Sustainable Aged Care through Partnerships

The growing aged population presents a critical social challenge, placing increasing pressure on public systems to provide accessible, high-quality aged care. In both developed and developing countries, existing aged care models face persistent issues such as inequitable access, unmet health and comfort needs, and poor working conditions for care staff. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have emerged as a promising approach to deliver aged care services by combining public oversight with private sector capabilities. However, the social sustainability of these partnerships remains under-examined.  

Researchers from the UTS School of Built Environment aimed to improve the social sustainability of aged care systems within a Public-Private Partnership approach. Through mixed-method research across Australia and China, including content analysis, stakeholder engagement, and multiple case studies, the project identified 42 critical practices, 21 realisation paths, and an indicator framework comprising 21 measurable dimensions of social sustainability. The research also found that successful PPP-based aged care services require stakeholder-centred governance, early planning, and alignment with long-term social outcomes. This research directly supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by demonstrating how structured collaboration between governments, private investors, and service providers can deliver aged care that is socially sustainable, responsive to diverse needs, and scalable across different national contexts.