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Home care waitlist climbs to 87,500

Published 2 days ago2 minute read

Data released by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing this week shows the number of older people waiting for a home care package at their approved level has grown to 87,597.

Of those on the waitlist, 38 per cent live in New South Wales, and another 21 per cent reside in Victoria.

This total figure is inclusive of the 16,784 people waiting in the National Priority System for a home care package at their approved level while receiving a lower level package.

Number of people waiting for a HCP at their approved level at 31 March 2025 (Source: Home Care Packages Program Data Report Q3 2024-25)

Senate hearings in January 2025 showed a waitlist of over 81,000 but this latest update of only a 6,000-person increase does not include people still waiting for assessment and is based on data for the March 2025 quarter.

Ageing Australia general manager of policy and advocacy Roald Versteeg said they were concerned the waitlist was continuing to grow and that the increasing number of people waiting to access home care highlighted an urgent need for increased investment.

Roald Versteeg

“The current waitlist is likely to be even higher, as the numbers are from March 2025. We also know that the waitlist for packages does not paint the full picture, given that the number of people waiting just to be assessed isn’t published,” said Mr Versteeg.

As of 31 March, 299,765 people are accessing a home care package, 10,284 of whom have been assigned a HCP but have not yet accepted the offer. The March quarter also saw 18,557 people commenced a package for the first time.

The Home Care Packages Program Data Report 3rd Quarter 2024-25 shows 39,983 approvals for a package, and 35,613 packages released, at an average of 2,739 per week.

There were 922 approved HCP providers with a home care service as of 31 March, and Mr Versteeg said although providers have been very clear that they have the workforce and the capacity to care for more older Australians in their own homes, it is impossible without more packages being released.

“Ageing Australia supports calls for an immediate boost of 20,000 Home Care Packages to help bridge the gap, before the start of the Support at Home program on November 1,” said Mr Versteeg.

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Australian Ageing Agenda
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