Worried about how you’ll get care in a retirement village – or how your loved ones will? You’re not alone.
As of March 2025, nearly 88,000 older Australians were waiting for the level of Home Care they’ve already been approved for. But a promising new model – called Shared Care – is aiming to change that.
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has confirmed a formal trial of Shared Care will start in early 2026, backed by $5.2 million in Federal Government funding.
So what is Shared Care?
It’s a simple but powerful idea: residents in a retirement village can pool their government-funded Home Care Packages to fund shared services – like a village nurse, a community bus, or wellness programs – rather than using up funds on fragmented, one-on-one services.
Think one driver taking ten residents to the shops instead of ten separate carers. Or one qualified nurse supporting many residents, not just one.
“Retirement villages offer scale, infrastructure and community – which means they can deliver more frequent, better quality services at lower cost,” said Daniel Gannon, Executive Director of the RLC.
The Shared Care approach was first proposed in late 2023 and has already attracted strong interest, with more than 20 retirement village operators keen to take part in the pilot.
“Not only could this model deliver better care and wellness outcomes,” said Mr Gannon, “it could also reduce pressure on Australia’s aged care system – and bring peace of mind to families.”
The Department of Health, Aged Care and Disability has now confirmed it will proceed with the pilot next year.
With the number of Australians aged over 75 expected to jump 85% by 2040, Mr Gannon says time is of the essence.
“As the country debates how to boost productivity, we need to include aged care in that conversation,” he said. “Because delivering support more efficiently and effectively isn’t just good policy – it’s a win for older Australians and their families.”
More details about the trial sites and eligibility are expected to be announced in 2026.