This report outlines the Inspector-General’s assessment of the progress the Australian Government has made in implementing reforms in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Each of the 148 recommendations is assessed. 

Two central questions were investigated in the preparation of this report:

1. Have the government’s collective reforms had the collective impact we should expect by now?
2. Are we on track to deliver the transformation the Royal Commission called for?

The report is a clarion call. It concludes that despite the volume and pace of reform, a number of actions that would have seeded transformational change have not yet been delivered, some actions are not actively being considered, and the manner of implementation in some areas may bring about unintended consequences. There are some areas in which an urgent change in approach is needed.

Key findings

• Over the last four years successive Australian Governments have implemented a range of reforms and committed to others.
• 31 recommendations have been finalised.
• The implementation of the vast majority of recommendations has commenced and is ongoing.
• One of the most important reforms has been achieved: the passage of the Aged Care Act 2024. However, much of the detail that sits behind the Act has not been available or finalised during the preparation of this report.
• Outstanding recommendations from the Royal Commission are not being delivered.
• The transformational change Commissioners envisaged has not been delivered to date and will not be delivered by the Act.