AUSTRALIA’S Aged Care and Disability sectors have traditionally operated on separate tracks, serving different populations under distinct regulations and funding models.
In recent years, however, these distinctions have begun to blur. Today, the similarities between the two sectors are striking and increasingly consequential for service providers, workers, and policymakers alike.
The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2013 transformed the Disability sector by giving participants greater choice and control over how their support funding is spent.
A similar shift has occurred in Aged Care with the rollout of Consumer-Directed Care for Home Care Packages.
Both approaches aim to personalise care, empower consumers, and promote market-based delivery.
This change has fundamentally redefined the relationship between clients and providers.
It has transformed individuals from passive recipients of care into active purchasers, while positioning providers in a more competitive and fragmented landscape.
While this shift benefits consumers, it has also created challenges that mirror each other across both sectors.
Providers face growing pressures on sustainability and profitability due to price caps, rising wages, and administrative overheads.
Workforce shortages, high turnover, and burnout remain persistent issues, and the decentralised nature of in-home care, while offering flexibility, complicates scheduling, coordination, and regulatory compliance.
Despite these challenges, the preference of older Australians and people with disabilities to remain in their homes is clear.
Providers are responding by expanding community- based and home-delivered care models that align with client expectations and operational realities.
In-home care has emerged as the focal point of service delivery.
Although Aged Care and Disability services will continue to have distinct elements, such as eligibility criteria and regulatory oversight, convergence in funding models and service delivery is undeniable.
