Australia’s aged care reforms may be gathering pace, but the same systemic issues continue to erode the rights and wellbeing of older people, according to new data from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).
The latest National Aged Care Advocacy Program Presenting Issues Report (covering 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) reveals that demand for advocacy is rising far faster than the ageing population itself.
OPAN network members delivered 52,206 instances of advocacy and information support over the past year – an 18% increase on 2023–24, compared with just 3.28% growth in the aged care population.
For the fifth consecutive year, OPAN found the same core problems dominating older people’s experiences: long waits for assessments and Home Care Packages, poor communication, and limited support for decision-making.
These persistent barriers, the report warns, continue to undermine older people’s rights and independence despite years of policy reform.