Australia’s aged care reforms continue to place older Australians at the centre of the care system. As part of the ongoing rollout of the Support at Home program, the Australian Government introduced a range of new consumer protections in May 2026 to improve fairness, increase transparency and provide greater confidence for people receiving home care services.
The changes give the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) stronger regulatory powers to oversee provider pricing, require refunds where inappropriate fees have been charged and improve access to pricing information across the sector.
For older Australians and their families, these reforms are designed to make choosing and managing aged care services easier and more transparent.
Why Stronger Consumer Protections Matter
Navigating Australia’s aged care system can be challenging, especially when comparing providers that may charge different prices for similar services.
Many families have expressed concerns about:
- unclear pricing structures
- unexpected fee increases
- difficulty comparing providers
- uncertainty about whether charges are reasonable
The Government’s latest reforms aim to address these issues by introducing stronger safeguards that promote fairness across the aged care sector.
The ACQSC Can Now Require Refunds
One of the most significant changes is the expanded authority given to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
If a provider is found to have charged inappropriate or unreasonable fees, the Commission now has the power to require that provider to refund affected clients.
This additional oversight helps ensure providers remain accountable while giving consumers greater confidence that unreasonable pricing can be challenged.
Greater Transparency Through National Pricing Data
Comparing providers has often been difficult because pricing information was inconsistent or not easily accessible.
Under the new consumer protection measures, national pricing information will now be published every quarter.
This allows older Australians and their families to:
- compare provider pricing more easily
- better understand typical service costs
- make more informed decisions before selecting a provider
Greater transparency encourages healthy competition while helping consumers identify providers that offer good value.
Limits on Provider Price Increases
Another important protection is the restriction on how frequently providers can adjust their prices.
Under the new rules:
- providers can generally increase prices no more than twice each year
- any fees charged must be reasonable
- pricing decisions must be supported by appropriate documentation
These measures provide greater stability for consumers and reduce the likelihood of unexpected cost increases throughout the year.
Personal Care Remains Fully Government Funded
The consumer protection reforms also reinforce another major Support at Home initiative.
As personal care services transition into the Clinical Supports Contributions category from 1 October 2026, eligible participants will continue to pay no out-of-pocket costs for approved personal care services.
Together, these funding changes and stronger pricing protections represent a significant step towards a fairer and more consumer-focused aged care system.
What These Changes Mean for Older Australians
The latest reforms are intended to provide more than financial protection.
They also aim to help older Australians:
- understand provider fees more clearly
- compare providers with greater confidence
- avoid unexpected costs
- receive fair treatment throughout their aged care journey
- make informed decisions based on transparent information
As Australia’s aged care system continues to evolve, these protections give consumers stronger rights and greater peace of mind.
Finding the Right Home Care Provider
While stronger consumer protections make the aged care system more transparent, choosing the right Home Care provider can still feel overwhelming.
Every provider offers different pricing structures, services, care management approaches and availability.
Support Services Connect Australia (SSCA) provides a free Care Finding service to help older Australians and their families compare suitable Home Care providers based on their individual needs, preferences and location.
With more than 25 years of experience in Australia’s aged care sector, SSCA offers independent guidance to simplify the decision-making process and help consumers connect with a provider that best suits their circumstances—all at no cost.