Older Australians are facing extended delays in accessing care, with wait times for Support at Home packages now exceeding 300 days for those with standard priority. Government data confirms these timelines apply not only to new applicants but also to those reassessed for higher levels of care.
Medium-priority applicants are waiting between 240 and 270 days, while high-priority cases face delays of up to 75 days. Only urgent cases are typically addressed within a month. While assessment timeframes remain relatively short, the gap between approval and service delivery continues to place pressure on older Australians and providers alike.
The figures have been highlighted during an ongoing Senate inquiry, raising concerns about system capacity and access. With demand continuing to grow, extended wait times remain a critical issue—underscoring the need for reforms that improve both responsiveness and the timely delivery of care.