Search
mecwacare welcomes the announcement by the Federal Government to release 20,000 additional Home Care Packages before 1 November, another 20,000 by December, with a further 43,000 to be released in the first half of 2026.
This investment is an important first step towards addressing the significant under supply of in-home care supporting older Australians to live safely and independently at home for longer.
At a time when waitlists remain a major barrier to timely support, these additional packages will provide much-needed relief for clients and families who have been waiting too long to access the care they need. In reality we are seeing older people entering residential aged care earlier than they otherwise would had the right package been available to them to enable them to live in their own homes longer.
As a provider, we are committed to working closely with clients, carers, and the Department to ensure these new packages are actioned efficiently and equitably. We will continue to focus on delivering personalised, high-quality care tailored to individual needs and goals and supporting clients and their families to understand their options and transition smoothly into the right care for them.
This announcement is a positive development, but further reforms — including workforce investment, simplification of the Support at Home program, and sustainable funding models — remain critical to ensuring Australia’s aged care system can meet future needs.
