The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC) has welcomed the release of the Inspector-General of Aged Care’s 2025 Progress Report, which highlights serious risks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples if aged care reforms are not co-designed and culturally safe.

The report, tabled in Parliament, reviews the Australian Government’s progress in implementing the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s recommendations. It acknowledges gaps in the system that are disproportionately impacting First Nations Elders, families, and communities.

NATSIAACC’s Acting CEO, Cassara Hardie, said “This report confirms what our Elders, Older People, and providers have been saying for years: reforms that do not centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices will fail our people. Cultural safety must be hard-wired into legislation, standards, and funding models — not treated as optional.”

Key Areas Identified in the Progress Report include:

1.Funding Models for First Nations Providers

The report highlights that nearly 40% of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) delivering aged care are at risk of financial instability under current funding structures.

NATSIAACC warns that shifting to mainstream funding models without adjustments could force some providers to close, reducing access to culturally safe care in remote and regional communities.

2. Workforce Training and Development

The Inspector-General notes a national shortfall of at least 30,000 aged care workers by 2026. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, the shortage is particularly acute — with some regions reporting vacancy rates above 25%.

NATSIAACC is calling for dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce pipelines, and mandatory cultural safety training for all staff across the sector.

3. Home Care and Support at Home Delays

More than 68,000 older Australians remain on the national home care waiting list, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People disproportionately affected. Many wait 6–12 months for the level of care they need — forcing premature entry into residential facilities, often far from Country/Island Home and family.

4. Culturally Safe Data Collection and Accountability

The report flags inconsistent national data on service access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People. NATSIAACC notes that in some regions, service usage by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is less than half their population share — showing systemic under-service.

5. Palliative and End-of-Life Care

The Inspector-General criticises the 16-week limit on the End-of-Life pathway. NATSIAACC stresses that this restriction undermines cultural practices of extended family care, grieving, and ceremony. Elders and Older People have told NATSIAACC that short timeframes leave families without adequate support to fulfil cultural obligations at the end of life.

Next Steps

With the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program due to commence on 1 November 2025, NATSIAACC is calling for immediate action:

• Guarantee funding models that reflect the true costs faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care providers.
• Mandate cultural safety training across the aged care workforce.
• Co-design aged care reforms in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Collect and publish disaggregated national data on First Nations aged care outcomes.
• Ensure Elders’ and Older Peoples’ right to stay on Country/Island Home and receive culturally appropriate palliative care.

“The Inspector-General’s report is a wake-up call. Our Elders and Older People deserve better. They deserve care that is designed with them, by them, and for them. This means putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices at the centre of reform and supporting our providers who have always led the way in delivering culturally safe care.” — Ms Hardie.

 

Media Enquiries:

For media enquiries, please contact info@natsiaacc.org.au.

 

About NATSIAACC:

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC) is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care. NATSIAACC works to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People can access support and care that is culturally safe, trauma-aware and healing informed, and recognises the importance of their personal connections to Community, Country and/or Island Home.