Juniper has welcomed action on aged care with the introduction of the new Aged Care Act in Parliament today. These once-in-a-generation reforms aim to improve the viability and quality of aged care, reflecting Juniper’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of care for older Western Australians.
Juniper CEO Russell Bricknell said the introduction of the new Aged Care Act is a crucial step towards much-needed reform in the aged care sector.
“The aged care sector has been waiting since the Royal Commission, then the Aged Care Taskforce report, for a new Aged Care Act so it can move forward with certainty,” Mr Bricknell said.
“The tabling of the new Aged Care Act opens the way for much needed reform. Demand for aged care services in Western Australia is high and will only continue to grow with our ageing population.
“In Western Australia there is currently a shortage of residential aged care beds. It is critical that the funding model is right to allow providers like Juniper to invest in refurbishment of existing assets and new builds that are viable, sustainable and meet customer needs both in metropolitan and regional areas.”
The Act also addresses the growing preference for home-based care, aligning with older Australians want to remain independent, in their own home for longer.
“A significant gap remains for the 6,000 and growing Western Australians currently waiting on an assessment or an aged care package. The inadequate release of new Home Care Packages to Western Australians over the past year has hindered the ability of Juniper to support more Western Australians to live independently at home.
“We hope, together with today’s action, the Federal Government moves quickly on providing more Packages to provide some relief to those waiting whilst it works towards the new Support at Home Program being introduced 1 July 2025.”
Under the reforms new aged care entrants will make larger means-tested contributions for both residential and home care.
“To achieve equity and fairness within our aged care system, the model needs to be those who can afford to pay more are encouraged to do so. By distributing costs in accordance with one’s ability to pay, we can ensure those who are more financially capable contribute proportionately, alleviating the burden on those who have limited means.
“It’s about ensuring that every Australian, regardless of where they live, has access to the care they deserve,” Mr Bricknell said.
Juniper looks forward to working with the government, stakeholders, and other providers to ensure that the implementation of the new Aged Care Act prioritises the needs of older Australians.
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