned directly to older people, and this will provide them with more choice and control over which provider delivers their care.
• The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will start, to ensure older people are treated with respect, care and dignity.
• A new Aged Care Regulatory Model comes into effect. It sets out a new approach to regulating aged care.
• Introduction of the new Support at Home Program. It will deliver a seamless system of care and choice for older people. It will replace Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme to transition to Support at Home program no earlier than July 2027.
• Expansion of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program. This will include enrolled nurses, allied health and lifestyle staffing measures in residential aged care and work to expand quality indicators to in-home aged care. Reporting for the first time between 1 July and 21 July 2025.
• First Nations Aged Care Assessment System starts. This is part of the new single assessment workforce which will simplify access aged care.
• Higher Everyday Living Fee replaces Additional Service Fees and Extra Services Fees for new residents. 
• Providers deemed into registration categories. This means existing aged care providers will be automatically set up as registered providers from day 1 of the new Act.
• Transitional arrangements for new aged care workers screening starts. Transitional arrangements will make sure new screening applications are processed efficiently and workers can continue to work without interruption.
• Refundable Accommodation Deposit retention and Daily Accommodation Payment indexation introduced.
• Reforms to means testing in residential care and Support at Home. 
• Residential Care Services List updated. 
• New compliance algorithm reflecting regulatory reforms for Star Ratings published on the My Aged Care ‘Find a Provider’ Compliance pages.
• Publication of the Financial Report on the Australian aged care sector (FRAACS) 2023–24.
• Introduction of Supported Decision-Making. Older people will be able to register one or more people of their choice to assist them in their decision-making under the new Act. 
• Funding for existing CHSP service providers will be extended from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 and will operate under the new Act.

October 2025

• Funding Award Wage Increases for Aged Care Workers start for many aged care workers.
• Aged Care Industry Enablement Second Aged Care Industry Offer – Aged Care Transfer Summary functionality in My Health Record available to residential aged care via 9 conformant software vendors. 

December 2025

• Transition Care Program Review completed. 

Stay up to date

Subscribe to the aged care sector newsletters and alerts to get regular updates and information on the aged care reforms.