AUSTRALIA | A Senate inquiry has commenced, focusing on the delays to the Home Care program and the withholding of new packages.
The Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM) welcomes the Senate inquiry into delays to the Home Care program and the withholding of new Home Care Packages. The inquiry, to be chaired by Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, will focus on the impact of deferring the Support at Home rollout to November and the consequences for older Australians still waiting for support.
Professor Sue Kurrle AO, President of ANZSGM, said the Society strongly supports the inquiry’s aim to examine how these delays are affecting access to care.
“This inquiry is timely. We’re hearing from clinicians, families, and aged care providers that the hold-up in new Home Care Packages is creating real pressure, not just on individuals and their families, but on hospitals and aged care services too,” Professor Kurrle said.
With an estimated 88,000 older Australians currently waiting for a package, ANZSGM is calling for the immediate release of additional packages, independent of the delayed Support at Home reforms.
“We understand the need to take the time to get reforms right. But in the meantime, people still need help at home. These delays mean many are going without basic support for daily living, or can’t be discharged from hospital because there’s no care in place,” Professor Kurrle added.
Reducing the waitlist to 25,000, as recommended by the Aged Care Royal Commission, remains a critical goal.
“The longer people wait, the harder it becomes to keep them well at home. Timely support can prevent hospital admissions, reduce carer burnout and delay entry into residential care. It’s a practical step that makes a big difference,” she said.
ANZSGM will provide a submission to the inquiry and continues to advocate for policies that ensure older Australians receive the care they need, when they need it.
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