Juniper welcomes the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry report into aged care services and supports its recommendations, including the release 83,000 promised home care packages by 30 June 2026.
The report outlines 11 recommendations based on the inquiry’s findings and 149 submissions received. These include:
- The release of all 83,000 packages promised before the 2025 federal election, before 30 June 2026.
- The Australian Government to make provision for additional Support at Home packages as a matter of urgency.
- The government to work towards ending rationed care, that is, when people have to wait until someone else passes away or moves into residential care to get help.
- The publication of real-time information on both the waiting period for assessment and receipt of a home care service package, along with a review of communication strategies to ensure older people remain engaged with seeking assistance.
- Inspector-General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown to consider conducting an urgent review of the Single Assessment System.
- The government to finalise the information and communication technology systems as a matter of urgency.
- The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, in consultation with allied health professionals, to undertake an urgent review of the list of inclusions for the AT-HM scheme.
The committee recommended the Senate refer to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting week of August 2026: a timeline for the transition of the Community Home Support Programme to the Support at Home Program after 1 July 2027 and the expected impact of this transition, including on waiting periods for assessment and the receipt of care’ the lifetime cap of $15,000 on home modifications; and the End-of-Life Pathway time limits.
The committee also recommended a review into the expected impact of the Support at Home Program model on older Australians’ dignity, health, safety and access to care; and the residential aged care system, and hospitals.
During the inquiry in September, it was revealed around 200,000 older Australians are either waiting for a home care package or still waiting to be assessed – a figure far higher than the sector had thought.
In its report, the committee stated it was “unacceptable that people are dying while waiting for assistance” and said delays were causing “devastating, intergenerational consequences for family and friends undertaking caring responsibilities”.
Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell said while the report made for difficult reading, he was buoyed by the committee’s recommendations and urged the government to forge ahead and fix these shortfalls.
“Older Australians should be afforded the right to live with dignity in the comfort of their homes and communities for as long as possible,” Mr Bricknell said.
“However, as we have learnt through this inquiry, delays in assessments and receiving home care packages mean this is not happening for so many people.
“What we hope to see now is to see the government move ahead quickly with these recommendations and allow older Australians to lead the kind of lifestyle they had hoped for later in life.”
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry report into aged care service delivery can be found here
Juniper’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into aged care service delivery can be found here
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