Changes are being introduced to the Aged Care Act that aim to improve the lives of older people and those who work in the sector. Here’s what Support Workers need to know.

The Australian Government has drafted a new Aged Care Act that will have a significant impact on the way older people receive care and services, both in their homes and in the community.

The new Act takes effect from 1 November 2025 and aligns with the launch of the new Support at Home program.

Chief among the changes is a new Statement of Rights that outlines the rights older Australians should expect when accessing aged care services. It also includes more help to stay at home with additional Support at Home packages and increased funding for home modifications and assistive technology.

For aged care Support Workers, the changes will result in clearer expectations about how they are expected to carry out their roles, tightened worker screening arrangements and expanded whistleblower protections.

A clearer direction

The new Act includes a Statement of Rights and a Statement of Principles, documents that outline the rights that older people should expect when accessing government-funded aged care services.

Support Workers will play a large part in ensuring that older people and their needs remain at the centre of the new system — making their own decisions about their own life, having their culture and identity respected, and being able to freely communicate their wishes, needs and preferences.

The Statement of Principles being introduced under the changes to the Act will help Support Workers feel empowered to support innovation, continuous improvement and the delivery of high-quality care. It will also enable them to participate in governance and accountability mechanisms.

More robust screening checks

A new Aged Care Worker Screening Check for risk-assessed roles will be introduced from 2026 to help ensure nationally consistent screening requirements.

The Federal Government is working with state and territory governments to introduce a more robust screening check for the aged care sector that aligns with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) worker screening check.

Effective 1 November, all aged care Support Workers and responsible persons, such as a CEO or board member, will continue to need either:

  • a police certificate not older than three years that does not record certain offences, or
  • an NDIS worker screening check.

The government also hopes to make future changes involving the recognition of Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) registration for aged care worker screening.

Better protection for whistleblowers

To ensure Support Workers can report information without fear of being punished or treated unfairly, protections are being strengthened. Those who raise concerns about individuals or organisations who have not followed the aged care law will also be better protected under the changes to the Act.

If they have chosen not to make their report anonymously, they will also have their identities or identifying information protected, except in cases where it is necessary to share information with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission or a lawyer, or to prevent a serious threat to a person or people.