Palliative Care Australia (PCA) welcomes the Australian Government's announcement to fast-track aged care support for people living with motor neurone disease (MND) and urges this principle be extended to all people with advanced life-limiting conditions and urgent care needs.
We congratulate the Government for listening to and responding to the strong advocacy from MND Australia and the MND community on this issue.
The Government has announced it will amend the Aged Care Rules to recognise MND as a discrete, specific condition warranting urgent priority for Support at Home. This will give older Australians with MND priority access to aged care services at home.
This approach reflects an existing prioritisation pathway available to people with MND under 65 seeking access to the NDIS.
Palliative Care Australia Interim CEO Simon Waring said the announcement was a compassionate and practical response to the needs of people living with MND, their families and carers.
"The late Neale Daniher described MND as 'The Beast'. It is a devastating condition marked by rapid decline, and people living with it need support that can keep pace as their needs change," Mr Waring said.
"This announcement matters because it recognises the urgency faced by people with MND and their families.
"Timely access to care and support can make a real difference to a person's quality of life, dignity and ability to remain connected with the people who matter most.
"Palliative Care Australia warmly acknowledges the sustained advocacy of its member organisation MND Australia and the broader MND community, and welcomes the Government's commitment to help people living with MND access support sooner."
The change will apply retrospectively to older Australians with MND who have already been assessed and are waiting for Support at Home funding, as well as those approved in future.
PCA also welcomes the Government's commitment to continue the NDIS MND Priority Pathway, which provides faster access to assessments, funding and reassessments as needs change.
National Policy Director Josh Fear said the announcement recognises that aged care and disability support systems must respond to the circumstances of people with rapidly changing needs.
"This is a sensible and welcome policy response to a condition where support needs can change dramatically in a short period of time," Mr Fear said.
"It is also a reminder that our care systems must be able to respond quickly to anyone living with a rapidly progressing condition, where delays can have a significant impact on quality of life and wellbeing. Without a quick response, people often need to be admitted to hospital unnecessarily – which of course is much more expensive than supporting people at home.
"Since 2024 the NDIA has improved its approach to this cohort via the NDIS Priority Access Pathway, which provides rapid initial decisions about eligibility and a swifter first plan – including for people with brain cancers, childhood dementia and motor neurone disease.
"It is important that the lessons and improvements resulting from the Priority Access Pathway are not lost as further reforms to the NDIS are rolled out.
Palliative Care Australia looks forward to continuing to work with MND Australia, government and the broader health, disability, aged care and palliative care sectors to support better outcomes for people living with MND, their families and carers.
About us:
Palliative Care Australia is the national peak body for palliative care.
