Community pressure prompts federal action to protect ACT respite services

The Australian government will amend national aged care funding rules to ensure older people in the ACT can continue accessing cottage respite, following sustained community pressure and months of uncertainty for families.

The change will create a clear funding pathway under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), allowing eligible providers to apply for grants to deliver Commonwealth‑subsidised cottage respite.

The Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre and other eligible providers will now be able to apply for CHSP funding to continue offering respite services, complementing the government’s earlier commitment of an additional $10 million for new respite beds in the ACT.

The announcement follows significant concern from families, carers and community advocates after the transition to the new Support at Home system left older Canberrans unable to use Burrangiri as they had before, despite the centre accounting for half of the ACT’s respite beds.

The government said it had worked closely with the community and stakeholders to address the “distinct challenges” older Canberrans have faced in recent months, and that today’s decision provides “important certainty for families who rely on Burrangiri, close to the people and places they love”.

Minister for Finance and Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher said she had worked with the community to secure the outcome.

“It was clear that a practical solution was needed to protect access to local respite care, and delivering this outcome reflects our passion for appropriate health and aged care services here in the ACT, just like they exist in many other places around Australia,” she said.

“I’m glad we have been able to deliver much‑needed certainty for families who rely on Burrangiri, while we continue working towards sustainable, long‑term arrangements.”

Member for Bean David Smith said the announcement would provide reassurance for families across the territory.

“I have heard directly from families and carers in Bean about the importance of having access to high‑quality, local respite services, and I welcome the government’s practical action to secure continuity of care,” he said.

ACT Independent Senator David Pocock, who has been pressing both governments for a solution, welcomed the announcement but warned it was only a first step.

“Today’s announcement isn’t a guarantee of support but it does open up a pathway and shows that pressure from our community can pay off,” he said.

“I commend community advocates on their efforts but we shouldn’t have to fight so hard to get Canberrans access to basic, federally funded services like respite.

“While I welcome this announcement, it is a temporary fix and we need to keep working collaboratively on a long‑term solution for Burrangiri and the provision of respite and aged care in the ACT more broadly.”

More than 200,000 Australians are currently waiting to be assessed for a Support at Home package or to receive one after assessment, and over 3100 people nationwide are currently in hospital waiting to be discharged to an appropriate aged care setting.

“There is so much frustration across the ACT and around the country that governments aren’t meeting the demand for aged care supports to reduce hospital bed block, enable more older Australians to age more independently at home and delay entry to residential aged care as long as possible,” Senator Pocock said.

“I’ll keep pushing for things like a fair tax on gas exports in order to fund additional aged care supports and train more aged care staff to meet workforce shortages.”

The Albanese government said it will continue working with the ACT, Burrangiri’s operators and the broader community to progress permanent arrangements, in line with commitments made at the 2025 federal election.