Engagements for reforming in-home aged care

How to get involved

To receive the latest information and learn about engagement opportunities:

• visit the Aged Care Engagement Hub
• subscribe to the aged care sector newsletter and alerts.

Current and future engagements

We are engaging with older people, families, carers and providers on transition activities to support the establishment of the Support at Home program.

This page will be updated regularly with activities and opportunities. From September 2024, we will:

• conduct regular webinars to provide updates on the Support at Home program
• engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure access to culturally safe, trauma informed in-home aged care
• hold face-to-face sessions with older people, families, carers and providers. 

Past research, engagements and other activities

Past consultation reports, research papers and webinars are also available on our resources page.

2024

• On 26 September 2024, we held a Q&A session for older people and their families and carers. During this session, the department answered questions about the Support at Home program and how changes to in-home aged care will affect older people.
• On 24 September 2024, we held a Q&A session for in-home aged care providers. This provided an opportunity for providers to ask questions about the Support at Home program and transition.
• On 19 September 2024, we held a webinar and Q&A session for aged care providers, older people and their families and carers which provided further details on the Support at Home program.
• On 13 September 2024, we held a webinar on the Aged Care Bill 2024, the government’s response to the Aged Care Taskforce final report, and the Support at Home program.
• In June 2024, we conducted a survey of the volume of services delivered by home care providers to understand the impact on providers of transitioning to unit prices for services.
• In April 2024, we established a Support at Home Transition Reference Group. 
• From February to April 2024 – in consultation with Monash University’s Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre – we consulted on a draft list of assistive technology and home modifications to help refine the inclusions list and advise on the needs of people with progressive conditions.
• In February 2024, we held additional question and answer sessions about the Support at Home program for aged care providers, older people, their families and carers.
• In February 2024, we held 8 online workshops with in-home aged care providers to inform final program design.

2023

• From December 2023 to early 2024, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) conducted a costing study to determine fair and efficient prices for in-home aged care.
• In December 2023, we held question and answers sessions for providers, older people, their families and carers about the in-home aged care reforms.
• On 14 December 2023 we held the 5th webinar to update on the Support at Home program and the new Aged Care Act.
• In November 2023, we engaged with service providers on the provision of higher levels of in-home aged care to support people to remain independent in their own homes for longer. 
• From July to December 2023, the Aged Care Taskforce  conducted independent engagements to give expert advice on a range of design details, including the service list.
• From July to August 2023, we held consultations on care management.
• On 18 May 2023, we held the 4th Reforming in-home aged care update webinar. Watch the recording, read the slides and answers to frequently asked questions from that session.
• From April to July 2023, conducted a live trial of the new Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), which assessed around 22,000 older people as they applied for aged care.
• In early 2023, we ran targeted discussions on short-term pathways, care management, self-management, funding model options, and program design for diverse cohorts, including older First Nations people.

2022

• We held webinars in March 2022, August 2022 and December 2022 to update older people and the aged care sector on the in-home aged care reforms.
• In October and November 2022, we ran weekly Q&A sessions on the discussion paper with industry audiences, older people, their carers and families.
• In October 2022, we released A new program for in-home aged care discussion paper for feedback. We received 528 submissions from older people, their families and carers and the aged care sector to inform the new program’s design.
• In October 2022, we conducted a survey into short-term restorative care on how this could integrate into the new program. We received 204 responses from STRC providers, health professionals and older people, their families and carers.
• In September 2022, we conducted a survey to explore options for a new payment platform. We received 248 responses from HCP and CHSP providers.
• In June and August 2022, we held consultations and co-design workshops into assistive technology and home modifications. These were attended by 185 people, including older people, their carers, health professionals and the aged care sector.
• In April 2022, we conducted a survey on the service list, which asked what aged care services should be included in the new program. We received more than 1,700 responses from older people, their families and carers, providers and health professionals.
• In March 2022, we engaged Flinders University and the Global Centre for Modern Ageing to conduct a Living Lab Trial to test a new aged care assessment model and assessment process.
• In February and March 2022, ThinkPlace conducted co-design engagements on the role of care management with over 100 people, including older people, their families and carers and providers.
• In January 2022, we released a Support at Home Overview Paper, which provided insight into the proposed design at that time.

2020–2021

• We conducted research testing for the new program’s design with older people and their carers, peak bodies and providers.
• From February to May 2022, we held a series of workshops to discuss funding models, care management arrangements, access to goods, equipment and assistive technology, and home modifications. These were held with older people and their carers, aged care assessors, providers, health and aged care professionals and peak bodies.
• In April 2020 StuartBrown conducted a survey of HCP providers and in October 2020 Deloitte conducted a CHSP data study to better understand current in-home aged care services.
• From February to March 2020, HealthConsult conducted research into the assessment, and classification and funding model for the new program. This included a comparison of the needs of older people in residential aged care with HCP care recipients.