From inclusive employment reforms to major aged care funding and workforce strategies, the past week has brought a wave of important policy updates. Here’s a summary of the top news in Social Work, Community Services, Disability Support, and Aged Care across Australia.
1. Inclusive Employment Australia to Replace Disability Employment Services (DES) – 16/09
The Australian Government has confirmed that from 1 November 2025, the Disability Employment Services (DES) program will be replaced by Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA).
Goal: Improve outcomes for people with disability by focusing on sustainable, meaningful employment rather than just placement numbers.
Key changes:
- Participants can choose or change providers at any time.
- The two-year participation limit will be removed.
- Expanded eligibility to include people working fewer than 8 hours/week or those not receiving Centrelink benefits.
📌 Impact:
- Providers must lift service quality to meet new benchmarks.
- People with disability and their families will have greater access to secure, suitable jobs.
- New opportunities are expected to emerge for social workers and community services professionals.
🔗 Official sources:
- Department of Social Services – Inclusive Employment Australia
- Services Australia – Inclusive Employment Australia starts 1 November 2025
2. Support at Home Program Manual V4 Released – 17/09
The Department of Health has published version 4 of the Support at Home Manual, with updates including:
- More detailed eligibility assessment criteria.
- Clearer classification of in-home care services.
- Revised provider requirements and compliance processes.
📌 Impact:
- Older Australians and carers will have greater transparency when choosing services.
- Providers must quickly adapt to avoid service disruption.
- Students in Aged Care and Community Services will find growing opportunities in the home care sector.
🔗 Official sources: Support at Home Program Manual V4 – Department of Health and Aged Care
3. Digital Readiness Checklist v2.0 for Aged Care – 18/09
The Australian Government released Provider Digital Readiness Checklist v2.0 on 17/09/2025, ahead of the Aged Care Act 2024 coming into effect on 1/11/2025.
- Includes essential digital and data activities providers must complete.
- Aligns with systems such as GPMS and My Aged Care Service & Support Portal.
- Requires staff training on new tools and updating organisational data.
📌 Impact:
- Aged care providers must strengthen IT systems and digital capabilities.
- Care workers will need baseline digital skills to manage new platforms.
- Opportunities will open for students in Digital Health & Care Management.
🔗 Official sources: New Aged Care Act – Provider Digital Readiness Checklist (Health.gov.au)
4. $300 Million Investment in Regional Aged Care – 18/09
The Government has announced a $300 million Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to improve services in regional, rural, and remote areas.
- 315 new beds, including 94 in Broken Hill (NSW).
- Upgrades to infrastructure and workforce accommodation.
📌 Impact:
- Reduces hospital pressure by increasing access to aged care closer to home.
- Creates more jobs for aged care professionals in underserved areas.
🔗 Official sources:
- Health.gov.au – Record $300 million to improve regional, rural and remote aged care health.gov.au
- Health.gov.au – Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) – residential-based aged care services & staff accommodation grant results
5. New Medicare Fact Sheet for Disability & Neurodevelopmental Conditions – 18/09
The Department of Health has released fact sheets and flowcharts on “Complex neurodevelopmental conditions and eligible disabilities – Medicare services.”
- Clarifies referral pathways from GPs, paediatricians, and psychiatrists.
- Eligibility: under-25s with complex neurodevelopmental disorders or recognised disabilities.
- Sets lifetime limits on Medicare-subsidised assessment and treatment sessions.
📌 Impact:
- Families and carers can better navigate Medicare supports.
- Reduces long-term treatment costs in disability and autism services.
- Expands demand for Allied Health, Social Work, and Disability Support professionals.
🔗 Official sources: Complex neurodevelopmental conditions and eligible disabilities – Medicare services
6. NDIS Quarterly Report Q2/2025 – 19/09
The NDIS Q2 2024–25 Report highlights:
- Active participants rose from ~717,001 to ~739,414.
- Young people (15–24) in paid work jumped from ~10% to ~23% among those in the scheme for 2+ years.
- Costs continue to grow, though more slowly than forecast.
📌 Impact:
- Strong demand ahead for disability support workers and coordinators.
- Career opportunities expanding for allied health professionals.
🔗 Official source: NDIS Quarterly Report Q2 2024-25 – NDIA — Quarterly Report Q2 2024-25
7. Draft Aged Care Workforce Strategy Released – 19/09
The Government has published a draft Aged Care Workforce Strategy for public consultation, focusing on:
- Clearer career pathways to improve retention.
- Workforce training in digital and data management.
- Staff wellbeing and mental health support.
📌 Impact:
- Moves toward professionalising the aged care workforce.
- Provides greater career certainty for students entering the sector.
🔗 Official source: Australian Government – Department of Health and Aged Care
8. Digital Readiness Checklist for Aged Care – 19/09
The Department of Health has also issued another Digital Readiness Checklist to support providers ahead of the Aged Care Act 2025 (from 1/11/2025).
- Requires digitisation of resident and workforce data.
- Sets higher benchmarks for data security and governance.
- Integrates with strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
📌 Impact:
- Providers must invest heavily in IT and compliance systems.
- Staff will require training in digital literacy and regulations.
- Expanding demand for professionals in Health Informatics & Care Management.
🔗 Official sources:
- Provider Digital Readiness Checklist – Health.gov.au
- Strengthened Quality Standards – Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Insights & Trends
- Australia’s Social & Care sector is undergoing major reforms across policy, workforce, and digital transformation.
- Opportunities: Thousands of new jobs, especially in Aged Care, Disability Support, and regional areas.
- Challenges: Students and workers must adapt quickly to digital skills, compliance, and legislative changes.
Outlook:
- Job growth in Social Work, Community Services, Disability Support, and Aged Care is expected to accelerate through to 2030.
- Those with digital expertise and knowledge of new regulations will have a strong advantage in the labour market.
The Social & Care sector in Australia is expanding at an unprecedented pace. These reforms will likely shape the industry’s future for years to come.
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