Aged Care Reform Updates

Aged Care Reform Updates

What is the policy issue?

The Australian Government’s Support at Home program commenced on 1 November 2025, replacing the Home Care Packages (HCP) program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC).

The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) has not yet transitioned and will move to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027. During this period, podiatrists may be delivering services across multiple aged care programs with different funding, administrative and contractual arrangements. During the APodA’s recent membership renewal, over 50% of members reported providing services under CHSP and/or HCP, highlighting the significant impact that Support at Home settings will have on the podiatry profession and older Australians.

Pricing and viability

Current Support at Home settings have raised concerns about the financial viability of delivering podiatry services, including:

  • Uncertainty around pricing advice and the potential introduction of pricing caps
  • Pressure on podiatrists to accept rates below the true cost of service delivery
  • Limited recognition of:
    • Clinical complexity and risk
    • Infection control and equipment requirements
    • Increasing administrative and reporting obligations
  • Early indications that some podiatrists are reviewing or reducing their participation in aged care services

Administrative burden and contracting

Members report that Support at Home has increased administrative and compliance burdens, particularly through service contracting arrangements. Key issues include:

  • Inconsistent and often onerous Associate Provider contract requirements
  • Duplication of documentation, reporting and compliance processes across Providers
  • Increased non-clinical workload without additional funding
  • Lack of clarity around what constitutes minimum or reasonable contract requirements under the Aged Care Act

Continuity of care and patient choice

Support at Home settings are also impacting long-standing clinician–patient relationships, with members reporting:

  • Older people being unable to continue seeing their regular podiatrist
  • Provider-imposed restrictions on clinician choice
  • Pressure to standardise pricing or limit service frequency
  • Reduced flexibility to tailor care to individual clinical needs

These issues are particularly concerning for older people with chronic disease, diabetes, vascular disease, high falls risk, and complex wound care needs.

Thin markets and regional access

Risks associated with Support at Home are amplified in regional, rural and remote areas, where members have identified:

  • High travel demands without adequate cost recognition
  • Limited Provider presence in thin markets
  • Reduced service flexibility to respond to local community needs
  • Increased risk of service withdrawal and reduced access to podiatry care

What is the APodA advocating for?

The APodA is advocating for Support at Home settings that enable safe, sustainable and patient-centred podiatry services, including:

  • Clear, evidence-based pricing advice that reflects the true cost of podiatry service delivery
  • Recognition of complexity and preventative care value
  • Reduced administrative burden and streamlined compliance processes
  • Proportionate and consistent Associate Provider contract requirements
  • Protection of continuity of care and patient choice
  • Recognition of podiatry’s role in:
    • Reablement and functional maintenance to support independence
    • Falls prevention
    • Wound care and infection prevention
    • Diabetes-related foot complications
    • Maintaining mobility, independence and hospital avoidance

What has the APodA been doing?

To represent members and influence policy settings, the APodA has:

  • Conducted member surveys capturing lived experiences of the Support at Home transition
  • Provided evidence-based feedback tothe government on early impacts and service viability risks
  • Engaged with the Department of Health and Aged Care on implementation issues
  • Worked closely with the Podiatrists in Aged Care (PAC) Special Interest Group Committee to inform APodA’s advocacy and policy positions
  • Put forward members to represent APodA and the podiatry profession at key Departmental and stakeholder meetings
  • Worked through Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) to raise system-level concerns
  • Contributed to consultations and Senate inquiries examining aged care reforms
  • Raised concerns directly with decision-makers about pricing, contracts, administrative burden and continuity of care

How you can get involved

The APodA’s advocacy is strengthened by your input. You can support this work by:

Support at Home resources and FAQs

  • Familiarise yourself with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s resources and training materials as they become available.
  • APodA members can rewatch the “Decoding how podiatrists fit into the Aged Care System” webinar here >>
  • APodA members can access the Support at Home resources, such as guidelines, frameworks, factsheets and FAQs here >>
  • Additional resources are available for our Podiatry Aged Care Special Interest Group members. Learn more and sign up to access aged care resources and more here >>