What Families Need to Know Before the 2025 Aged Care Reforms Take Effect
Australia’s aged care system is about to undergo one of the most significant overhauls in decades. With the Aged Care Act 2024 set to come into effect on 1 November 2025 , families caring for older loved ones need to prepare for changes that will affect how care is funded, delivered, and accessed. The reforms aim to make the system more transparent, fairer, and easier to navigate—especially for those who prefer to receive care at home. But with big changes also comes uncertainty. Families are asking: How will this affect my parents? Will costs go up? Will services change? Here’s a clear breakdown of what every family should know. 1. The Old System Is Being Replaced with “Support at Home” Currently, families navigate a patchwork of programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Home Care Packages . These systems have long waiting lists and can feel confusing. From November 2025, these will be rolled into the Support at Home Program . Instead of being assigned a “package ...