2025: Aged Care’s Turning Point—Will You Lead with Strength or Exhaustion?

A new year feels like a blank page—an opportunity to rethink, reset, and move forward. But for those of us in aged care, 2025 is more than just another chapter. It’s a year of transformation: reforms, growing responsibilities, and a sector evolving under increasing demand.

As leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in the urgency of it all. Long hours, endless rosters, and decisions that ripple across teams and residents leave little time to pause and reflect.

But here’s the truth: leadership isn’t just about what we give; it’s also about how we replenish.

Who Are You Beyond the Title?

We’re all more than our job descriptions.

I know a CEO who makes her own shoes, a GM who kneads fresh bread from scratch, and a CFO who spends weekends meditating. A Director who finds peace in ocean swimming, a Copywriter who crafts jewellery from bra strap holders, and a Board Chair who once loved hunting.

Maybe for you, it’s Netflix marathons, gardening, or rediscovering an old passion. Whatever it is, it’s not just a hobby—it’s how we refill our cups and show up as our best selves for our residents, our teams, and ourselves.

Challenges and Opportunities

This year, aged care faces significant changes:

• Residential Care Reforms: New contributions designed to ensure fairness and sustainability.
• Home Care Expansion: $531 million to reduce waitlists and support more Australians.
• Workforce Growth: $88.4 million invested in training and development.

These reforms signal progress, but with them comes transition. Leading through change will take resilience, clarity, and purpose-driven leadership.

Reflections for the Year Ahead

As demands grow, take a moment to ask yourself:

• What fills my cup?
• What reminds me of the joy in my work?
• What connects me to the residents and teams I serve?
• What unexpected strengths did I uncover about myself?
• What lesson did life quietly (or not so quietly) nudge me to learn last year?

May these questions guide your reflections, help you find balance, and create the space to breathe, pause, and move forward with intention.

Your Time, Your Strength

They say you can’t pour from an empty cup. But imagine what’s possible when yours is full: sharper focus, stronger teams, and better care.

So, make time for the things that lift you up. Stand by the ocean and let the waves remind you of calm. Share a meal with the people who make you laugh. Rediscover what makes your heart feel lighter.

Let 2025 be the year you reconnect with what truly matters—the purpose that brought you here, the passion that keeps you going, and the joy that makes it all worth it.

Because leadership isn’t just about overcoming challenges. It’s about rediscovering the strength and clarity to lead with purpose for those who rely on you most.

My hope for you this year is that REST is on your agenda.

We Transform Aged Care, One Leader at a Time