The federal government’s Support at Home program, intended to replace existing aged care packages, is facing mounting criticism from sector leaders and health experts. Originally scheduled to launch in July, the rollout has now been delayed to November, prompting concerns over its readiness and long-term viability.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to allow elderly Australians to live independently for longer. But a Senate inquiry has heard testimony suggesting that poor program design, funding issues and growing demand could undermine those goals — and further strain an already stretched healthcare system.
Expert Raises Concerns Over Increased Hospital Demand and Safety Risks
Kathy Eagar, former adviser to the aged care royal commission, told the inquiry that the new scheme risks significantly increasing pressure on public hospitals and residential care facilities. According to Eagar, structural flaws in Support at Home are likely to lead to greater rates of falls, medication errors and malnutrition among older Australians due to service delays and inflexible care provision.
“Consumer co-payments are too high, assessment is a bottleneck, package wait times post-assessment then create a further bottleneck and there is not sufficient capacity to flex services up and down,” Eagar said. She noted that it was “inevitable” that preventable hospital admissions would rise if the current model proceeds unchanged.
The inquiry also heard that over 87,000 people are currently waiting for home care packages. Without additional immediate resources, that figure could climb to 100,000 by November. Eagar further criticised the government’s claim that the program would cut demand for residential care, calling it “not credible” and based on “unverified assumptions” about older Australians’ financial capacity to contribute to their care.
Senate Inquiry Highlights Growing Inequality in Access to Aged Care
Critics have also warned that the revised payment structure could entrench a two-tier aged care system. Under Support at Home, wealthier recipients will face higher out-of-pocket contributions, while those dependent on government subsidies may find themselves at a disadvantage.
Tracey Burton, chief executive of Uniting NSW and ACT, told The Guardian Australia that the disparity between private payments and government subsidies is creating a “strong disincentive” for facilities to admit supported residents. The refundable accommodation deposit model could further discourage providers from accepting patients with limited financial means.
Inspector General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown described the delay to the program as “appropriate” but noted the lack of new package releases was “disappointing.” She urged the government to make additional care places available as early as possible to prevent further delays in access.
In response, Aged Care Minister Sam Rae told Parliament that demand for in-home support is growing “very, very fast”, and confirmed that additional care packages would be delivered from November.
