In preparation for the new Aged Care Act 2024, this paper is based on consultations with members of the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) and AAG’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing Advisory Group, who are either providers or advocates working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). 

The following questions put to AAG ATSIAAG members, who are either providers or advocates working with ACCOs, structure the basis of the paper:

1. Are you feeling ready?
2. What advice would you give a similar organisation thinking of becoming an aged care provider under the new Aged Care Act?
3. What key steps are you taking to get ready?
4. What do you need to know, and what would help to get ready?

Key findings

• AAG ATSIAAG members working in ACCOs are too understaffed and under-resourced to meaningfully contribute to consultations and/or review all the proposed incoming changes.
• There is concern that feedback from the ACCO sector is either not being implemented or, if being implemented, not clearly communicated back to communities.
• Concerns the arrangements under the new Aged Care Act are mainstreaming aged care and undermining the ACCO structure.
• Concerns that plans for individual age care funding packages with strict spending categories will deepen existing inequalities.
• Concerns about the capacity and preparedness of the wider aged care sector for significant increases in the number and needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.