One of the great things about my job is getting out to visit members, hear from sector leaders, and see how things are working on the ground. It’s what keeps me – and Ageing Australia – grounded and clear in our vision and purpose.

A move to relationship-based care is transforming aged care homes across the country, blurring the lines between residents and workers, strengthening personal connections and creating true community.

The aged care sector is undergoing significant transformation with increasing expectations around quality, compliance and person-centred care.

There is an acute shortage of direct care workers in this country, with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia projecting a need for at least 110,000 more workers over the next decade.

It’s human nature to avoid discomfort. Engaging in conversations centred on the expression of dissatisfaction from one party or both, can be confronting for many people.

“We know aged care providers in Australia are strong innovators and it’s fantastic to see them recognised in high numbers on a global scale,” said Ageing Australia’s General Manager Services & Sector Capacity Belinda Allen, who represented Ageing Australia along with Chief Executive Officer Tom Symondson and Head of Innovation Julie Anderson at the 2025 World Ageing Festival in Singapore in April.

Prime Minister Anthony Albananese has secured an historic victory for the Australian Labor Party, but time has run out for a full transition to the new Aged Care Act, and the Support at Home program, by 1 July 2025.

Jodie Lund is a senior care coordinator at Pearl Home Care, established in 2021 to service a large regional area on the north coast of New South Wales. One of this year’s nominees in the Ageing Australia You are ACE! Awards, Jodie is passionate about helping older people maintain their independence.

Aged care services for older Australians have significantly improved since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety put aged care on the national agenda – but the reform journey is far from over.