Aged Care Justice

20/05/2026

The Federal Government has indefinitely delayed planned price caps for home aged care services, despite widespread concerns about older Australians being overcharged.

Instead, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will gain powers to order refunds where providers are found to have overcharged.

While refund powers are welcome, overcharging in aged care must be proactively clamped down on, with stronger safeguards to prevent older people being exploited and to ensure timely, enforceable outcomes where excessive charging occurs.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Older Persons Advocacy Network Elder Rights Australia Elder Abuse Action Australia Dementia Australia Aged Care Reform Now 2.0 Ageing and Disability Commission Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Seniors Rights Service National Seniors Australia

Support at Home program price caps, due to start in July, have been deferred indefinitely. Hundreds of thousands of older people rely on the federal government program, which provides help with cleaning, showering and clinical supports like nursing.

05/05/2026

An important discussion on the evolving nature of financial elder abuse, including its intersection with scams and undue influence, and what to look for in practice.

Sign up for the seminar below held by Elder Abuse Action Australia and delivered by Westpac Executive Manager of Fraud Intelligence Sophie Gee.

Seniors Rights Service COTA Australia - for older Australians Older Persons Advocacy Network National Older Women's Network Inc Dementia Australia

28/04/2026

ACJ welcomes the announcement that the Ombudsman will review the automated system that determines aged care assessments.

The impact on vulnerable people relying on a reliable and accurate system is enormous.

For more information about the probe, click below.

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Elder Abuse Action Australia Aged Care Reform Now 2.0 Seniors Rights Service COTA Victoria & Seniors Rights Victoria National Seniors Australia Older Persons Advocacy Network

Commissioners welcome the Ombudsman’s probe into automated aged care assessments, stressing the need for human oversight, fairness and accessible review.

22/04/2026

"The federal government will dump a controversial decision that charged at-home aged care recipients for showers, dressing and continence care.

It follows months of sustained criticism, including warnings that some older people were forgoing other care to afford showers.

The government has revealed fully covering the extra care will cost $1 billion over the next four years."

Aged Care Justice has received complaints regarding changes in home care support from older people wanting to understand their rights.

If you have a legal query or issue relating to aged care, email [email protected] for a free legal consultation.

Older Persons Advocacy Network Aged Care Reform Now 2.0 Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Aged Care News ABC Australia COTA Australia - for older Australians Seniors Rights Service National Seniors Australia Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Sam Rae

The decision to scrap the plan to charge older Australians $50/hour for showers was made after months of sustained criticism, including warnings that people were forgoing other care to afford the service.

15/04/2026

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is investigating the government’s aged care assessment tool, amid concerns it may be impacting how much support older Australians receive.

From a legal rights perspective, this raises serious questions. Decisions about care must be transparent, fair and able to be challenged - especially when they affect someone’s health and ability to remain at home.

Older Australians have a right to understand how decisions about their care are made, and to question them when the result does not meet their needs.

Ageing Australia Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Ageing and Disability Commission Aged Care Reform Now Aged Care Matters Dementia Australia Seniors Rights Service Older Persons Advocacy Network COTA Australia - for older Australians National Older Women's Network Inc Elder Abuse Action Australia

Exclusive: It follows numerous complaints made to Guardian Australia, politicians and advocacy organisations about the Integrated Assessment Tool

09/04/2026

No one should be pressured into contracts that put their homes at risk in order to access aged care.

This article by Julie Cross in The Advertiser reports on aged care contracts that may place older Australians' homes at risk (summary of article below due to paywall).

Older Australians receiving home care are being pressured into signing contracts that may allow providers to place caveats over their homes if aged care debts go unpaid.

One couple, April Stanley-Banks (65) and her husband Michael (80), say they felt “bullied” into signing an agreement with their state-run provider that included provisions for property claims and even a third-party guarantor.

The issue has emerged alongside recent aged care reforms, which have increased costs, forcing some older people to cut essential services, with Ms Stanley-Banks reporting her husband is now limited to one $135 shower per week.

Advocacy groups say these contract terms may be “unconscionable”, while more than 100 federal politicians have called for urgent reform.

Aged Care Reform Now Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Older Persons Advocacy Network COTA Australia - for older Australians Seniors Rights Service National Seniors Australia

Exclusive: Older Australians needing help at home are being pressured to sign contracts that grant providers a legal claim over their property if they accrue unpaid aged care debts.

31/03/2026

The tragic death of an aged care resident following an altercation with another resident living with advanced Alzheimer’s disease was before the court last week.

This is a complex and sensitive issue, but one that warrants close oversight by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Inspector-General of Aged Care.

ACJ continues to receive enquiries from families concerned that resident-to-resident aggressive behaviour is not consistently well managed in some facilities, at times leading to serious injury or death.

If you have a legal issue relating to aged care, contact ACJ to receive a free legal consultation. Email [email protected] or fill in our Get Help Form https://www.agedcarejustice.org.au/get-help/

Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Aged Care Reform Now Aged Care Matters Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Seniors Rights ServiceElder Rights Australia Older Persons Advocacy Network COTA Victoria & Seniors Rights Victoria COTA Australia - for older Australians

An elderly man charged over the death of a fellow aged care resident remains on site at the facility, a court has heard.

23/03/2026

What are your thoughts on the Australian Government's Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2033?

ACJ welcomes the Plan and the vision statement that ‘all older people are safe, valued, heard and respected; have their rights protected and promoted; and live free from abuse and mistreatment".

We also welcome the Australian Government’s inclusion of 'contributing to funding legal assistance, alongside state and territory governments’ (p.40).

Enforceability of legal rights is crucial in safeguarding older people's wellbeing.

Click below to read the Plan and let us know your thoughts.

Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Dementia Australia COTA Australia - for older Australians Ageing and Disability Commission Older Persons Advocacy Network Elder Abuse Action Australia Elder Rights Australia Seniors Rights Service National Seniors Australia

This page contains the downloadable versions of the National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026–2036.

17/03/2026

After a two-year delay, the Government has released their National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2036.

The Plan recognises that "Older people can experience abuse and mistreatment within family and close personal relationships, and in service and institutional contexts where there is an expectation of trust or more formal duty of care”.

Institutional abuse is often overlooked. Vulnerable aged care recipients need stronger legal protections and access to justice.

Access the Plan here: https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/publications/national-plan-end-abuse-and-mistreatment-older-people-2026-2036

Aged Care Reform Now Older Persons Advocacy Network COTA Australia - for older Australians Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Seniors Rights Service Dementia Australia Aged Care Matters Ageing Australia National Seniors Australia Elder Abuse Action Australia

The Federal government launches a 10-year plan to prevent, respond to and eliminate the abuse of older people in Australia.

11/03/2026

This powerful and confronting short film highlights a largely hidden issue in aged care: injurious and fatal resident-to-resident incidents in long-term care homes.

Fighting for Dignity shares the stories of families whose loved ones were harmed by other residents and calls for greater awareness, prevention, and accountability in care settings. The film also highlights how many of these incidents go unrecognised, unreported, or preventable in aged care environments.

Improving staffing, training and understanding the unmet needs of people living with dementia — alongside greater awareness of legal rights and access to justice — are critical to protecting vulnerable residents and ensuring dignity and safety in care.

Watch the film below.

Aged Care Reform Now Aged Care Matters Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Seniors Rights Service Ageing Australia Ageing and Disability Commission Older Persons Advocacy Network COTA Australia - for older Australians The Age Legal Aid NSW

A large number of injurious resident-to-resident incidents in the long-term care setting are not recognized, reported, nor prevented.