The Support at Home program is a significant shift in how home care services are delivered in Australia, aiming to enhance the independence and well-being of older Australians.
Between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 budgets, we’ve seen a mix of reforms, digital upgrades, and funding boosts. Yes, these efforts are a step forward. But are they the structural reset the sector so desperately needs? Not quite.
There’s no denying the NDIS is in need of reform. Costs are ballooning, participant outcomes are uneven, and the system has long been criticised for complexity and inconsistency.
If you look beyond the government’s budget gloss, a far more concerning picture emerges — one of rising compliance burdens, systemic underfunding, centralised control, and an accelerating squeeze on both providers and the people they serve.
In the Australian healthcare sector, the mental health and psychological wellbeing of workers are crucial to maintaining a healthy workforce and ensuring the delivery of quality care to patients. Healthcare workers are consistently exposed to high levels of stress, trauma, and emotional strain, which can lead to psychological harm if not adequately addressed.
Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has significantly improved access to support for individuals with disabilities. However, workforce shortages, particularly among allied health professionals like occupational therapists, have led to extended wait times for essential services, including home modifications.
Bring on the pre-election speeches, the empty promises and overall cycle of disappointment that is inherent in recent decades of Australian politics, particularly when you work within or access in any way shape or form our current Healthcare system.
Australia’s aged care system has undergone substantial reform in recent years, with the introduction of the Support at Home program marking a significant shift in how in-home care services are funded and delivered.
Telehealth has become an invaluable tool in the healthcare landscape, particularly in the disability sector, where access to specialized services such as speech and occupational therapy can be challenging due to high demand, long wait time and geographical location.
It is no secret within our healthcare industry that there is an undeniable trend that has emerged since COVID and under the current government, of rising wage pressure, coupled with global allied health workforce shortages and compounded further by the changing expectations and needs of the modern employee.
