From 1 November 2025, the way residential aged care is delivered across Australia is changing. These reforms aim to ensure older Australians living in aged care homes receive care that is high quality, respectful, and focused on individual needs.
At BlueCare, we welcome these changes and are here to help you understand what’s new, what’s improving, and what it means for you or your loved ones.
What’s changing in residential aged care?
The residential aged care reforms are part of the Australian Government’s broader commitment to safer, fairer, and more transparent aged care. Key changes include:
- Single Assessment System: a simplified, consistent way to access government-funded aged care services.
- A new Aged Care Act: centred around the rights of older people and ensuring providers are accountable for quality of care.
- Mandatory minimum care time: each resident will receive a minimum average of 215 minutes of care per day (including 44 minutes from a registered nurse).
- 24/7 registered nurse requirement: every aged care home must have a registered nurse on site at all times.
- Star Ratings: to give you clear, independent information on the quality of care in each aged care home.
- New food and nutrition standards: ensuring residents have access to healthy, appealing meals every day.
- Improved complaints process: and stronger regulatory oversight to protect residents’ rights and safety.
What these changes mean for you
If you or a loved one is living in a BlueCare residential aged care home, you can expect a care experience that’s safer, more personalised, and focused on what matters most to you.
While there are important improvements coming, many things will stay the same:
- You don’t need to move or reapply for care.
- Your Care Plan will continue to be tailored to your needs and reviewed regularly.
- You’ll still have choice and say in how your care is delivered.
Many of the improvements are already part of the way BlueCare delivers care—these changes simply strengthen our ability to provide the best possible support. You’ll start to see:
- Clearer information about care quality.
- Greater involvement in care planning.
- Even more support for your wellbeing and daily life.
How will we support you
We understand that with any big changes, it’s natural to have questions - especially as the final details are confirmed and the changes draw near.
Our focus is on making the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible, so you can continue to live life your way.
Here’s how we’re supporting you:
- We’re staying on top of the latest information from the government to keep you informed with clear, timely updates.
- Our team will be ready to explain in person what the changes mean for you in simple, easy-to-understand language when we meet with you to discuss your plan.
- We’re advocating for a well-managed rollout that keeps your wellbeing at the centre of everything.