The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has released its latest National Aged Care Advocacy Program Presenting Issues Report (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025), revealing a range of issues impacting the sector, and possible solutions.
OPAN network members provided 52,206 instances of advocacy and information support in 2024-25, an increase of 18% since 2023-24. This demand far exceeds the 3.28% increase in the aged care population in the same period.
For the fifth year running, the report highlights the same persistent challenges – long wait times for assessments and Home Care Packages, poor communication and a lack of support for older people to make decisions about their own care. These recurring issues show that while reforms are underway, systemic barriers remain entrenched and continue to limit older people's rights.
Significant issues uncovered in the report include:
- Issues relating to Home Care Packages were raised in 42% of the OPAN network member advocacy cases in the 2024-25 financial year (5,654 of 13,486 advocacy cases).
- Issues accessing aged care accounted for 39% of all advocacy cases (5,299 out of the 13,486 advocacy cases).
- Issues relating to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme were raised in 24% of the OPAN network member advocacy cases in the 2024-25 financial year (3,259 of the 13,486 advocacy cases).
- Issues regarding residential aged care occurred in 22% of the total advocacy cases in 2024-25 (2,970 of 13,486 advocacy cases).
- Network members provided 3,352 information (2,707) and advocacy (645) services relating to abuse of older people by people other than aged care workers, comprising 6% of all services provided by OPAN network members.
OPAN CEO Craig Gear said the report should play a pivotal role in informing policymaking and reform in the aged care sector.
"This is a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done to ensure some of the most vulnerable in the community are afforded adequate rights and protections," Mr Gear said.
"It is deeply concerning that the same issues keep surfacing year after year. Older people tell us they are still waiting too long for care, not getting clear information, and being excluded from decisions that affect their lives.
"OPAN and its members have offered a series of recommendations that would help address and alleviate these challenges.
"Home Care Packages continue to be a major area of concern for older Australians. The proportion of advocacy cases relating to them is two times higher than expected given that Home Care Package recipients comprise only 21% of the total aged care population.
"Breaches of older people's human rights across their aged care journey continued to be a dominant theme. Day-to-day breaches show that ageist and ableist attitudes persist throughout the system, which is unfair and unjust.
"The new Aged Care Act on 1 November is an important new chapter and an opportune time to reflect on how the government and sector can work collaboratively to improve the quality of life for older Australians."
A copy of the report is available here: https://opan.org.au/presenting-issues-2024-2025/
