What aged care service providers need to know – and do – before the new Aged Care Act comes into effect.

When the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety finally handed down its 148 recommendations after an extensive investigation, it was clear to all that implementing the necessary changes would be akin to building Rome – each stone shouldn’t, couldn’t and wouldn’t be laid in a day. 

And there is one rapidly approaching day that service providers need to be ready for.

On July 1, 2025, more than four years into the five-year $17.7 billion reform, the new Aged Care Act 2024 officially comes into effect. 

Replacing the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth), the new Act will see regulatory arrangements and funding for multiple existing and new aged care programs, including but not limited to residential care, Commonwealth Home Support Program and the new Support at Home program, come together under one umbrella. 

This is in addition to the new ACCIS Standards – a big step towards interoperability in theory, without any set deadline in reality – and the required increase in care minutes – a positive change that’s come amid a nightmarish staff shortage – meaning there’s a lot to wrap your head around. 

Rohling is here to help.

Get in touch to speak to us about your organisation’s specific needs. 

We can help you get your house in order

With the new Aged Care Act 2024 comes a series of changes big and small, including revised service provider obligations, new financial and prudential standards, and revised worker screening requirements. 

Notably, when Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages on July 1, new payment and reporting obligations will come into effect too. 

It’s worth noting the new Support at Home funding model is based on that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), so those with experience – including Rohling’s team of experts – of the NDIS’ framework will have a practical understanding about what providers can expected operationally, despite the differences in service structures and eligibility criteria.

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Changes to Commonwealth Home Support Programme reporting obligations will also be implemented on July 1, as will changes to Residential Aged Care’s hotelling supplement contribution, non-clinical care contribution, RAD and contribution retention, higher everyday living fee, DAP Indexation and maximum room price.

This means you’ll need upgraded IT systems and corresponding processes – a requirement to meet mandated Support at Home implementation and changes to CHSP reporting, plus Residential Aged Care funding – set up and ready to go in less than four months’ time. 

There is, however, no need to panic at this fact… if you start getting your house, including clinical information systems and financial systems, in order now.

“Digital transformation is often seen as a dirty phrase, but we know this new Aged Care Act is only going to improve care,” Rohling’s CEO and Managing Partner Darren Gossling says. 

“Updating your systems and processes now will only make the lives of service providers and frontline workers so much easier come July 1.” 

It sounds simple, and to those who are familiar with guiding organisations through their required digital transformation, it is.

There are, however, challenges to doing so without the help of experts – and it’s a project that simply can’t be done at the last minute. 

“Implementing these new requirements requires significant updates to service providers’ existing systems, which can be a technically complex and resource-intensive process without help,” Darren says. 

“Staff will also need to be educated on and trained to use these updated processes and systems effectively, and ensuring compliance with the new standards can also be challenging and time-consuming without assistance.” 

Rohling’s team of expert advisers are here to help service providers navigate these increasing demands and required changes.

Get in touch to speak to us about your organisation’s specific needs.