Final draft of the new Aged Care Rules 2025 released

Set to commence alongside the new Aged Care Act from 1 November, the Australian Government has released the final draft of the new Aged Care Rules 2025 — to guide the sector in the delivery of generational aged care reforms.

The rules set out how the aged care sector provides care, covering issues from residential care to Home Support Packages, worker screening, vaccinations and financial obligations in aged care.

Providing further detail and instruction on how the new Aged Care Act will work, their release ahead of the act’s commencement is, the government said, to make sure aged care providers have the time they need to prepare their systems, processes and workforce.

“The release of the Rules is another meaningful step towards a new rights-based Aged Care Act that delivers the dignified care older Australians deserve,” Australia’s Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said.

“We’ve released the Rules three months before the new Act comes into force, giving providers time to implement new systems and processes, and train workers to deliver the best care to our loved ones.”

Developed after seven consultation drafts and in response to more than 400 submissions from aged care providers, advocates, workers, carers, healthcare experts and older people themselves, the release of the rules follows the introduction of amending legislation to parliament — paving the way, the government said, for a smooth transition to the new Aged Care Act.

You can access the final draft of the new Aged Care Rules 2025 here, via the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Information about the new Aged Care Rules and the consultation process is also available here, and resources to help prepare for the Act can be found here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Nadija Pavlovic