The Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, has announced 83,000 extra home care packages to be introduced in July 2025 as part of the new Support at Home program. This is a major part of the government’s efforts to improve aged care services, following the recent passing of the Aged Care Bill 2024. 

These new packages are aimed at reducing the long wait times for older Australians who want to remain at home instead of moving into a nursing home. The Support at Home program will allow people to get more help with services such as home modifications and assistive technology to stay independent. 

Key Changes: 

• The government will provide 83,000 new home care packages in the first year of the Support at Home program, making it the biggest release of packages ever. 

• People will be grouped into 10 new funding categories (up from four), which means they can get more personalised care. 

• The current waitlist of 76,000 people will stay under the old system until the new program starts in July 2025. 

• The government will continue to cover the cost of clinical care, while older people may be asked to pay a small part of other service costs, with the government helping to pay most of it. 

Concerns About Wait Times: 

Although this increase in home care packages is a step forward, there are still concerns about the long wait times. For example, some people waiting for a Level 4 home care package can wait up to 15 months. There is hope that with the new packages, waiting times will improve. 

Addressing the Workforce Shortage: 

The government is also tackling the shortage of workers in the aged care sector. A $15 billion pay increase for aged care workers is already helping to improve staff retention and recruitment, especially in rural areas where it has made a big difference. 

What’s Next: 

The Support at Home program is set to launch in mid-2025, and the government plans to reduce waitlists to just three months by 2027. This is a big move to improve aged care in Australia, but more work is needed to ensure that the system can meet the growing demand. 

For more details, visit the original article on Australian Ageing Agenda here. 

Help at Hand Support is able to provide assistance with your aged care needs. Give our team a call on 1300 822 190 to speak to our care team.