Delay in New Home Care Packages Endangers Older Australians: Independent MP's
Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps, along with fellow Independent Members and Senators, have stated they are concerned about the impact the Albanese Government’s decision to postpone the commencement of 80,000 new Home Care packages will have on older Australians.
83,000 new Home Care packages were due to be rolled out from 1 July 2025, this has now been postponed until November.
There are currently some 80,000 Australians on the waitlist for a Home Care package. It takes 12 to 15 months for someone to get a level 4 package. In that context a six month delay is consequential. Research shows that the longer people go without appropriate Home Care supports, the higher their risk of injury, hospitalisation and earlier entry into residential aged care.
The delay will also imperil the Albanese Government’s commitment that by 2027 no one will wait more than 90 days for a package.
The parliamentarians have signed an open letter calling on the government to, at a minimum, fund 20,000 new packages to commence on 1 July 2025 under the current Home Care Packages scheme, which can then be rolled over onto the new Support at Home program when it eventually commences.
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock said older Australians and their families couldn’t afford to wait even longer for much-needed support in their homes.
“Last term the Albanese Government made some good progress with multi-partisan support but now they need to prioritise implementation,” Senator Pocock said.
“I regularly have families contacting me about the excessively long wait times for Home Care packages. We can’t afford to delay this further. The 1,400 Canberrans currently on the waitlist need help now, and each day we delay is another day they are put at risk of injury or of going into permanent care well ahead of their time.”
“While the sector acknowledges this delay as a frustrating but necessary step, we need more home care packages now to bridge the gap until November,” said Dr Helen Haines, independent Member for Indi.
“In my electorate, people have approved packages but are waiting months for care because of a lack of providers. We also can’t delay the rollout of a pricing framework that fairly reflects the travel costs to deliver care in rural areas.”
Independent Member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan said older Australians were already waiting too long for support.
“It’s clear that the industry is not yet ready to implement the new Aged Care Act - and it makes sense to delay it,” Dr Ryan said.
“However, older Australians shouldn’t suffer because of the aged care system’s failures. They’re already waiting far too long for the help they need. The government should urgently fund an extra 20,000 home care packages to support older Australians stay safe and healthy at home, while it helps stakeholders transition to the new framework.”
Allegra Spender MP, independent Member for Wentworth said action is needed now to help lower waiting times.
"I regularly hear heart-breaking stories of parents and grandparents who are eligible for home care packages, but end up in aged-care facilities unnecessarily, because the home care package takes too long," said Ms Spender.
"The rationing of home care packages fails families and older Australians and simply places more burden and costs on our aged care system. The government needs to deliver on its promise to provide more home care package."
“Whilst the additional time for the sector to transition to the New Aged Care Act is warranted, the 83,000 people waiting for a Home Care Package should not be made to wait any longer.
The Government can and must act on this without delay,” said Dr Sophie Scamps, independent Member for Mackellar.
“These delays to Home Care Packages are putting pressure on families who are struggling to care for their loved ones and desperately need urgent support right now."
"The longer Tasmanians Seniors can stay home, the better off they are - delaying the promised rollout until November isn't acceptable. Both sides of politics have dropped the ball on this issue over the last ten years. What the Minister calls 'a brief deferral' will directly impact the lives of older Australians," said Senator Jacqui Lambie, Senator for Tasmania.
The signatories to the open letter include Senator David Pocock, Senator Jacqui Lambie, Dr Helen Haines MP, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, Dr Monique Ryan MP, Allegra Spender MP, Andrew Gee MP, Andrew Wilkie MP, Zali Steggall MP and Kate Chaney MP.