The Australian government is pursuing further reforms in the aged care sector with a new investment of US$2.2 billion ($1.5 billion) as part of the 2024-2025 budget. Half of this will fund “significant technology and platform maintenance and improvements” in digital systems for critical aged care, to ensure they “remain contemporary and compliant with legislation.”
WHY IT MATTERS
Since the publication of the Royal Commission’s findings into the quality and safety of aged care in 2021, significant changes have been made by the government. To better meet the recommendations of the royal commission, it is now working on a new Aged Care Act, which consolidates three existing pieces of legislation. It proposes a rights-based approach to providing care to older people, which means educating them about their rights, expectations of caregivers and protections. The current law, it is said, targets providers, rather than the people who access their services.
The proposed law is backed by an investment of A$1.4 billion ($1 billion) to fund upgrades in technology systems and digital infrastructure in the aged care sector.
THE BIG TREND
The 2021 royal commission report highlighted how Australia’s aged care sector is “deeply analogous” and “well behind” the others in the use and adoption of technologies. This finding was further supported the following year by a research report reporting the lack of critical digital systems and reliance on paper-based systems in the country’s residential aged care sector. Another research report published early this year also highlighted the lack of innovation, particularly the adoption of emerging technologies, within the sector.
After accepting most of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, including thirty digital recommendations, the federal government has made an initial investment of A$312.6 million ($200 million) for ICT modernization of aged care by 2022.