LATEST NEWS
Western Sydney Aged Care Roundtable with Minister Sam Rae
On Tuesday 28 July, Western Sydney Community Forum hosted a Western Sydney Aged Care Roundtable, with Minister Sam Rae, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. This intimate roundtable brought together key leaders from place-based community organisations across Western Sydney to focus on in-home aged care and service delivery in the region. It explored social policy priorities for the aged care system and older people in the region, and enabled deep reflection and conversation around future service delivery of in-home aged care.
Report: Age, Assumptions and Access at Work
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Diversity Council of Australia have released a report supported by the experiences of workers, exploring how age affects assumptions at work. This report investigates how age-based assumptions influence experiences at work, and presents key findings outlining the discrimination experienced by younger workers, especially younger carers. It also highlights the lack of career and development support for older workers, especially older women, and reveals that age is one of the most common reasons for perceived workplace discrimination, yet it is one of the most under-reported across all age groups.
Report: People with Disability in Australia 2026
This web report, developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, presents up to date data and findings in order to develop a better understanding of disability in Australia. The latest update includes data on the characteristics and health of the population of people with disability in Australia. Other topics will be added to the report pages over time.
Report: Thriving Kids Policy Paper
This policy paper by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care – National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) calls on all state and federal governments to design and deliver the Thriving Kids initiative in genuine partnership with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). This paper sets out nine recommendations that encourage shared decision-making, prioritisation of ACCO-led delivery, strengthening of early childhood and ACCO sector and workforce capacity, and sufficient and sustainable funding. The paper also calls for embedded, coordinated referral and support pathways across systems, embedded cultural safety as a non-negotiable requirement, and data collection, monitoring and evaluation aligned with Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles.
NDIS Reforms Impact Analysis Quietly Changed by Department
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published an update to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reforms impact analysis. This update revises how many more participants will be impacted by cuts to the social, community and civic participation funding than previously suggested, as well as identifying fewer numbers of providers that are a fraud risk. A representative from the Department has acknowledged the errors, and made clear that these errors had no bearing on the conclusions made in the impact analysis. So far, there has been no public change log or correction notice accompanying the revised publication.
2026 CHSP Wellness and Reablement Report Now Open
The provider survey for reporting on the delivery and benefit of wellness and reablement services to Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) clients is now open. Findings will identify the successes, challenges and areas for improvement for embedding wellness and reablement approaches, inform future policy decisions, and improve support for CHSP providers. Providers must complete this by 31 July 2026 to meet mandatory reporting requirements. Providers can request an extension through their funding arrangement manager to avoid suspension of payments. For any questions, email [email protected].
Changes to CHSP DEX Reporting Requirements
There are several key mandatory changes to the Data Exchange (DEX) reporting requirements of CHSP providers. These include the recording of Stage 3 metrics in client management systems for all CHSP services delivered from 1 July, and the inclusion of new mandatory fields for all new DEX records from 11 August. An updated factsheet on CHSP DEX Implementation has also been developed relating to the ongoing changes.
Updated Schedules and Accommodation Pricing Indexation
Schedules for residential and transition care fees, charges, subsidies and supplements have now been updated in line with indexation. These schedules provide the daily rates, subsidies and supplements for individuals in residential care, as well as individuals receiving transition care in a home, community or residential care settings. Changes to the maximum permissible interest rate (MPIR) are already in effect from 1 July to 30 September; the MPIR is increasing to 8.43 per cent during this period, and is used to calculate residential care accommodation costs and interest on refunds of accommodation lump sum balances. From 1 July, the maximum accommodation payment amount will also increase to a Refundable Accommodation Deposit of $789,686 (or equivalent Daily Accommodation Payment). Approval is needed from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) if providers wish to charge or publish more than the maximum current amount.
Read the schedule of fees and charges for residential care
Read the schedule of subsidies and supplements for residential and transition care
Have Your Say: Residential Aged Care Pricing
The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) is seeking feedback on its Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2027–28. Feedback is welcomed from providers of residential aged care services as well as those utilising these services. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, residents and families. This consultation will address several areas of residential aged care pricing, including funding arrangements, cost collections, potential impacts of the transition to the new Aged Care Act, and more. The feedback gathered will help to develop the Pricing Framework and shape pricing and cost advice to government. Feedback can be given via submission, online survey, or posted hard copy until 5.00pm on 21 August 2026.
