The Morrison Government is delivering for senior Australians through a $537 million funding investment, responding to the three priority areas identified in the Aged Care Royal Commission Interim Report.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin has welcomed the major funding boost, which will deliver 10,000 new home care packages, improve medication management for aged care residents with dementia and facilitate getting younger people out of residential aged care.

“Delivering quality aged care is a priority for people in my electorate of Barker so I’m very pleased our Government is providing more support in these three priority areas identified by the Aged Care Royal Commission,” Mr Pasin said.

The Government’s latest funding package includes the following measures;

  • investing $496.3 million for an additional10,000 home care packages;
  • providing $25.5 million to improve medication management programs to reduce the use of medication as a chemical restraint on aged care residents and at home, and new restrictions and education for prescribers on the use of medication as a chemical restraint;
  • delivering $10 million for additional dementia training and support for aged care workers and providers, including to reduce the use of chemical restraint; and
  • investing $4.7 million to help meet new targets to remove younger people with disabilities from residential aged care

Mr Pasin said the new home care packages would support more seniors choosing to live independently.

“The 10,000 new packages will be rolled out from 1 December 2019 and will help more seniors to live in their own homes for longer. The additional packages are strongly weighted towards people with highest needs, as recommended by the Royal Commission,” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said the new package will also help end the flow of younger people with disabilities into residential aged care.

“The Government will implement targets to end the flow of younger people under age 65 of entering residential aged care by 2022 and assist in ensuring that no people under the age of 65 are living in residential aged care by 2025, except in exceptional circumstances,” Mr Pasin said.

“The Royal Commission’s final report is due on 12 November 2020, however the Government’s rigorous oversight of the sector and reform program continues in the meantime. There will be more work to do across the aged care sector as we continue to listen and respond to the issues raised by the Royal Commission,” Mr Pasin said.

Full details of the Government’s Aged Care Royal Commission Interim Report response package is available here: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/response-aged-care-royal-commission-interim-report

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8531 2466