Recently, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee (Committee) formally commenced an inquiry into the delay in accessing home care services and broader aged care reform (Inquiry), following a successful motion led by independent Senator David Pocock.

The Inquiry responds to growing concerns about extended wait times for aged care assessments and packages, with some residents having reportedly waited up to a year for services. Senator Pocock's statement on the Inquiry notes that parliamentarians wrote to the Minister for Aged Care in June, requesting that the release of 20,000 home care packages be brought forward following the delay in the commencement of the new Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth).

In accordance with the Inquiry's terms of reference, the Committee will consider and report on:

• the impact of delays on older Australians, including unmet care needs and wellbeing;
• the capacity of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme to meet rising demand;
• effects on aged care providers and their workforce;
• flow-on impacts to hospitals and state health systems;
• the feasibility of meeting the Government’s target to reduce Home Care Package wait times to three months by 1 July 2027;
• governance and readiness of digital transformation and assessment systems; and
• any other related matters.

Public submissions are currently open, with the Committee required to report its findings by 15 September 2025.

As the aged care sector continues to navigate significant reform, our team remains available to support providers in preparing submissions, reviewing governance arrangements, and engaging with regulatory processes. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can assist, we will otherwise keep you updated as developments occur.