Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2022
  4. arrow_forward_ios 05
  5. arrow_forward_ios Aged care providers face increasing threats to finances

Aged care providers face increasing threats to finances

17 May 2022

The UTS Ageing Research Collaborative has released a new report into aged care funding.

Elderly woman and daughter look at aged care options

Image: Adobe Stock / pikselstock

Researchers from the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC) have released a new, independent report into the aged care sector.

Australia’s Aged Care Sector Report  is the first in a series of biannual surveys examining the viability of aged care providers, the availability of skilled workers and the sustainability of subsidised aged care services.

“Australia’s aged care sector faces many complex issues concerning the quality of care provided to senior Australians and the sustainability of delivering that care,” said Professor Mike Woods, Chair of the report’s Editorial Board.

“The aim of this report is to provide a strong evidence base to underpin public debates and to guide decisions on future policy and operational reforms,” he said.

The report finds that many aged care service providers face increasing and acute threats to their financial viability. More than 60 per cent of residential aged care homes are operating at a loss, and the financial performance of home care services declined by 26 per cent compared to the previous year.

“Across the sector, the financial performance of aged care service providers has worsened compared to last year, raising serious concerns about the financial viability of services that senior Australians depend on,” said lead author Dr Nicole Sutton.

In relation to staffing levels, the report finds that only 5 per cent of surveyed residential homes have a direct care workforce that would exceed the sector average minimum staffing standards legislated by the Government in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Direct care staffing time in residential homes increased by only 1.9 per cent compared to last year.

Across the sector, the financial performance of aged care service providers has worsened compared to last year, raising serious concerns about the financial viability of services that senior Australians depend on.

Dr Nicole Sutton


“Despite community and political pressure to fix the aged care workforce, aged care providers are struggling to improve staffing levels,” Dr Sutton said. 

“Staffing shortages have been a perennial challenge but have worsened in the last year due to COVID-19 disruptions and the rapid expansion of home care services.”

The report also shows that staffing time has continued to fall in home care. On average, across all package levels, home care clients receive about 32.6 minutes of care time a day, which is 32.1 per cent lower than five years ago.

The authors note that workforce problems are likely to worsen in the coming year with the release of more home care packages and the introduction of minimum staffing standards in residential homes.

However, the report also highlights a number of reforms currently underway that will help address these issues, including a new funding model for residential care, the design of a new Support at Home Program and announcements made in the Budget 2022-23 and by both major parties in the lead-up to the Federal Election.

The report’s analysis is based on de-identified data from the latest survey conducted by StewartBrown, a chartered accountancy firm that collects financial and workforce data from aged care providers and provides them with benchmarking and advisory services. The survey includes around 1,192 aged care homes and 55,821 home care packages. 

Read the full report.

Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to Business and law

Related News

  • cleaner
    Three reforms needed to stop migrant worker exploitation
  • emergency sign outside regional hospital
    Remind me, how are hospitals funded in Australia?

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility