Australian aged care access and reform

Concerns have been raised regarding the accessibility and fairness of the Australian aged care system. Advocacy efforts have highlighted significant barriers to voluntary assisted dying (VAD), with reports that only a small fraction of large aged care providers offer comprehensive information and full access to the service. Issues include patients being forced to leave their homes for assessments and allegations of coercion regarding palliative care. Additionally, a ban on telehealth for VAD has been criticized for creating a ‘postcode lottery’ for rural residents.

In response to broader systemic issues, the Australian government is pursuing legislative amendments to improve protections for older citizens. These reforms include the proposed establishment of a rapid review pathway for disputed outcomes generated by the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) to ensure human oversight of automated assessments. Furthermore, the legislation aims to permanently establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner to address barriers to equitable and culturally safe care for Indigenous communities.

Expanding on these reforms, the Australian Government has announced an independent review of aged care classification and prioritisation assessment mechanisms. This review follows feedback regarding the IAT used under the Support at Home program and will be assisted by a gerontology expert advisory group, with a report expected in early 2027. Additionally, new rules allow residents awaiting means assessments to choose between a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD), a daily accommodation payment (DAP), or a combination of both, a move intended to reduce financial pressure for families.