CEO Clare Amies has welcomed The Aged Care Act 2024 being introduced to strengthen and improve support for older Australians, with increased safeguards and greater access to care proposed.
“These are major reforms and we look forward to supporting our clients through these changes,” Ms Amies said.
Ms Amies said genU joined every organisation providing services to older Australians in wanting to see the reforms succeed, and lives are improved as a result.
“These significant changes have bipartisan Government support and been welcomed broadly across the senior services sector, which makes it crucial that everyone works collectively to meet the hopes and aims behind these reforms,” she said.
With genU supporting more than 2,600 clients to live independently at home in the 2023-2024 financial year, Ms Amies said it was a priority for genU to understand how the reforms will impact the service and clients to ensure a smooth transition, if required.
“Through our connection with our clients receiving Home Care Packages and Commonwealth Home Support Programme support, they tell us how much they enjoy the choice, comfort and flexibility of living at home for as long as they can,” she said. “It’s pleasing to see such a strong commitment in these reforms towards supporting people to stay living in their own home.”
With the changes being implemented from 1 July 2025 onwards, genU has already established a working group to looking at the impact and what the profit-for-purpose organisation needs to do to continue delivering high quality services in line with the reforms.
“This allows us to be prepared and can meet the requirements under the new Act, and the expectations of our clients who will be watching these changes with interest,” Ms Amies said.
“We put our clients at the centre of everything we do, and we will be ensuring we work with our clients receiving aged services to understand their needs and that they continue to receive the high-level support from genU.”
The Aged Care Act 2024 includes the new Support at Home Program, which will replace the existing HCP Program on 1 July 2025, and the CHSP, which is expected to transition to the new program after 1 July 2027.
Ms Amies said the reforms and changes aligned with recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
- For more information on our range of services for older Australians you can visit Senior Support Services, Care & Living At genU.
- For more information you can visit New Aged Care Act | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
- For more information about the incoming Support at Home Program you can visit Support at Home program handbook | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care