
Updated as of: 30 April 2025
The Australian Parliament passed the Aged Care Bill 2024 on 25 November 2024. It will commence on 1 July 2025. OPAN has identified 7 key areas of change, summarised below. There are additional details to be worked through in the form of subordinate legislation (or Rules). You can find information further down on how you can have your say on the Rules.
We will continue to update this dedicated new Aged Care Act webpage as new information becomes available. You will also find handy links to resources and fact sheets to help you better navigate and understand the upcoming changes.
Enshrining the rights of older people in legislation was a historic moment for older people, but the reform process has only just begun. OPAN is committed to ensuring older people have a voice in the implementation of the Act.
Why does Australia need a new Aged Care Act?
The current Aged Care Act is a provider-centred model structured around how aged care service providers receive and administer funding. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety said it was no longer fit for purpose and recommended a new Act focused on older people and their rights.
7 key changes for older people, families and other representatives
1. A rights-based focus
The new Act introduces a Statement of Rights*, which outlines the rights of older people when seeking or accessing government-funded aged care services. It includes rights like independence and autonomy, respect for privacy, safe and quality care, and the right to raise issues without fear of reprisal. Aged care service providers are legally obliged to deliver services to older people in line with the Statement of Rights.
View our webinar on Statement of Rights.
*The Statement of Rights replaces the Charter of Aged Care Rights, which was a voluntary agreement.
2. Enhanced quality standards
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will be introduced with the commencement of the new Act from 1 July 2025. Aged Care Quality Standards are a set of requirements that define what good care looks like. The strengthened standards will make it clear what older people can expect from aged care service providers and workers. Under the strengthened standards, providers must actively include older people in the planning and management of their care to ensure care is safe, high quality and tailored to the needs of the older person.
3. Greater protections when you speak up
The new Act increases protections for whistleblowers – people who call out issues. Older people, families, representatives, and aged care workers can report a person or organisation who has not followed aged care law without fear that they will be punished or treated unfairly.
4. Safeguards around decision-making
Under the new Act, older people’s right to make decisions about the care they receive and the risks they are willing to take is enshrined in legislation. The Act acknowledges that some older people may want support in making certain types of decisions. When the Act comes into effect, older people can register one or more people to assist them. These people are referred to as their supporters. The new Act clearly outlines the role and responsibilities of these registered sSupporters in upholding the older person’s wishes and preferences. An older person does not have to register a supporter if they don’t want to.
View our webinar on supported decision-making and supporters in the new Aged Care Act.
5. An independent complaints process
An independent Complaints Commissioner, appointed by the Minister for Aged Care, will promote the independence, transparency, and accountability of complaints handling by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. An independent complaints process will help to improve the operation of aged care complaints and rebuild the trust of older people that their complaints will be taken seriously and will be resolved in a timely manner.
View our webinar on understanding complaints.
6. A new funding model
Older people will be required to make means-tested co-contributions for their non-clinical care under the new Act. There will be new hardship measures for older people with limited means.
The government is applying ‘no worse off’ arrangements so older people who were in the aged care system prior to 12 September 2024, when the Bill was tabled in Parliament, will not be financially disadvantaged because of the changes.
7. A new Support at Home program
The Support at Home program will bring together current in-home aged care programs. Support at Home will replace Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 July 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will transition no earlier than 1 July 2027. Read more about the changes to home care below.
Aged care service providers should not be implementing any changes relating to services or co-contributions until the Act commences on 1 July 2025.
What does this mean for you?
To learn more about the changes view our webinar on what the new Aged Care Act will mean for you.
If you have issues or concerns in relation to your aged care, call the Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600.
Useful resources
This resource section is frequently updated as new resources become available. Continue to check back regularly.
Proposed funding, fees and charges in the bill for the new Aged Care Act
Read OPAN's explainer document – for home care and residential aged care
Submission on the Aged Care Bill 2024
Read OPAN's submission to understand OPAN’s position on the new legislation
Leading up to the commencement of the new Act, we will be delivering a series of webinars to help you understand the changes.
- Understanding complaints, open disclosure and more, view the replay >
- What the new Aged Care Act will mean for you, view the replay >
- Statement of Rights, view the replay >
- Supported-decision making, view the replay>
- Aged care costs, coming soon
- What is high-quality care?, coming soon
- Read the Department of Health and Aged Care About the Aged Care Act 2024 plain language fact sheet for a summary of each chapter of the Aged Care Act 2024. A graphic Easy Read version is also available.
- Read the Department of Health and Aged Care A new Aged Care Act for the rights of older people fact sheet for a summary of the Statement of Rights. An Easy Read version is also available.
From 1 July 2025, the Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will transition to Support at Home no earlier than July 2027.
The Department of Health and Aged Care has prepared the resources below to assist home care recipients understand the changes.
- a letter outlining the transition to Support at Home will be mailed to older people approved for a Home Care Package from 2 May 2025.
- Support at Home program update webinar
- Support at Home program booklet for older people, families and carers
- Support at Home program booklet for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and carers
- frequently asked questions
- Support at Home program service list outlines the services people can access under the new program
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications List outlines the products, equipment and home modifications that can be accessed through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme under the Support at Home program
- changes to Support at Home pricing arrangements fact sheet
- indicative price ranges for most Support at Home services fact sheet
- consumer protections for Support at Home prices fact sheet
- Read about the changes to residential aged care accommodation funding and charges in the Department of Health and Aged Care Response to the Aged Care Taskforce – Accommodation Reform
- Read about changes to the amount people pay for their non-clinical care and everyday living costs in residential aged care in the Department of Health and Aged Care Response to the Aged Care Taskforce – Residential Care Contributions
- Read about the changes to fees charged for additional goods and services in the Department of Health and Aged Care Higher Everyday Living Fee fact sheet.
- View the Department of Health and Aged Care webinar – Accommodation funding and the new Higher Everyday Living Fee
Stay informed and have your say
- Subscribe to the our monthly e-newsletter National Advocate >
- View the Department of Health and Aged Care Engagement Hub – for information about changes that are being made to improve aged care
- View the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission reform changes for older people webpage >
The Department of Health and Aged Care is in the final stages of consulting on the Rules that will sit under the new Act. The Rules will provide further detail and instructions on how the new Act will work. Visit the department’s consultation on the new Aged Care Act webpage for more information on how to participate.
Read our submissions to consultations on the Rules:
- New Aged Care Act Rules consultation, Release 1 – Service list, October 2024
- New Aged Care Act Rules consultation, Residential Aged Care Service List, January 2025
- New Aged Care Act Rules consultation, Release 2a – Funding for the Support at Home program, December 2024
- New Aged Care Act Rules consultation, Release 2b – Consolidated Draft Rules Relating to Funding, February 2025
- New Aged Care Act Rules consultation, Release 3 – Relating to Provider Obligations, March 2025
OPAN will continue to work with older people, the government and other organisations focused on older people and carers to identify any gaps or unintended consequences that may arise through the Rules consultation and the implementation of the new Act.