Senate committee calls for end to home care ‘rationing’
Sector leaders welcome the committee’s recommendations to move away from the rationing of packages and to release all promised packages by June next year.
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry report on aged care service delivery has been published, with the first recommendation calling for the government to release all 83,000 promised packages before 30 June 2026.
Based on the findings of September’s hearing and 149 submissions, other recommendations include:
- axing the current rationing of packages
- publishing real-time information on the wait for assessments and receipt of care packages
- a review of communication strategies.
Ageing Australia chief executive officer Tom Symondson said the peak body particularly welcomed the recommendation to stop rationing packages.
“Revelations more than 200,000 older people are either waiting for home care packages, or waiting just to be assessed, were alarming. Clearing the wait list and ending the rationing of care packages is a priority,” Mr Symondson said.
Senator David Pocock, who spearheaded the inquiry, said the exercise had been vital for generating the evidence needed to get the additional 20,000 packages released but that it had also revealed other issues requiring closer attention, including wait lists and plans to charge for certain services, like assisted showering.
“The committee has made some big recommendations, including moving away from the rationed system we have where people have to wait for help until someone else passes away or moves into residential care,” Senator Pocock said.
“Rationing care for older Australians isn’t what people across the country want, and while governments may argue it is about cost, we know that we all pick up the tab when people can’t get the help they need and end up in hospital or family members have to work part time or even quit their jobs to support their partner or ageing parents.”
He added that senators were clearly frustrated by the government’s attempts to hide the wait list numbers while saying they were releasing packages.
“I acknowledge that these are huge reforms and there will always be challenges, but we need to ensure the government of the day is honest about the problems, transparent with the data and open to working with experts, providers and the community to fix problems as they arise,” he said.
Further reviews into the expected impact of the Community Home Support Program transition to Support at Home have been recommended, along with inquiry into the $15,000 home modification lifetime cap and end-of-life pathway time limits.
The committee also urged the Inspector-General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown to conduct a review of the Single Assessment System and for the government to finalise the information and communication technology systems as a matter of urgency.
Speaking to Community Care Review on the sidelines of the Ageing Australia National Conference 2025, many providers have raised concern about the readiness of the ICT systems.
The Older Persons Advocacy Network have welcomed the report, with chief executive officer Craig Gear saying it is an important milestone in the reform process.
“Care at home enables older people to live with dignity in the comfort of their homes and communities. Delay of timely assessment for the need for services is the denial of rights at the first hurdle. The Senate Inquiry report demonstrated that is what is currently occurring and must be urgently rectified,” said Mr Gear.
“If we don’t release more Support at Home places as a matter of priority then there is the risk that older people may have no choice but to end up in residential aged care prematurely.”
Mr Gear also acknowledged the “tireless efforts” of the OPAN network to provide evidence of their lived experience.
“We look forward to working with the government to see these sensible recommendations implemented for the betterment of older people in Australia. Timely access to care at home is an essential and fundamental element of a rights-based aged care system.”
Mr Symondson recognised how much work has been done since the new Aged Care Act was delayed but said making sure ICT systems work on 1 November this year is a top priority for everyone.
He also said the concept of a Single Assessment System is positive but is currently not quite fit-for-purpose due to the large waiting lists for assessments.
“We know that aged care reforms will not be perfect on day one of the new Act, and it’s important that we keep striving for improvements to our systems,” Mr Symondson said.
Access the complete report here, including a dissenting report from the Australian Labor Party.
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Someone also needs to address the dire problem that is occurring at this point in time, which is staff shortage and inability to service clients that have been assigned Home Care Packages.
The Government can shout out loud to the community about the release of 20,000 Home Care Packages but they would be very wise to make sure that the HCP providers are willing and able to “take up” a Home Care Package and service a clients needs once a Home Care Package is “released” and assigned.
I am seeing providers reject referrals to their service as they “are unable to service clients needs”. This is often due to lack of qualified staff and lack of reputable service providers in rural and remote areas
The cost to the Home Care Package provider is also now challenging. Only being able to charge for Care Management has sent the Home Care Package industry into turmoil and they are now scrambling to identify how they can “make ends meet”.
Vulnerable and isolated elderly individuals whom have been assessed for and assigned their Home Care Packages, will still not receive the services they require to keep them safe in their own homes, it won’t matter how many packages are being released, because “providers do not currently have the capacity to take on board new Home Care Packages”.
Also, the contribution to the cost of their care, as will be expected through the Support at Home Program, is making a HCP non – viable for many financially disadvantaged individuals and they will choose to go without services because they can’t afford it.