If you or someone you love is receiving aged care services, or thinking about it, you’ve likely heard about the new Aged Care Act. It’s a significant change to how aged care works in Australia, and we understand it can feel overwhelming to navigate yet another system when you’re already dealing with so much. At Perth Care Partners, we’re here to help you understand what these changes mean for you and your family.
A Fresh Start for Aged Care in Australia
The new Act started on 1 November 2025 and aligns with the launch of the new Support at Home programme. It passed Parliament on 25 November 2024, marking the most significant transformation to aged care in decades.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care found the previous Aged Care Act and its related legislation were no longer fit for purpose because they were structured around providers and how to fund them, rather than around the people accessing services and what they need.
This is something we at Perth Care Partners witnessed firsthand. Our founder saw the gaps in the system when her own mother was in care, with people crying out for help, with no one responding and facilities that felt more like institutions than homes. It’s why we started this business: to create a better way.
What Makes This Act Different?
The new legislation represents a fundamental shift in how aged care operates. 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.
Your Rights Come First
The new Act includes a Statement of Rights that outlines the rights that older people in the aged care system should expect when seeking or accessing government-funded aged care services.
It includes rights like independence and autonomy, respect for privacy, safe and quality care, and the right to raise issues without fear of reprisal.
What does this mean in practice?
- You’re in control: You will have the right to make decisions about your own life under the new Act. You also have the right to take risks just like you do now.
- Your voice matters: If something doesn’t feel right, you’ll be supported to speak up, and providers will listen and respond quickly and fairly.
- You can get support with decisions: You will also be able to say if you would like support to make decisions about the care and services you receive and decide who can support you.
This aligns perfectly with how we’ve always operated at Perth Care Partners. We’ve never believed in dictating care schedules or limiting what our clients can do. Your independence and dignity have always been at the heart of our service.
Stronger Quality Standards
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards have been introduced with the commencement of the new Act from 1 November 2025. Aged Care Quality Standards are a set of requirements that define what good care looks like.
Under the strengthened standards, providers must actively include older people in the planning and management of their care to ensure care is safe, high-quality and tailored to the needs of the older person.
For us, this is how we’ve always worked. We genuinely match carers to clients, we listen to your story, and we adapt our services to fit your life, not the other way around. But it’s reassuring to know that all providers are now held to these higher standards.
Better Protection When You Speak Up
The new Act increases protections for whistleblowers. Older people, families, representatives, and aged care workers can report a person or organisation who has not followed aged care law without fear that they will be punished or treated unfairly.
Additionally, a new independent Aged Care Complaints Commissioner will make sure your concerns are heard and addressed fairly and efficiently.
What This Means for You
If you’re already receiving care or thinking about starting, you might be wondering how this affects you personally.
If You’re Already Receiving Care
If you were already approved for or started receiving services as of 31 October 2025, there will be changes to some aspects of your care. But you shouldn’t be negatively impacted by the changes. For current care recipients, your provider will continue to provide the services they have always delivered to you, in the same way, while the new rules to improve the quality of care come into effect in the background.
If You’re New to Aged Care
The new Act creates a system that’s designed around your needs, your preferences, and your life. This means you now have greater choice and control over the care and support you receive.
How Perth Care Partners Supports You Through These Changes
We know that navigating government systems and understanding your entitlements can be stressful, especially when you’re already dealing with health challenges or caring for a loved one. We’re here to support you through the entire journey:
- We speak your language: When you call us, you’ll speak to your care manager, not a call centre. We take the time to understand your situation and explain your options clearly.
- We help you access funding: Whether it’s government-subsidised care through the Support at Home program, DVA support, or other funding options, we can guide you through the process.
- We’re responsive and flexible: Unlike larger organisations that dictate schedules, we work around your life. Want to go to the shops on Tuesday instead of Wednesday? We’ll make it happen.
- We genuinely care: Our care managers check in on clients personally. You’re not a number to us. You’re part of our Perth Care Partners family.
The Support at Home Programme
Alongside the new Aged Care Act, the new Support at Home programme has also commenced. This program replaces the previous Home Care Package system and is designed to give you more flexibility and control over your care.
If you were previously on a Home Care Package, if you were assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package before the start of the new Aged Care Act, you will receive Support at Home funding equivalent to your assessed Home Care Package level.
Read more: A Guide to Support at Home: Australia’s New In-Home Care Programme
Give us a call, and we’ll take the time to understand your story, explain your options, and work out together whether Perth Care Partners is the right fit for you. Contact us today. We’re here for you every step of the way.
Perth Care Partners is a boutique home care provider specialising in personalised care for elderly Australians across Perth Metro and Mandurah. We support clients accessing government-subsidised care, DVA funding, and private care arrangements.
