The 2017-18 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Act and marks a period of landmark changes, with more to come.
The report highlights the progress of the unprecedented reform agenda, driven by our Government.
Last financial year, the Australian Government spent a total of $18.1 billion on aged care on a range of services for more than 1.3 million senior Australians.
Many thousands of senior Australians receive aged care and support so they can stay in their own homes, in the communities they love, surrounded by family, friends and neighbours.
Our Government continues to deliver its extensive home and residential care support reforms to help people maximise their independence and wellbeing through high quality assistance that takes into account each person’s strengths, capacity and goals.
During the past year, the number of people taking up home care packages increased by nearly 30 per cent.
Expansion of the Home Care Packages Program and the Commonwealth Home Support Program now give senior Australians more choice and control.
Our Government implemented these significant reforms so people can choose their own providers and access the services they want.
Every senior Australian deserves respect and the best possible care. While the Royal Commission into the aged care sector is set to go about its important work, our Government’s aged care reform program will continue at full pace.
The report shows in 2017-18:
- $12.2 billion – almost 70 per cent – of aged care expenditure was on residential aged care
- Two thirds of aged care consumers accessed basic support at home
- More than 3.5 million visits to the My Aged Care website and 1.4 million calls answered by the call centre
- There were more than 880 approved providers of residential aged care and more than 870 approved providers of home care packages
- More than 1,450 organisations were funded to deliver Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services and overall, there were 783,043 CHSP clients across 2017-18
- 556 funded CHSP organisations and 2,522 residential aged care homes delivered respite care
- $262 million was spent on CHSP grants and $349.6 million in residential subsidies and supplements
- There were 53 operational Short-Term Restorative Care services being delivered by 37 approved providers
- Funding of $35.6 million was provided to 35 services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Program
- The National Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services provided support to 15,499 cases for family carers, primary and acute care staff and aged care providers to improve the quality of life of a person living with dementia
The report, produced each year in accordance with the 1997 legislation, provides an overview of Australia’s aged care system.
Our Government’s work to support senior Australians is backed by a record $5 billion boost to aged care funding over the next four years.
The 2017-18 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 is available on the GEN Aged Care Data website.
