The 2025–26 Federal Budget delivers $290 million for aged care reform measures and confirms the previously announced $2.6 billion to boost wages for aged care nurses — but beyond that, stakeholders say there’s little new for the sector.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is intensifying its regulatory enforcement against aged care providers who fail to meet mandatory care minute targets. Recently, the regulator issued enforceable undertakings to 27 residential aged care homes and 11 providers that have consistently fallen short of the required care minutes over multiple quarters.
As aged care providers prepare for significant changes brought about by the aged care reforms, organisations should ensure they have the systems in place to meet the new compliance requirements, to deliver high-quality care, and maintain financial viability.
