The Australian Government introduced the Aged Care Bill 2024 to Parliament on 12 September 2024. It passed Parliament on 25 November 2024 and will become the new Aged Care Act from 1 July 2025.
The new Act introduces a rights-based framework for the delivery of aged care which focuses on the people accessing funded aged care services, and their rights in relation to that care.
For the Commission, the new Act means a new regulatory framework which includes a clear, comprehensive set of obligations for providers and a more flexible and streamlined suite of powers for the Commission. This will enable us to more effectively incentivise providers to improve their performance while also holding them to account through provider supervision, as supported by our Regulatory Strategy 2024–25.
Why do we need a new Aged Care Act?
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that the current Aged Care Act is no longer fit for purpose.
The new Act will:
- create a simple, single-entry point to make access to the aged care system for older people easier
- include a fair, culturally safe single assessment process
- include rules on supported decision-making to ensure older people have choice and control
- provide additional protections for whistleblowers to allow reporting without fear of reprisal
- introduce a new approach to regulating aged care providers to ensure delivery of safe, quality aged care services
- strengthen the powers of the regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, to manage risk, ensure integrity and support aged care.
When will the new Act start?
The Aged Care Act will commence from 1 July 2025. It will replace existing legislation, including the current Aged Care Act and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018.
More information
Read about what the new Act means for older people, providers and workers in the dedicated reform section on our website.
Further information is available on the department’s website:
