New Aged Care Act deferred to 1 November

Juniper acknowledges today’s announcement from the Federal Government that the new Aged Care Act will now come into effect from 1 November 2025.

This decision clearly reflects the scale and complexity of reform required across the aged care system.

We commend Sam Rae for his prompt decision in his new role as Minister for Aged Care and Seniors and recognise the support of Health Minister Mark Butler in enabling this revised timeline.

We also acknowledge Ageing Australia, Uniting Care Australia and sector partners who continue to advocate for our sector. 

This additional time affords providers like Juniper the chance to further embed the cultural, operational, and governance changes needed to meet the new expectations of a rights-based aged care system.

Most importantly, it means we can do this in a way that keeps the focus where it belongs — on delivering individual, connected, safe and effective care to older Australians.

The new Aged Care Act marks a major shift in how aged care is delivered in Australia — putting the rights of older people at the centre of care.

For the first time, the Act will include a Statement of Rights for older people, along with a Statement of Principles that set clear expectations for how providers and workers should act and make decisions.

Alongside the Act, the new Support at Home program will be introduced to help older Australians stay healthy, active, and connected in their communities.

Until the introduction of the Act on 1 November, existing programs — including the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Short-Term Restorative Care, and Home Care Packages — will continue to provide essential support for older people choosing to live independently at home.

While we support the direction of the new Support at Home program, it’s important not to forget the more than 81,000 older Australians who are still waiting for home care.

We will continue to call on the Government to release more home care packages to ease current pressure on individuals and families and ensure older people can live safely and independently in their homes as they wait for the new system to come into place.

Over the coming months, we will continue to engage with our customers, their families, and our staff as we prepare for the Act’s implementation and will keep advocating for the resources and support older Australians deserve — both now and into the future.

Russell Bricknell

CEO, Juniper Aged Care