Silverchain, Australia's third-largest provider of Home Care Packages, is calling for the immediate release of additional packages to combat escalating wait times exacerbated by the Federal Government’s decision to defer the implementation of its Aged Care Act to 1 November 2025.
Silverchain has warned that without urgent intervention, tens of thousands of older Australians with urgent health and aged care needs will remain without essential support, placing immense pressure on an already overstretched health care system.
Speaking at the Senate’s Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into Aged Care Services Delivery today, Silverchain Executive Director Carolyn Bell said while the deferral to the implementation of the aged care reforms was widely welcomed, new package release must continue to support older people to access care.
“This pause was not only prudent – it was essential. Reforms of this magnitude should not be rushed at the expense of those most impacted. The delay has brought mixed implications for older people and their aged care providers – our care teams,” Ms Bell said.
“While we commend the commitment to release 80,000 packages in the first year, we strongly recommend the package release is front loaded to 1 November, or released earlier, to address current wait times.”
Ms Bell said Silverchain strongly supports the Federal Government's decision to delay the reforms but without key details, Silverchain cannot provide the reassurance our clients need.
“The sector needs clarity to deliver care confidently. The new Aged Care Act recognises ‘home’ as a many people’s preferred place to age, and that the future of care is in the home. But reform cannot be ‘set and forget’; the new Support at Home program must make home care more accessible to more people. If the funding and wait times do not keep pace with demand, the scheme will be restrictive, and tens of thousands of people with genuine need for support will not be able to access it,” Ms Bell said.
Silverchain's submission to the Senate Inquiry highlights the severe impact of these delays, citing cases like *Claire, an 80-year-old woman with complex health needs waiting almost a year for a Level 3 HCP upgrade. Without adequate funding, Claire was forced to move in with her daughter, placing a significant strain on her family.
Similarly, *Linda, a Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) client in her 70s, approved for a Level 3 HCP, is making do with insufficient entry level services, leading to a decline in her health and increased isolation.
Ms Bell says these are not isolated incidents and Silverchain called for multipartisan commitment to ensure timely, equitable access to care.
"Our data shows a steady increase in hospitalisations for our CHSP clients, many of which could have been avoided with timely access to the increased support and care management available under a Home Care Package,” Ms Bell said.
Copies of Silverchain’s submission to the Senate Inquiry are available on request.
*Names have been changed to protect our clients’ privacy.
