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Home care wait list climbs to over 81,000 with six month delays at all levels

Over a five-month period, the number of older Australians waiting to receive their correct level of Home Care Package has increased by 5,000 according to data released in Senate Estimates on Wednesday.

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Technology

1 July ICT changes linked to aged care reforms now set to be staged

The Federal Government appears to have bowed to pressure around the timing of ICT changes for the new Aged Care Act, with the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) revealing that will upgrades to their Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will now be staged until 2026.

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Always read the fine print: retirement village payments captured under new aged care liquidity ratios

A closer look at the legislation underpinning the Federal Government’s proposed minimum liquidity standards has revealed that aged care providers who also operate independent living units (ILUs) and retirement villages will have to retain 10% of ILU and retirement village refundable amounts under the changes.

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Aged Care

Only in SATURDAY: Andrew Thorburn’s mission for HammondCare

Few operators want to tackle the complex end of aged care - but the HammondCare CEO has a plan to meet the growing demand for dementia and palliative care services.

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Aged Care

$160K out of pocket: Govt funding for aged care nurse wages falls short on leave entitlements and workers comp

Last week, a Department of Health and Aged Care webinar revealed that the Government will fund wage rises for 60,000 aged care nurses, awarded the increase by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) from 1 March 2025.

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51% of Dementia Support Australia aged care referrals’ involve psychotropic polypharmacy

Despite evidence that psychotropic medication is not effective and can have adverse side effects, a HammondCare study has found that more than half of its 421 referrals between 2016 and 2020 for psychosocial interventions had been prescribed psychotropic polypharmacy.

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Development

Hall & Prior to operate Perth’s first purpose-built $65M Aboriginal aged care home

The 100-bed aged care home has been made possible thanks to a $25M Aged Care Capital Assistance Program grant, $10M secured from the WA Government in 2021 and the WA Government’s recent promise of an additional $5M capital grant and $10M low interest loan for the project.

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Development

Infinite Care’s latest VIC facility expected to welcome first residents from October 2025

Infinite Care Knoxfield, the five-storey, 177-bed aged care home located 33km southeast of the Melbourne CBD, is taking shape, and with construction tracking well, is expected to begin taking admissions from late 2025.

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Living with Dementia

Govt throws $57M at helping people with dementia out of hospitals into aged care

The Federal Government has allocated $57 million over four years for the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program (HACDSP), aimed at improving outcomes for hospital patients with dementia who may have their discharge delayed.

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Increase capital support for staff accommodation: Catholic Health Australia’s Pre-Budget Submission

Catholic Health Australia (CHA), which represents 350 aged care homes and about 20% of home care services around the country, is calling on the Federal Government to increase capital assistance for aged care operators in thin markets by almost $300 million annually.

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Opinion

Early intervention should be key aged care priority: Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) CEO David Moran’s ‘political wishlist’

Health promotion and the early identification and reversal of frailty should be at the heart of Australia’s aged care system, says the CEO of the Not For Profit provider which operates 17 aged care homes, 35 retirement villages, and delivers home care services.

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Sector Moves & People

Nicki Doyle appointed Senior MD of new FTI Consulting Healthcare & Human Services practice

US-based FTI Consulting, a global consultant specialising in organisations facing crisis and transformation, has established a dedicated Healthcare & Human Services practice in Australia, appointing former KPMG Partner Nicki Doyle as Senior Managing Director.

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