New aged care act key information

From 1 November this year, the new Aged Care Act will ensure older people have greater rights and more choice when accessing aged care services.

The new Act improves key areas of the new aged care system, including:

• putting the older persons' rights at the centre of their aged care

• strong rules and regulation to ensure safety, quality and fairness

• quality care through higher standards and cultural safety

• more choice and transparency for our older person, their family and carers

• simple access and entry into the aged care system

• a strong workforce with clear responsibilities.

The new Act will give the older person a stronger, more independent voice.

This will empower them to make informed decisions about the care and services they receive and have those decisions not just accepted but respected. With clearer protections in place, they will have a safer way to speak up if they are not satisfied with their care. Providers will also be better equipped and supported to handle complaints and feedback effectively.

New aged care act key information

Why is there a new Act?

• The new Act directly responds to recommendations 1 to 3 of the Royal ommission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. In total, the new Act addresses or partially addresses 58 recommendations.

• The Royal Commission found the existing Aged Care Act 1997 is no longer fit for purpose. It does not adequately consider the rights and needs of older people in the delivery of aged care services.

• The new Act will ensure older people are at the centre of aged care. It will make the system safer, fairer and more respectful.

When do the changes start?

• The Australian Government recently announced that the start of the new Act, and the new Support at Home program, would be briefly deferred to 1 November 2025.

• Implementation of the new programs under the Act will take a staggered approach. For example, the new Support at Home program and the new regulatory model will launch from 1 November 2025, while the worker screening model depends on separate laws being passed at the state and territory level before it can be implemented in 2026.

• Existing rights and obligations under current laws and policies will continue to apply until the new Act starts.

• The government established a Transition Taskforce which has been working in partnership with providers, workers and the broader sector in the lead up to 1 November 2025 and beyond. This is to make sure we are all ready to make the necessary changes to how we deliver aged care services for the better