Posted in Age care, Community Care

The WA and Federal budgets were released this month with a few wins, but we were hoping for a few more.  

We welcome the funding boosts to increase the regulatory capability of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, reduce call waiting times to the My Aged Care Contact Centre, improve the award wage and other workforce initiatives to attract and retain workers into aged care, and locally, the support given to the WA Senior’s Card, strategies to prevent elder abuse and some respite for the cost of living with electricity rebates. 

We are also pleased to see confirmation that the new Aged Care Act will begin on 1 July 2025, pending its passage through Parliament, and that it is supported with a digital funding strategy. 

And while the extra 24,100 home care packages will help keep more people at home for longer, the numbers fall well short of the 80,000 required to clear the national queue and meet projected demand. 

The largest disappointment is that the Aged Care Taskforce recommendations are not referenced, which is unfortunate as they are critical to the viability and future sustainability of the aged care sector. 

Overall, it makes me ask the question: how much is aged and community care worth? 

The $2.2 billion of new funding allocated across: 

  • $1.2 billion for critical digital systems to support the introduction of the new Aged Care Act and deliver a contemporary IT system.  
  • $531.4 million to release an additional 24,100 Home Care Packages in 2024-25.  
  • $110.9 million over four years to increase the regulatory capability of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.  
  • $87.2 million for workforce initiatives to attract nurses and other workers into aged care.   
  • $37 million for the My Aged Care Contact Centre to reduce call-waiting times 

Of course we keep advocating for our sector, for our ageing population and for those who work in it. 

Enda Fahy

Southcare, CEO

 

Discover more on the 2024/25 budget here:  

Aged care reform priorities | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care 

Budget 2024-25: Quality aged care (health.gov.au) 

Posted in Age care, Community Care