What we're doing about aged care

We develop policy that supports high quality aged care. We also consult with the community and other stakeholders on aged care issues and develop programs that target the needs of older people.

Aged care reforms

We are rolling out changes to put older people first, improving quality, safety and choice in aged care. The aged care reforms respond to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. 

We have an aged care reform roadmap to provide a timeline for key reform elements.

Reforms to aged care aim to achieve six key outcomes:

Read more about reforms in aged care.

There are a range of ways you can be involved in the reforms, including:

Find more about engagement opportunities so you can help drive change in aged care.

Aged care laws, determinations and frameworks

We administer the Aged Care Act 1997 and other related aged care laws and determinations. They set out the rules for funding, regulation, approval of providers, quality of care and the rights of people receiving care.

Our Aged Care Diversity Framework aims to make sure our aged care services are respectful, inclusive and meet the diverse needs of older people. It includes:

  • action plans for government, aged care providers and older people, their families and carers
  • resources to help aged care providers meet the goals of the framework.

Find out more about the laws for government-funded aged care services.

Research and reporting

We undertake research to understand how the aged care system is performing and identify any issues.

We report every year on the operation of the Aged Care Act 1997.

We have also helped create the GEN Aged Care Data website which provides aged care data and statistics.

Learn more about our research and reports.

Committees and groups

We chair many committees and groups that focus on improving aged care in Australia.

They provide a way for people and organisations to help us develop policies and provide advice on specific issues.

We also have the Aged Care Taskforce that was created to review funding arrangements for aged care and develop options for a system that is fair for everyone.

Consultations and engagement

We work with stakeholders to better understand the needs of the aged care community, including:

  • members of the public
  • older people, their families and carers
  • other government agencies
  • peak bodies and advocacy groups
  • service providers and workers.

We encourage input from stakeholders in many ways:

Visit our Consultation Hub to find, share and participate in public consultations on changes to aged care.

Aged care initiatives and programs

We are working on a range of policy initiatives, programs and campaigns to help target and help improve the different needs of the aged care community.

To find out more, view our list of aged care initiatives and programs.

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