It’s time for the 2026 Ideagen Aged Care Workforce Survey. Building on our three previous reports from 2021, 2022 and 2023, this edition returns at a pivotal moment for the section – one that felt worth waiting for.
When we paused after 2023, it was a deliberate choice. The major reforms were still in progress in 2024/25, and we wanted to wait until providers and workers had actually lived through them before asking for their views. That moment is now.
Our 2023 report reached an audience of more than 17.7 million people across 400 online, print and radio stories nationwide, with coverage in outlets including the Sydney Daily Telegraph, the Melbourne Herald Sun, ABC Radio, 2GB and specialist publications including Australian Ageing Agenda and The Weekly Source. It's a reminder that what aged care workers have to say matters well beyond the sector itself.
On 1 November 2025, the new Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) commenced, representing the most significant overhaul of Australia’s aged care system in nearly three decades. Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program, the Strengthened Aged Care Standards took effect, and for the first time, the rights of older Australians in government-funded care became legally enforceable. The 2026 financial year is now seeing a further shift toward tighter price controls, increased accountability requirements, and a stronger focus on service delivery transparency.
For the workforce, these changes are not just policy. They represent new obligations, changed ways of working, and real questions about sustainability, morale and retention. We want to hear how workers and decision-makers are actually experiencing this new landscape.
The 2026 Aged Care Workforce Report will capture workforce sentiment in the wake of these reforms, highlight emerging trends, and provide a voice to the frontline workers and providers across Australia. As always, the report is independent of all interest groups. You can read our previous reports from 2021, 2022 and 2023 for context on where we’ve been.
This short, anonymous survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Simply click here to go to the survey or hit the button below to begin.
Complete the 2026 Aged Care Workforce Survey here
The report will be released later this year and will be available to you.