The 2026/27 Federal Budget leaves many challenges within the aged care system, which risks older people being worse off.
While the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) acknowledges the substantial $3.7 billion investment – including 5000 new residential aged care places a year over the next 4 years, streamlined financial hardship applications, and the removal of out-of-pocket expenses for showering, dressing and continence management at home – it falls critically short where older people need it most: getting assessed and Support at Home.
OPAN Director Policy, Education and Systemic Advocacy Samantha Edmonds said the Budget is a missed opportunity to pursue meaningful reform.
“We cannot risk having older people be denied vital support or be forced to wait more than eight months for funding, because of red tape or a computer algorithm assessing their care needs incorrectly.
“Older people deserve to be valued and treated with dignity and respect, and unfortunately this Budget still leaves much uncertainty.”
Read the full media release.