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Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria welcome today’s new Aged Care Act as a positive step toward addressing the needs of older and ageing Victorians. But there are still questions and concerns from the community that remain unaddressed as this major reform comes into effect.
The new Aged Care Act is a seminal moment in delivering the vision and promise of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It will bring in a host of major changes that will transform aged care delivery, including — but not limited to — strengthened standards, updated assessment, and a Statement of Rights. This reform aims to provide more flexible, transparent, and person-centred support.
One of the cornerstones of the reforms is the introduction of Support at Home, which replaces Home Care packages, and is designed to help older Victorians remain at home for longer. Where people live as they age significantly affects their wellbeing, health, and connection to community. Ageing in place strengthens social ties, keeps people engaged, and delivers better value for government investment.
“Today’s implementation of the new Aged Care Act is something to celebrate – it marks a major milestone in changing our approach to aged care and supporting ageing,” said CEO of COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, Ben Rogers.
“However, major questions remain about how reforms will work in practice in Victoria, particularly Support at Home. And we cannot let these issues fester if we want to support older Victorians.
“Uncertainty is already causing anxiety among older people and their families. There is a lot of confusion in the community.”
“Delivering reform on this scale is hard – and our concerns are that older Victorians will pay the price as the system turns a new page and settles,” Mr Rogers continued.
“In particular, we remain concerned at the potential impact of co-contributions, the exclusion of vital services such as showering from free clinical care, and the significant reduction of flexibility in the new model. And — most importantly — what this will mean for older Victorians looking for support so they can age at home, and in place.
“COTA Victoria is committed to supporting older Victorians as best we can, and advocating for changes that will enable this significant reform to deliver on its ultimate potential. This is the start of ensuring we have a world-leading aged care system, not the end.”
To help support its community, COTA Victoria has launched a new information portal on its website. The new portal’s aim is to provide relevant, concise information on matters including aged care and home care alongside many more topics. It will be continually updated as COTA Victoria gains deeper insight as these reforms rollout.
The new portal is available online and runs concurrently with the COTA WISE information service, a telephone- and email-based offering designed to help older Victorians and their loved ones find the vital information they need.
To contact COTA WISE, please call 1300 135 090 or email askcota@cotavic.org.au and we’ll be happy to help you find the information you need. Our service is available between 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Thursday.
COTA Victoria also encourages older Victorians to let us know about their experiences and issues as the new system comes into effect, so this information can be provided to government.
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Further information
Steve Wright
Marketing and Communications Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9655 2159
Email: communications@cotavic.org.au
About us
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit member organisation representing the interests and rights of people aged over 50 in Victoria. For over 70 years, we have led government, corporate and community thinking about the positive aspects of ageing in the state.
Today, our focus is on promoting opportunities for and protecting the legal rights of people 50+. We value ageing and embrace its opportunities for personal growth, contribution, and self-expression. This belief drives benefits to the nation and its states alongside communities, families, and individuals.
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is the key state-wide service dedicated to advancing the rights of older people and the early intervention into, or prevention of, elder abuse in our community. It is the only Community Legal Centre dedicated to preventing and responding to elder abuse within Victoria.
SRV has a team of experienced advocates, lawyers, and social workers who provide free information, advice, referral, legal advice, legal casework, and support to older people who are either at risk of or are experiencing elder abuse. SRV supports and empowers older people through the provision of legal advice directly to the older person.