In early June, the Albanese Government announced that the implementation of the new Aged Care Act will be delayed until 1 November 2025, following advice from the sector that additional time would improve the delivery of these once-in-a-generation reforms.

This decision has been welcomed by aged care providers like Gilgandra Lifestyles, which is still in the process of moving to Gil Care Connect.

“We were happy to hear that the new Act was pushed back to November,” said Donna Dobson, Director of Aged Care & Disabilities at Gilgandra Lifestyles.

“With our move to Gil Care Connect still in progress, the extra time means we can properly train our staff, have informed conversations with our clients, and update our systems for a smooth rollout.”

The delay will allow aged care providers the necessary time to prepare their staff, clients, and systems for the full implementation of the Act.

It will also give the government time to finalise key operational and digital processes, ensuring a seamless transition when the Act finally takes effect.

A New Approach to Aged Care

The new Aged Care Act will introduce significant reforms aimed at placing the rights of older Australians at the heart of the system.

One of the key features of the new legislation is the Statement of Rights for older people, as well as a Statement of Principles to guide how providers and workers must behave in delivering care.

“This is an incredibly ambitious reform,” said Minister Butler.

“These are once-in-a-generation reforms, which put older Australians at the centre of aged care.”

One of the major initiatives under the new Act is the Support at Home program, which will be delivered locally by Gilgandra Lifestyles through Gil Care Connect.

Gilgandra Lifestyles/ Gil Care Connect is just one of several Western Plains facilities that will adhere to the new Aged Care Act once it is implemented in November.

This program is designed to help older people stay healthy, independent, and socially connected while living at home.

“We want to make this transition as easy as possible, particularly for our home care clients,” Ms Dobson said.

“This means giving them time to understand what’s changing under the new Support at Home program, including the service agreements and care plans, our service list, prices and contributions to non-clinical services.”

The Support at Home program will begin alongside the new Aged Care Act. Until that time, existing programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Short-Term Restorative Care Program, and Home Care Packages Program will continue to support older Australians who wish to remain in their homes.

Ministerial Support for the Delay

Both Minister Butler and Minister Rae expressed their support for the delay, emphasising the need for sufficient preparation time to ensure the reforms are implemented effectively.

“This brief deferral allows providers to train their staff and have conversations with their clients, get their IT systems ready and prepare operations for an orderly transition,” Minister Butler said.

Minister Rae echoed these sentiments, stating, “This brief deferral will allow more time to bed down key changes to reduce aged care assessment times, in line with community expectations.”

The new Act is part of the government’s broader reform agenda, which includes higher wages for aged care workers, improved transparency in provider finances, and the introduction of Star Ratings to assess the quality of care in aged care facilities.

For providers like Gilgandra Lifestyles, the extra time will be used to ensure facilities are fully prepared to deliver services in line with the new reforms, ensuring a smooth transition for clients and their families.