Federal Budget 2024-25: Key points for in-home aged care providers

By Lilly Sorensen

There’s been a lot of reaction to Tuesday’s Federal Budget announcement, which includes $2.2 billion to strengthen the quality of aged care services: 

• No measures announced relating to Aged Care Taskforce recommendations/ future financial sustainability of aged care (ref)
• No direct measures for supporting provider side implementation of the New Aged Care Act (ref)
• Nearly 40% (or $5.75bn) of the new spending in 2025-26 and 2026-27 in this budget remains “not yet announced” (here)
• $531.4m for an extra 24,100 Home Care Packages in 2024-25 (ref) however, latest Home Care Packages Program Data Report shows at 31 December 2023, there were 51,044 people waiting for an HCP at their approved level (ref)
• $88.4m to attract and retain aged care workers
• Further support for aged care worker wage increase – Fair Work Commission final determination due mid-year
• $111m towards the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
• $1.4b toward upgrading aged care technology systems (ref) 
• $174.5m to fund ICT infrastructure required to implement Support at Home program and Single Assessment System
• $32.1m for the Specialist Dementia Care program
• Stronger links between aged care and health systems 

You can read ACCPA’s response here, COTA here, or further commentary here.

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Published 17 May 2024.