The Department of Health and Aged Care (the department) is developing a new Aged Care Act. The new Act will put the rights of older people at the centre of our aged care system.
Why do we need a new Aged Care Act?
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that the current Aged Care Act is no longer fit for purpose.
The new Act will:
- create a simple, single-entry point to make access to the aged care system for older people easier
- include a fair, culturally safe single assessment process
- include rules on supported decision-making to ensure older people have choice and control
- provide additional protections for whistleblowers to allow reporting without fear of reprisal
- introduce a new approach to regulating aged care providers to ensure delivery of safe, quality aged care services
- strengthen the powers of the regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, to manage risk, ensure integrity and support aged care.
When will the new Act start?
Subject to being passed in Parliament, the new Act is planned to start on 1 July 2024. It will replace existing legislation, including the current Aged Care Act and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018.
Consultation
The draft of the new Act (called the exposure draft) is now available for public consultation.
Anyone can contribute to the consultation, including older people, their families and carers, aged care providers and workers, researchers, experts and anyone interested in Australia’s aged care system.
More information on the draft and how to contribute to the consultation is available on the department’s website.
Consultation will close on Friday 16 February 2024.
More information
More information is available on the department’s website: