Aged care in Australia is changing for the better.
The new Aged Care Act puts you at the centre of your aged care.
It will make aged care safer, fairer and more respectful.
Aged care in Australia is being transformed so it is safe and high quality for all older people both now and into the future.
The new Aged Care Act will bring important changes across 6 main areas.
Let's take a closer look.
At the centre of our new aged care system are the rights of older people.
You will have the right to make decisions about your own life under the new Act.
You also have the right to take risks just like you do now.
You will also be able to say if you would like support to make decisions about the care and services you receive and decide who can support you.
If something doesn't feel right, you'll be supported to speak up and providers will listen and respond quickly and fairly.
You can talk to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if you're unhappy with how your provider responds.
New rules and regulations will oversee the aged care system.
Providers will need to be registered and meet the expectations of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to receive government funding and provide services.
The Commission will hold the care provider accountable and will work closely with all providers to ensure your safety, rights and care are put first.
It will be easier for you to access aged care services when the time is right for you.
Once you turn 65, you are eligible to receive an aged care assessment.
The single assessment process will make it simpler and fairer to work out what kind of services you want and need.
It will also give you greater choice and control and let you decide how you receive services and who provides it.
And some people, like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or people at risk of or already experiencing homelessness, will be able to access aged care services earlier from 50 years of age.
High quality care starts with providers and workers who listen, understand and treat you with respect.
That's why the new Act sets stronger care standards and a better system of monitoring providers to ensure they're doing the right thing.
The care you receive should be safer, more consistent and better suited to what you want and need.
And it also means care that respects who you are, your culture, your identity, your story.
The new Act gives you more choice and promotes transparency.
Providers will be more accountable with clearer rules on how they operate and spend money.
Based on publicly available information about how a provider operates, you can make a more informed choice about who delivers your services.
Aged care workers are a key part of making aged care safe and respectful.
Workers will have clearer job responsibilities under the Code of Conduct and strengthened quality standards so they can focus on giving you the best possible care.
There will also be progressively stronger worker screening standards to make sure the right people are working in aged care.
And if something doesn't seem right, it's important to speak up.
Whether you're a worker or an older person, there are whistleblower protections in place to help keep everyone safe.
As you can see, these are some big changes being made to aged care in Australia.
To learn more about what the new Aged Care Act means for you, visit MyAgedCare.gov.au.