ACSA is part of the Australian Aged Care Collaboration, representing all aged care providers. The Collaboration’s immediate media statement can be found here. 

You can view ACSA's analysis of the report's recommendations here.

ACSA will make more detailed comments as we review the findings and recommendations of the report. 

ACSA has commenced our analysis of the Final Report and will update members with more information as we work through the Report's findings and recommendations.

The Royal Commission Final Report contains 148 recommendations, including: 

• A new Aged Care Act that puts older people first, enshrining their rights and providing a universal entitlement for high quality and safe care based on assessed need. 

• An integrated system for the long-term support and care of older people and their ongoing community engagement. 

• A System Governor to provide leadership and oversight and shape the system. 

• An Inspector-General of Aged Care to identify and investigate systemic issues and to publish reports of its findings. 

• A plan to deliver, measure and report on high quality aged care, including independent standard-setting, a general duty on aged care providers to ensure quality and safe care, and a comprehensive approach to quality measurement, reporting and star ratings. 

• Up to date and readily accessible information about care options and services, and care finders to support older people to navigate the aged care system. 

• A new aged care program that is responsive to individual circumstances and provides an intuitive care structure, including social supports, respite care, assistive technology and home modification, care at home and residential care. In particular, the new program will provide greater access to care at home, including clearing the home care waiting list. 

• A more restorative and preventative approach to care, with increased access to allied health care in both home and residential aged care. 

• Increased support for development of ‘small household’ models of accommodation. 

• An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care pathway to provide culturally safe and flexible aged care to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wherever they live. 

• Improved access to health care for older people, including a new primary care model, access to multidisciplinary outreach services and a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme. 

• Equity of access to services for older people with disability and measures to ensure younger people do not enter or remain in residential aged care. 

• Professionalising the aged care workforce through changes to education, training, wages, labour conditions and career progression. 

• Registration of personal care workers. 

• A minimum quality and safety standard for staff time in residential aged care, including an appropriate skills mix and daily minimum staff time for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and personal care workers for each resident, and at least one registered nurse on site at all times. 

• Strengthened provider governance arrangements to ensure independence, accountability and transparency. 

• A strengthened quality regulator. 

• Funding to meet the actual cost of high quality care and an independent Pricing Authority to determine the costs of delivering it. 

• A simpler and fairer approach to personal contributions and means testing, including removal of co-contributions toward care, reducing the high effective marginal tax rates that apply to many people receiving residential aged care, and phasing out Refundable Accommodation Deposits. 

• Financing arrangements drawing on a new aged care levy to deliver appropriate funding on a sustainable basis. 

The Australian Government tabled an initial response immediately, alongside the Final Report. A $452.2 million package was announced as an initial step, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison stating that the Government’s comprehensive response would be addressed in the Federal Budget in May. 

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, stated that the Government’s full response to the Report “will be driven by the principle of respect and care and through the lens of five broad pillars - 

1. Home Care, 

2. Residential aged care quality and safety, 

3. Residential aged care services and sustainability,  

4. Workforce, and 

5. Governance.

In some instances, the Commissioners had differing views and recommendations. While both Commissioner Pagone and Commissioner Briggs agree that fundamental change is needed, they present alternative options in the Final Report for how this should be brought about in the key areas of system governance and funding. 

ACSA CEO Patricia Sparrow has said it is disappointing the royal commission’s recommendations were not unanimous, but said the split was not an excuse to delay major reform of the sector. 

“There is no split on the need for a total overhaul that means providers are resourced to employ more staff and deliver more care and support,” Ms Sparrow said. “This cannot be used as an excuse to not progress major reforms.” 

The Government has shared an immediate response, however has reinforced that it’s full response will be included in the Federal Budget, expected 11 May 2021. 

The Royal Commission has stipulated 31 May 2021 as the date for Government to have responded in full. The Commissioners have also proposed that the recommendations in the Final Report are implemented within a five-year timeframe. 

ACSA members will meet at National Divisional Council and Members meeting on 3 March to hear more and respond. We are also holding our Impact & Analysis of the Royal Commission Report Online Symposium on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March, for those who would like a comprehensive overview of the Report findings and recommendations. 

ACSA has compiled a summary of intial media coverage surrounding the final report, in the days immediately following its release.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has presented its Final Report to Government, after two years of taking evidence and submissions from across aged care.

The Final Report is long and complex, over five volumes, with many findings and 148 recommendations made to Government and to our sector.

ACSA will be analysing it and providing advice to members over the next few days. This process may take some time.

The Royal Commission Report makes recommendations to Government and to the sector. The recommendations themselves have no legal standing. It is up to Government and industry to respond.

However, the Royal Commission has captured much public attention and there will be an expectation from the Australian community that we as providers respond positively to recommendations, and Government responds quickly to recommendations directed at it.

1.   See the Royal Commission website.

2.   Watch this space - the ACSA website will continue to be updated with information and analysis as we work through the details of the final report.

The Royal Commission presented the final report to the Governor-General on Friday 26 February 2021.

The Government publicly released the report on Monday 1 March.