2025 Aged Care Reforms – the time to prepare is now

Did you know that in the past decade, the number of Australians in home care has increased fourfold, as older Australians are increasingly seeking the freedom, support, and choice to remain in the communities they love?

To meet this growing demand, the Australian Government announced a $5.6 billion investment in aged care, including the introduction of the "Support at Home" program, commencing 1 July 2025.

This program aims to support 1.4 million older Australians to stay in their homes for longer – all while providing better funding, higher quality care, and stronger protections for residents over the next decade.

Although we welcome these reforms, we're also aware of the significant challenges posed to aged care providers. The aged care sector is facing an unprecedented wave of change with new legislation and new Quality Standards.

Additionally, core funding mechanisms are shifting, adding complexity to an already demanding environment. All of these changes must be implemented by July 2025, while providers continue to manage critical business functions like financial viability, compliance, and workforce challenges.

At Standards Wise Australia, we believe the key to navigating these changes confidently is a systematic approach that addresses both quality management and business performance essentials.

This involves conducting a thorough gap analysis and developing a prioritised action plan to ensure alignment with the new regulations.

Areas to address include:

• Strategic alignment with new reforms
• Detailed analysis of new legislation, standards, and business rules
• Enhancing operational systems and digital capacity
• Engaging and educating stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Ongoing monitoring, verification, and evaluation of processes
• Structured change management for continuous improvement.

For many organisations, the best course of action is to seek professional advice and support.

This could mean anything from developing a tailored reform readiness framework to assistance with operational system adjustments.

?Standards Wise Australia offers proven expertise built over decades in governance, quality management, workforce development, and compliance.

With our comprehensive toolkit of resources, we can help you navigate the reform process with confidence, ensuring that you meet the new standards while continuing to deliver excellent care.

Let us partner with you on this journey toward a sustainable and high-quality future for aged care in Australia.

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