Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. The government's new single assessment scheme is failing older Australians. I'm hearing from many constituents about the long wait times for assessments and that experienced clinicians are unable to override algorithmic decision-making. It's been reported that more than 120,000 Australians are still waiting for one of these automated assessments. Minister, are these once-in-a-generation reforms just 'robo aged care'?

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. I acknowledge her constructive engagement around aged-care issues and the passionate support that she provides her community. However, I respectfully disagree with the premise that she has put forward in her question.

The Aged Care Act has moved from legislation to implementation. We promised to deliver generational reform to the way we care for older people, and that's exactly what we're doing. We're now focused on the practical work of this delivery, continuing to work closely with the sector and making sure that we get the settings right. That work is being done with older Australians firmly at its centre. In December 2024 this government introduced a single streamlined assessment system, a recommendation of the royal commission. As well, we introduced the integrated assessment tool on 1 July 2024. Instead of requiring older people to go through multiple assessments with different providers, we've moved to a simpler system that is more streamlined, easier and more responsive as people's needs change.

Thanks to this approach, the number of outstanding assessments has been reducing in recent months. Between the April-June quarter and the July-September quarter of 2025, median wait times for home assessments dropped by seven days. In that same time period, median comprehensive assessment wait times dropped eight days, with the median wait time just 24 days from request to completion of assessments in the July-September quarter.

The integrated assessment tool is used by an aged-care needs assessor to assess an older person's wellbeing, capturing a comprehensive profile of an older person's needs and ensuring accuracy and consistency in decision-making. A classification algorithm runs after the assessor completes the IAT with the older person, determining an older person's ongoing CHSP or support at home classification. I assure the member that assessors still play a critical role in achieving high quality assessment outcomes by using their clinical judgement and strong communication and engagement skills to complete the IAT during the assessment.

Let me be clear: the IAT classification algorithm does not replace assessor input; it relies on assessors documenting their advice in the IAT first. Feedback from older Australians is absolutely critical to this process. The department will continue to monitor the operation of the algorithm, and we intend to refine it on a regular basis.

Ms Penfold interjecting—

This is a steady, responsible delivery: listening, getting the details right and keeping our focus on better outcomes for older Australians.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Hume is going to cease interjecting. The member for Hume and the member for Lyne were just too animated during those answers. We're going to make sure everyone is listening and showing respect so we can now hear from the member for Paterson.