The Aged Care Bill 2024 was passed by the Australian House of Representatives on Monday and will become law.
The Weekly SOURCE reported on Friday that the Aged Care Bill 2024 had been approved in the Senate after four of the amendments sought by Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Anne Ruston, were approved.
Lauren Broomham: Five big unanswered questions from the approved Aged Care Bill
The new legislation, which will take effect on 1 July 2025, addresses around 60 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and includes:
- a Statement of Rights for older people;
- the Government’s response to the Aged Care Taskforce’s funding recommendations;
- the Support at Home program;
- the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards;
- stronger powers for the regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission; and
- will replace the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018.
"Incumbent on all of us to live up to this promise"
Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, said, “Now that we have followed through on our commitment to deliver a new Aged Care Act, it’s incumbent on all of us to live up to this promise and deliver meaningful change across aged care.
“We have established the Transition Taskforce to work with the sector in preparation for July 1 so we can all make the necessary changes to deliver better aged care.”
Reaction
Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) CEO Tom Symondson said aged care providers now face a "mammoth task" in transitioning to the new regime and called for a "staged approach to implementation".
“We can’t have a situation where parts of the new Act are implemented, with mandated requirements that simply can’t be achieved due to a lack of lead time."
Laura Haylen, Director of Aged Care Policy at Catholic Health Australia (CHA), said: “Aged care providers can now move to a sustainable footing and start to look at expanding operations where there is unmet need, particularly among vulnerable and marginalised communities.”
“Providers and older Australians will need time to adapt to the reforms in a staged way, particularly with regard to home care,” said Alex Lynch, CHA's Director of Public Health and In-Home Support Policy.
“We will continue to advocate for transitional arrangements through the Aged Care Transition Taskforce and consultation on subordinate legislation.”
Tom and Catholic Health Australia's Deputy Chair and Chair of Catholic Healthcare, Steve Teulan, are members of the Aged Care Transition Taskforce.
