Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria has welcomed today’s new Aged Care Act as a positive step toward addressing the needs of older and ageing Victorians.
However, the organisation says there are still questions and concerns from the community that remain unaddressed as this major reform comes into effect.
The new Aged Care Act is a seminal moment in delivering the vision and promise of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It will bring in a host of major changes that will transform aged care delivery, including — but not limited to — strengthened standards, updated assessment, and a Statement of Rights. This reform aims to provide more flexible, transparent, and person-centred support.
One of the cornerstones of the reforms is the introduction of Support at Home, which replaces Home Care packages, and is designed to help older Victorians remain at home for longer. Where people live as they age significantly affects their wellbeing, health, and connection to community. Ageing in place strengthens social ties, keeps people engaged, and delivers better value for government investment.
“Today’s implementation of the new Aged Care Act is something to celebrate – it marks a major milestone in changing our approach to aged care and supporting ageing,” said CEO of COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, Ben Rogers.
“However, major questions remain about how reforms will work in practice in Victoria, particularly Support at Home. And we cannot let these issues fester if we want to support older Victorians.
“Uncertainty is already causing anxiety among older people and their families. There is a lot of confusion in the community.”
“Delivering reform on this scale is hard – and our concerns are that older Victorians will pay the price as the system turns a new page and settles,” Mr Rogers continued.
“In particular, we remain concerned at the potential impact of co-contributions, the exclusion of vital services such as showering from free clinical care, and the significant reduction of flexibility in the new model. And — most importantly — what this will mean for older Victorians looking for support so they can age at home, and in place.
“COTA Victoria is committed to supporting older Victorians as best we can, and advocating for changes that will enable this significant reform to deliver on its ultimate potential. This is the start of ensuring we have a world-leading aged care system, not the end.”
To help support its community, COTA Victoria has launched a new information portal on its website. The new portal’s aim is to provide relevant, concise information on matters including aged care and home care alongside many more topics. It will be continually updated as COTA Victoria gains deeper insight as these reforms rollout.
The new portal is available online and runs concurrently with the COTA WISE information service, a telephone- and email-based offering designed to help older Victorians and their loved ones find the vital information they need.
