The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes this week’s report from the Senate Community Affairs References Committee on Aged Care Service Delivery. The report provides significant recommendations on how to improve the quality and availability of care for older Australians.

The APA is particularly pleased by the inclusion of several recommendations, including:

• a much-needed release of more home care packages, which will improve access to critical care for older people living at home;
• further inquiry into the expected impact of the Support at Home Program model on older Australians’ dignity, health, safety and access to care;
• the need for inquiry into the timeline for the transition of the Community Home Support Programme to the Support at Home Program after 1 July 2027, as well as the expected impact of this transition including on waiting periods for assessment and receipt of care;  
• a review of Assistive Technology inclusions, in consultation with allied health;
• a review of the inadequate lifetime cap of $15,000 on home modifications;
• and review of an End-of-Life Pathway time limit of 12 weeks.

APA National President and leading gerontological physiotherapist Dr Rik Dawson said the report represents a positive step towards needed reform in the aged care sector.

‘As the population continues to age, it is critical that Australians have access to the care they need, where and when they need it,’ Dr Dawson said.

‘This report, which begins the process of ensuring greater access to quality at-home care and seeks consultation with the allied health providers who so often provide that care, is absolutely a step in the right direction.’

The APA made a substantial submission to the inquiry, outlining concerns about access to clinical care, the strain on the physiotherapy workforce across settings and called for a review of the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.  

One of the positive outcomes of the inquiry is the recommendation for further investigation into the impact of the Support at Home Program on older Australians’ dignity, health, safety and access to care. This gives us an opportunity to push for necessary pricing reforms to ensure that the true value of physiotherapy is recognised.

Indicative pricing set below market rates, along with service delivery units that do not reflect the full spectrum of care required, are placing unsustainable financial pressure on brokered physiotherapy providers. Combined with reductions in package and care management fees, these changes are eroding the viability of service delivery, restricting patient access to essential allied health services, compromising clinical outcomes, and threatening workforce sustainability.

‘We are encouraged to see the committee has taken many of the APA’s insights into account in this report,’ Dr Dawson said. ‘Going forward, the APA hopes to see specific recommendations regarding service delivery pricing, as well as inquiries to examine unmet need among older Australians resulting from pricing pressures on the clinical care workforce, including physiotherapy.’

'It will also be critical to assess whether the new restorative care pathways are adequate to meet the scale of demand, particularly for particularly for those at risk of functional decline and avoidable hospitalisation.’  

‘We look forward to continued consultation with the government to ensure the best possible care for Australia’s ageing population can be achieved.’

-ENDS-

Dr Rik Dawson is the APA National President and a contributor to significant academic research on falls prevention among older Australians, including the Cochrane Review and the RACS guidelines. He is available for comment.