Enkindle Consulting has today released Part 1 of its 2026 Home Care Provider Outlook Survey, a national survey capturing the experiences and outlook of more than 300 home care providers and leaders across Australia.
The findings will be released as a five-part series, providing a detailed, on-the-ground view of how aged care reform is playing out across the home care sector:
Part 1: The State of Home Care, Provider Experience and Outlook 2026
Part 2: Support at Home Transition Experience
Part 3: Aged Care Act 2024 Transition Experience
Part 4: CHSP to Support at Home Transition Readiness
Part 5: Technology and Digital Capability.
The series will be released progressively across May and June 2026.
Part 1, ‘The State of the Home Care, Provider Experience and Outlook 2026’, sets the scene, and the message from home care providers is clear: the system is under pressure, and reform is not yet delivering the outcomes envisaged by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
“The intent is understood, but what we’re seeing on the ground is far more complex”, said Tash Edwards, Director at Enkindle Consulting.
Five months into the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and the introduction of the Support at Home program, home care providers are describing a system under real strain.
“This isn’t a single reform change, it’s multiple layers of reform, cost and complexity landing at once.”
Rather than simplifying the system, home care providers describe increasing complexity and instability. Support at Home is still being worked through in real time, with delays in assessment and access to funding, ongoing issues with claiming and reconciliation, and IT systems that are not yet fit for purpose. There are also concerns about the care management model, with funding not aligning with the level of work required.
Many home care providers feel they have had to navigate this largely on their own, with limited engagement and clear direction, while trying to embed a model that is continually shifting.
Financial sustainability is a growing concern for home care providers. The cost of implementing reform, combined with increased compliance and regulatory requirements, is reducing margins and placing pressure on viability. Administrative burden has increased significantly, particularly in claiming, reconciliation and reporting, with some providers already experiencing impacts on cash flow.
All of this is happening alongside workforce pressure and reform fatigue across the home care sector. Providers are continuing to adapt, but there is a growing sense that the pace and complexity of change is not sustainable.
The impact is also being felt by older people. Home care providers report that clients are delaying or declining services due to cost, confusion, and uncertainty about contributions, raising concerns about access to care.
While the intent of reform is understood, home care providers are clear that the benefits are not yet being realised in practice.
“This isn’t just about reform being challenging. What we’re hearing is that the system isn’t yet working as intended in practice,” Ms Edwards added.
“Home care providers are doing everything they can to make it work, but they’re carrying a significant share of the risk. There is a clear opportunity for the government to engage more closely with the sector and focus on stabilising the current system.”
The message from home care providers is consistent. There is a need to focus on making the current system work for providers, the workforce and older people before progressing further with reform.
About the survey
The 2026 Home Care Provider Outlook Survey captures insights from more than 300 providers across Australia, reflecting the real experience of reform across the sector.
The five-part series will be released progressively throughout May and June 2026, providing deeper insight into key areas, including Support at Home, the Aged Care Act, the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) transition, and digital capability.
