Aged Care Sector Pulse Check - Q3 2024-25
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s latest Sector Performance Report (Jan–Mar 2025) offers a revealing snapshot of how the sector is tracking. For providers, it’s a chance to benchmark, reflect and prepare for what’s next. Here’s what stood out this quarter.
Sector Snapshot:
1.33 million older Australians received aged care services this quarter:
Residential care: 202,680
Home Care Packages (HCP): 289,686
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): 834,981
Residential providers:
721 providers operate 2,615 services.
Ownership: 57% not-for-profit, 32% for-profit, 11% government.
Size: 76% of services are run by large providers.
Geographic spread:
NSW leads with 827 residential services and 516 home services.
National total: 4,177 aged care services.
A Tightening Landscape
73 applications received this quarter (up from 48 last quarter)
Only 11 approved across all care types
Residential care: 8 applications, none approved
Home services: 72 applications, 11 approved
Flexible care: 17 applications, none approved
Compliance: Large Providers Lead, Small Ones Lag
Only 81% of residential services met all 42 Quality Standards this quarter. That’s a dip from the previous quarter and a reminder that compliance remains a moving target.
By provider size:
Large providers: 86% compliance
Medium providers: 82%
Small providers: 74%
The most common gaps were in clinical care, governance systems, and risk management. These are areas where even experienced operators can slip.
Complaints - Communication & Care Quality still up the top
Complaints in residential care rose to 1,606, with the rate nudging up to 0.9 per 10,000 occupied bed days.
The top five issues?
Medication management
Staffing levels
Falls prevention
Hygiene and personal care
Communication with families
More info?
If you’re keen to dive into the data, you can take access the report here: ACQSC Sector Performance Report.
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