Commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) deferred until 1 November 2025

In a significant announcement, the Government has delayed the commencement date of the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) from 1 July 2025 until 1 November 2025. 

The Government announced that it has made a recommendation that the Governor-General proclaim the commencement of the new Aged Care Act to be 1 November 2025. Once the proclamation is made, the new commencement date will be official.

The deferred commencement date responds to widespread concerns within the aged care sector that providers did not have sufficient time and information to prepare for the reforms if the new Act commenced on 1 July 2025. Relevantly, the Aged Care Rules, which contain much of the critical detail informing key aspects of the new Act, have not yet been finalised. 

The Government has indicated that the delayed commencement date for the new Act will give Parliament time to consider an amendment Bill that will finalise the details in the Aged Care Rules and enable the effective operation of the new Act. There is not yet an indication of timing in relation to the amendment Bill or the Aged Care Rules. 

Importantly for providers of home care, the Support at Home program will commence with the new Act on 1 November 2025. Until then, the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Short-Term Restorative Care Program and Home Care Packages Program will continue. 

At Maddocks, our approach to helping providers to prepare for these reforms has focussed on balancing provider preparation with managing the risk of hitting ‘go’ too early, when much detail is still to come. The extension of the commencement date is consistent with our approach, and allows us to continue to assist clients in a streamlined and responsive way as new information is released in the lead up to 1 November 2025. 

We are continuing to closely monitor developments and work closely with providers to ensure that they are ready for the commencement of the new Act on 1 November 2025.