The Australian aged care sector is on the brink of a major transformation with the aged care reforms 2025. Originally scheduled for July 2025, the rollout of these reforms has now been officially postponed to 1 November 2025. This delay has left many older Australians, their families, and care providers reassessing their plans and readiness.
At AHP Aged Care, we want to acknowledge this shift but emphasise one thing clearly: our readiness hasn’t wavered. We have been preparing for this transition for over a year, and regardless of the revised timeline, we are fully equipped to support you and your loved ones through these significant changes to aged care.
The Delay: What It Means and How We’ve Prepared
The government’s decision to move the implementation date reflects the complexity of these changes to aged care. And there is a proactive need for technical fine-tuning. Over the past 12 months, AHP Aged Care has been proactively aligning every system, policy, and workflow with the new Aged Care Act and the updated Strengthened Quality Standards. This extensive work means that our compliance is not just a checkbox exercise; it’s embedded in how we operate day to day.
The technical alignment adjustments have focused on integrating the Support at Home program requirements seamlessly into our service delivery. This includes updates to digital referral systems, care reporting, and financial compliance processes. Our internal review cycles have been expanded from biannual to quarterly to ensure continuous alignment and rapid response to any emerging issues.
AHP ensures that care providers and clients can focus on frontline care without the stress of last-minute compliance adjustments. This is done through establishing this rigorous review process and upgrading our operational infrastructure. In a reform environment where delays often breed uncertainty, we offer assurance: we’re ready no matter the date.
What Are the Key Elements of the Aged Care Reforms 2025?
At the heart of the aged care reforms 2025 is a modernised Aged Care Act that seeks to make the system more sustainable, transparent, and user-friendly. The most visible change is the introduction of the Support at Home program, which consolidates existing services like Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) into a single, streamlined offering.
This unified program aims to simplify access to in-home support, enabling older Australians to maintain their independence for longer. Alongside this structural change, the reforms overhaul the funding model. Contributions for care will now be assessed through a means test based on an individual’s income and assets. These changes to aged care are expected to replace older funding arrangements, ensuring a fairer approach that aligns payment responsibilities with the person’s financial capacity.
Crucially, the government has guaranteed a “no worse off” position for those already receiving care, ensuring no immediate increase in costs due to the transition. For wealthier individuals, the lifetime cap on non-clinical fees has been raised from $80,000 to $130,000, reflecting efforts to balance sustainability with fairness.
On the provider side, the reforms impose stricter regulatory and accountability standards. Providers must adhere to enhanced service quality metrics, incident reporting obligations, and more rigorous worker screening protocols. This comprehensive regulatory framework is designed to increase transparency, safeguard care recipients, and rebuild trust in the aged care system.
The Impact of the Changes to Funding for Aged Care Provision
One of the most significant aspects of the changes to funding for aged care provision is the introduction of a detailed financial means test. For pensioners, contributions are now more predictable and capped, giving clients financial certainty. Non-pensioners undergo a thorough economic assessment to determine appropriate contribution rates, with the highest charges applying if financial details aren’t disclosed.
This approach fosters transparency and fairness in funding for aged care provision. This inturn ensures that those who can afford to contribute more can do so, thereby supporting the system’s sustainability. Providers are also required to be more transparent about costs, helping consumers avoid unexpected charges and enabling informed decision-making.
The increase in the lifetime cap on non-clinical fees primarily affects wealthier residents in aged care homes. This indicates the government’s focus on protecting lower-income individuals while addressing budgetary pressures.
How These Changes to Aged Care Affect Providers and Allied Health Services
The changes to aged care not only affect consumers but have significant implications for providers, including allied health professionals. AHP Aged Care has anticipated these demands by strengthening our internal processes and workforce capabilities to meet the new standards.
Over the past 12 months, we have enhanced our financial and prudential compliance frameworks to include home care alongside residential services. This means tighter financial management and risk controls, giving our partners confidence in ongoing service quality.
Safety and transparency have also been prioritised through our participation in the Serious Incident Response Scheme and enhanced worker screening measures. These protocols help maintain a secure environment for both clients and staff, reinforcing trust in care delivery.
For allied health teams, these reforms reinforce the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. At AHP, services such as physiotherapy, dietetics, and occupational therapy are now even more central. Our personalised care plans focus on reablement and maintaining independence, goals that align closely with the reform agenda.
Our approach integrates digital tools to streamline care coordination and reporting, reducing administrative burden for providers. This ensures that allied health professionals can concentrate on delivering high-quality, person-centred support. And this support will also adapt as client needs evolve under the Support at Home program.
How AHP Aged Care Is Supporting You Through These Changes to Aged Care
At AHP Aged Care, we’ve anticipated the evolving aged care landscape for well over a year. Our commitment to proactive preparation ensures we are ready, regardless of the reform rollout, which is now scheduled to move from July to November 2025.
Our multidisciplinary team has aligned every aspect of our operations with the present Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program. This includes:
- Upgrading digital referral and reporting systems for seamless integration
- Expanding our internal review process to quarterly audits for continuous compliance
- Training staff on new service delivery models focused on rehabilitation and personalised care
- Collaborating closely with aged care providers to offer scalable workforce solutions that meet enhanced regulatory standards
By embedding these improvements early, AHP allows our partners to stay focused on frontline care. Regulatory compliance and quality outcomes are also proactively managed.
We understand that navigating these changes to aged care can be complex and stressful. That’s why we are dedicated to being a reliable partner who supports consumers and providers. Through this transition we will maintain independence, improve function, and promote well-being for older Australians.
For anyone seeking allied health support that is compliant, future-ready, and centred on person-focused care, AHP Aged Care is ready now, so you don’t have to play catch-up.
To learn more about the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program, the Australian Government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission offers comprehensive information and guidance.
If you want a partner to help your organisation or family navigate the changes to aged care, contact us today. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
