At Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, we’re proud to support more than 600 Home Care Package clients across East Gippsland — and we remain committed to providing consistent, quality care as major changes to the aged care system are delayed.
The Federal Government has postponed the launch of the new Support at Home program, originally planned for 1 July, pushing the rollout to November 2025 due to system readiness concerns.
While this delay gives us a little more time to prepare and inform our clients, it also puts increased pressure on a system already under strain — with more than 80,000 older Australians currently waiting for in-home care services.
As our CEO Anne-Maree Kaser explains:
“This delay creates both opportunity and urgency. We now have four extra months to support our clients and community through the transition — but we can’t ignore the thousands of people who are still waiting for essential support.”
We’re backing the call from national peak body Ageing Australia to release more Home Care Packages ahead of the November transition, and we encourage anyone in East Gippsland who may need support in the future to register with My Aged Care now.
“Early registration and assessment give you the best chance of receiving help when you need it most,” Anne-Maree says.
Bairnsdale locals Kaye and Nick Thurbon, who currently receive care through GLCH, share those concerns.
“We know people who are waiting. The government needs to think imaginatively about how to help people get into the system,” Kaye said.
“The most important thing is to encourage people to get assessed sooner rather than later — before they reach a crisis point.”
Home Care Packages can provide a wide range of supports including nursing care, domestic assistance, home maintenance, allied health (such as physio or OT), and equipment to help you stay safely at home.
Through all of this, our care managers remain essential advocates, helping you navigate the system and adjust to changes. These relationships are more important than ever as reforms roll out.
The upcoming changes will also require new clients to contribute financially to the cost of their care — creating additional complexity for many older people in our region who may already be juggling health issues and fixed incomes.
Our team is here to guide you through these changes, explain what they mean, and help you plan ahead.
“We want everyone in East Gippsland to know that we’re here to support you — whether you’re already receiving care, waiting for a package, or just starting to explore your options,” Anne-Maree says.
We’ll continue to provide the same trusted services under the current system, while preparing for the eventual rollout of Support at Home — ensuring continuity of care for existing clients and support for new families.
Want to know more?
Call our friendly Aged Care Services team on 5152 0075 or visit www.glch.org.au.