From 1 November 2025, a brand-new Aged Care Act came into effect across Australia. It replaces the old 1997 law that had been in place for nearly three decades. The changes come straight from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and are designed to put older Australians first, with stronger rights and clearer rules for everyone involved.
The new Act applies to both residential aged care homes and services delivered in your own home. If you’re 65 or older (or 50+ if you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or at risk of homelessness), these rules now protect you whenever you use government-funded aged care.
The Big Shift: A Legal Statement of Rights
For the first time, every person receiving aged care has a set of rights that providers must follow by law. These include the right to be treated with dignity, to make your own choices, to feel safe, to have visitors, and to speak up if something isn’t right – without fear of being treated badly because of it.
The old Charter of Rights was helpful, but it wasn’t legally binding. This new Statement of Rights is. Providers have to show they’re meeting it every day.
Help with Decision-Making
If you ever need a bit of extra support to make decisions, you can now officially nominate someone you trust – a family member or close friend – as your “registered supporter”. You do this through the My Aged Care website. They can help you talk to providers and understand paperwork, but they can’t make decisions for you unless you specifically say so.
If you already had a representative listed on My Aged Care before November 2025, they’ve automatically become your registered supporter unless you chose to change it.
Stronger Quality Rules for Providers
All aged care homes and home-care services now follow updated Quality Standards that started on the same day – 1 November 2025. These standards are tougher and focus on giving care that matches what each person actually wants and needs. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission checks that providers are sticking to them.
Better Protection if You Need to Speak Up
Anyone – a resident, family member, or staff member – can now report concerns safely. There are stronger whistleblower protections, so no one faces punishment for raising genuine worries. You can stay anonymous if you prefer.
There’s also a new independent Complaints Commissioner who makes sure complaints are handled fairly and quickly.
The New Support at Home Program
From 1 November 2025, the old Home Care Packages system ended and was replaced by a single program called Support at Home.
Key points:
- You only pay for the services you actually use.
- Clinical care (like nursing) is fully covered by the government.
- Everyday help (cleaning, meals, personal care) is means-tested.
- There is no longer a basic daily fee (the old $65-plus charge has gone).
- Your budget is set quarterly and ranges from around $2,750 to $15,860 depending on your assessed needs.
- Providers can add up to 10% for administration costs.
The separate Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will move across to the new system no earlier than 1 July 2027.
Changes for People in Residential Aged Care
If you live in an aged care home:
- Accommodation payments (refundable deposits or daily charges) continue, but the maximum permissible interest charge on unpaid amounts has been simplified.
- Providers can keep up to 2% per year (max 10% total over five years) from refundable deposits if you leave or pass away.
- A new means-tested “hotelling supplement” covers things like meals, laundry and cleaning – capped at $22.15 a day.
- Daily care fees are also means-tested and capped at $105.30, with the government picking up the full cost after four years.
How to Get Started or Check Your Situation
Everything starts with one assessment for both home and residential care. You can arrange this through My Aged Care (phone 1800 200 422 or online at www.myagedcare.gov.au).
If you were already receiving home care or living in residential care before the changes, special “no worse off” rules make sure you’re not suddenly hit with higher costs during the transition.
Where to Find the Official Details
The Department of Health and Aged Care has all the latest guides and calculators on their website: www.health.gov.au/aged-care-act. You can also get free, independent advice from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) at www.opan.org.au or by calling 1800 700 600.
These changes are the biggest overhaul of aged care in a generation. The aim is simple – to make sure older Australians get the respect, choice and quality of care they deserve.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a
substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new Aged Care Act start?
The new Aged Care Act 2024 officially began on 1 November 2025.
Who can use government-funded aged care services?
People aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or if you’re at risk of homelessness) can apply through My Aged Care.
What replaced Home Care Packages?
From 1 November 2025, the new Support at Home program took over. It has one simple budget, no basic daily fee, and you only pay for the services you actually receive.