A significant number of older Australians struggle to navigate My Aged Care, leaving them unable to access the support they need, when they need it.

My Aged Care is poorly understood, insufficiently promoted, onerously complex to navigate and not appropriately tailored to the needs of the whole of the target population, a scathing report by the Inspector-General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown, has found.

The final report of the Review of My Aged Care was tabled in Parliament late last week.

The first formal review from the Inspector-General sought to answer whether My Aged Care, as the single-entry point to the aged care system, is fit-for-purpose in facilitating timely access to aged care services and supports for all older people in Australia, regardless of their location, background and life experiences.

It addresses questions that matter most to older people and their families: Is the doorway into aged care open to everyone? Is it easy to find, easy to use, and fair? And crucially: Does it reflect the rights and dignity now enshrined in the new Aged Care Act 2024 (the new Act)?

“The findings are clear: for many, it is not and does not. Enhancements have been made and a lot of effort invested in improving the doorway, but still, many older people, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, remote communities, or with limited digital literacy, struggle to access and navigate the system,” Ms Siegel-Brown said.

“Over the course of the review, my Office heard that whilst My Aged Care is intended to provide the ‘front door’ to the aged care system, for many older people seeking to access aged care services, the experience is more akin to navigating a maze.”

Ensuring the effectiveness of My Aged Care as the single-entry point to the aged care system for all older people in Australia, and specifically those from diverse backgrounds and with complex needs, should be front and centre of the ongoing reform agenda, the report noted.

“For too many older people, access to the care and services that they need is further complicated and delayed by the very platform designed to facilitate this, compromising their ability to live independently and putting them at significant risk of further physical and cognitive decline,” said Ms Siegel-Brown.

“With the introduction of the new Act, we have a powerful opportunity to build a system grounded in equity and dignity. But that promise will remain out of reach unless My Aged Care becomes a genuinely inclusive and accessible entry point – one that honours the diversity, rights, and lived experiences of every older person.

“Many of the recommendations I make in this review have also been made before but have not been sufficiently prioritised or acted on by policymakers to date.”

The Inspector-General has called on the federal government to address systemic issues and provide the additional investment needed to implement the full range of recommendations to improve the operation of My Aged Care and deliver a service that is fit-for-purpose in facilitating access to care for all older people in Australia.

“The front door into aged care is improving, but not quickly enough to deliver on the promise of the new Act. In many ways, the door needs to be reimagined — not just widened — so that no one is left standing outside,” the Inspector-General said.

The full report is available at: www.igac.gov.au