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Aged care reforms

Whether you receive care at home or in a residential facility, we’re here to help you understand how these changes will affect you or your loved ones.

While some details are still emerging, we want to reassure you that the high-quality care and support you currently receive from Wesley Mission Queensland will not change.

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Reforms FAQs

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From November 2025, the government is changing how residential aged care works. The new Aged Care Act 2025 sets clearer rights for residents, introduces rules around fees, and strengthens staffing and care standards. You don’t need to do anything right now. Most reform changes won’t affect your current care straight away. The FAQs below, we break down what these changes mean for fees, staffing, and your rights.
The Support at Home program is the new system replacing Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Program CHSP and the Queensland Community Support Scheme (QCSS). It offers more flexible, personalised home care for older Australians. 

Key changes from 1 November 2025 include:

  • A new funding model based on each resident’s assessed care needs
  • No fee increases for current residents
  • Clearer rules for fees and accommodation charges
  • Price caps on how much providers can charge
  • New staff requirements, including 24/7 registered nurses
  • Updated means testing for new residents
  • Protections for people who can’t afford to pay • Clearer ways for residents to dispute fees or raise complaints
The reforms focus on making aged care fairer, safer, and more transparent. They aim to give older people clearer rights, improve how care is assessed and funded, and strengthen complaint processes.
No major fee increases are planned. If you're already in residential aged care, your fees won’t change. If you move in after 1 November 2025, your fees will be assessed under the new rules, which include means testing. Your provider must clearly explain any charges before you agree to move in.

No. You won’t lose your care, and services will continue without interruption. When the Support at Home program begins in November 2025, most people will transition from a Home Care Package automatically. You will only be reassessed if your current care needs change and, consequently, your budget can no longer support your required level of care. You will always go up a level when being reviewed. The new program uses 8 levels of funding, compared to 4 under the current HCP system. Any unused HCP funds will carry over and be used to support your care under Support at Home.

Means-tested fees will continue under the new reforms, but some rules about fees and charges may be updated. Providers must clearly explain all fees, and price caps will protect consumers from excessive charges. For residential aged care, no major fee increases are planned. Current residents will keep their existing fee arrangements, and any fee changes must be disclosed.
The government says people already receiving aged care will not lose access to support when the new system starts. This means your services should continue at a similar level, but they may be adjusted based on your care needs and available budget under the new rules.
The new Aged Care Act includes a Statement of Rights for older people. You can learn more about your rights on the Department of Health website.

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