From 1 November 2025, a new Aged Care Act came into effect, replacing the rules that were in place before.
It changes how care is arranged, paid for and overseen, and it introduces a new set of rights for older people. There is a lot in it, so here is a simple overview of what it sets out to do, and remember, you do not need to make sense of all this on your own.
What the reforms aim to do
Four principles sit at the centre of the reforms:
- Choice and control
- Transparency
- Fairness
- Accountability
In practice, the new Act sets out to:
- Give older people more say in the care they receive and how it is arranged.
- Change how aged care is funded, with the goal of keeping it fair and sustainable for the long term.
- Make it clearer how funding, and what people contribute to their own care, is spent.
- Ask providers to meet higher standards and be open about the care they offer.
Not sure what these changes mean for your family?
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