Australia’s aged care system entered a new era on 1 November 2025, when the Aged Care Act 2024 came into effect. Now, several months in, home care and community care providers are navigating a significantly changed operating environment, one that places the rights of older people at its centre and holds providers to a higher standard than ever before.
If your organisation delivers services to the community and is still finding its footing under the new Act, this guide outlines the key obligations you need to have in place.
A Rights Based Framework
The new Act is fundamentally different from its predecessor. Rather than focusing on program rules, it is built around a legally enforceable Statement of Rights, a set of rights that older people hold when accessing government-funded care. These include rights to safe and quality care, dignity, autonomy, and the ability to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
For home care providers, this shift is significant. Care is delivered in a person’s own home, on their terms. The Statement of Rights reinforces that, and providers are legally obligated to deliver services in a manner consistent with it. This isn’t optional, and it isn’t aspirational. It is a compliance requirement.
What’s Changed for Providers
Provider Registration is Now Mandatory: All providers of government-funded aged care must now be registered with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Existing providers were automatically deemed registered but must meet ongoing obligations, including renewal and variation processes.
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards: The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards set clear expectations about what good care looks like in the community. All providers must ensure their care and services uphold the Statement of Rights and meet these standards, not just at audit time, but as part of everyday operations.
New Incident Reporting via SIRS: Reportable incidents are now managed through an updated Serious Incident Response Scheme. Home care providers should ensure their incident management processes are aligned with the new requirements, and that all staff, including those working in the field, are trained accordingly.
Whistleblower Protections Expanded: Workers, older people, families and carers can now report concerns about a provider or worker without fear of reprisal. This underscores the importance of a genuine open-door culture and robust complaints handling, particularly in home settings where concerns can go unnoticed without clear channels.
Complaints Handling Under Greater Scrutiny: An independent Complaints Commissioner now oversees the complaints handling process. Home care providers need strong, transparent complaints about processes in place and must be able to demonstrate them, not just describe them.
Looking Ahead in 2026
Home care packages that existed prior to the new Act will transition to the Support at Home program by 31 October 2026. Providers should be proactively communicating with clients and families about what this change means for their services, budgets, and care plans, well ahead of the deadline.
From July 2026, home care providers face stronger accountability requirements around service delivery, directly linking funding to demonstrated and documented care outcomes. Now is the time to ensure your systems and records are ready.
Building Compliance Confidence
For many home care providers, the new Act has meant a significant investment in updating policies, training staff, and reviewing service agreements. The organisations that will thrive are those treating compliance not as a burden, but as a foundation for quality care in the community.
Brevity’s platform helps home care providers manage their obligations with confidence, from service agreement management to incident tracking and audit-ready reporting. Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can help.
