Why the Aged Care Act was rewritten
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2018–2021) revealed deep, systemic failures in how Australia cares for its older citizens. The Royal Commission’s final report contained 148 recommendations — and the new Aged Care Act 2024 is the legislative response.
The old Aged Care Act 1997 was provider-focused: it mostly told providers what they had to do administratively. The new Act is person-focused: it puts the older Australian at the centre, with enforceable rights, transparent quality standards, and a unified system that works for them rather than around them.
The five biggest changes
1. A new Statement of Rights for older Australians
For the first time, Australian aged care has a Statement of Rights — a clear, enforceable set of rights that every person receiving aged care holds. These cover dignity, choice, safety, communication, identity and culture, and access to advocacy. Providers are legally required to uphold these rights, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has stronger powers to act when they’re not.
2. Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
The old eight Quality Standards have been refreshed and strengthened into a new framework focused on outcomes for older people rather than provider processes. The seven new standards cover:
- The person — dignity, identity, autonomy
- The provider — culture, governance, workforce
- Care and services
- The environment — safe, comfortable, fit for purpose
- Clinical care
- Food and nutrition
- The residential community (for residential providers)
3. The Support at Home Program
From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home Program replaces:
- Home Care Packages (HCP) Levels 1–4
- The Short-Term Restorative Care Programme
- Most of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (phased)
Funding becomes service-based rather than package-based — meaning each person has an individual budget that pays for the specific supports they need, with greater flexibility and transparency.
4. Six service categories for providers
Every aged care provider must now register against one or more of six service categories. This consolidates the patchwork of approvals from the old system into a single, clearer framework. Providers (like My Evervale) can register across all six — meaning families don’t have to switch when needs change.
5. Stronger oversight and enforcement
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has stronger enforcement powers, providers face heavier penalties for non-compliance, and there’s mandatory star ratings, transparent fee disclosure, and serious incident reporting requirements.
What it means for older Australians
- Clearer rights — written down and enforceable
- More choice and control — over who provides care, what services, and when
- Better information — transparent pricing, star ratings, easier comparisons
- Stronger protection — when things go wrong, faster and stronger response
What it means for family carers
- One-provider continuity — providers registered for multiple categories can support your loved one through their whole journey
- Greater transparency — easier to see what you’re paying for and what services are funded
- Stronger family voice — recognised role for family carers and advocates
- Better outcomes data — star ratings, quality indicators, complaint resolution data
What it means for providers
- Higher standards — strengthened Quality Standards, audited regularly
- Greater scrutiny — workforce ratios, mandatory reporting, transparent pricing
- More accountability — bigger penalties for failure, easier loss of approval
- Better-resourced — increased funding to deliver the new standards
How My Evervale is built for the new Act
My Evervale was designed from the ground up for the new Aged Care Act:
- We register for all six service categories
- We operate to the strengthened Quality Standards from day one
- We follow the Statement of Rights as a daily practice, not a poster
- Our pricing and care management are fully transparent
- We’re sized to deliver intimate, person-centred care — not just process care
Where to learn more
Official resources: