The number of older Australians waiting to receive the level of home care they have been assessed as needing has blown out to 76,000 as of 30 September, a Canberra hearing of the Senate Inquiry into the Aged Care Bill 2024 was told on Monday.
The hearing was a late addition to the hearing schedule, with witnesses appearing from the Department of Health and Aged Care, including Michael Lye, Deputy Secretary responsible for Ageing and Aged Care, and Mel Metz, Assistant Secretary of the Aged Care Legislative Brach.
In May, 68,000 older Australians were on the national prioritised home care wait list, meaning the number has increased 12% in only four months.
A nine-month wait for 'medium priority' Home Care
The Shadow Minister for Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston grilled the Department of Health and Aged Care over several aspects of the reforms, including how long older Australians are waiting for the level of home care they have been assessed as needing. Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, has said the Albanese government aims to shorten wait times for Home Care Packages to an average of three months from July 2027.
Thea Connolly, First Assistant Secretary, Home and Residential Division, said the current wait time for Home Care Packages across all levels and all priorities is 5.5 months.
Older Australians deemed 'high priority' are receiving their Home Care Package on average within one month, but those considered 'medium priority' are currently taking on average nine months to receive their Home Care Package.
Connolly said 99% of people waiting for a Home Care Package are receiving some form of care, often through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
48 days on average to receive an ACAT assessment
Some Older Australians are also waiting months for an ACACT assessment. The national average wait time for an ACAT assessment across all settings and priorities was 48 calendar days (median of 22 days) in 2023-24, the Department of Health and Aged Care has told The SOURCE.
The state or territory with the longest wait time is Canberra with an average of 82 days, followed by Queensland 59 and NSW 55.
Final report due in 10 days
The final hearing of the Senate Inquiry will be held on Thursday, 24 October, in Darwin, Northern Territory.
In total, the Inquiry will conduct 10 hearings around the country, and has received more than 100 submissions.
The Inquiry is due to report on 31 October, less than a month after hearings began.
