Input to the Office of the Inspector General on Aged Care’s 2025 Progress Report on Implementation of Aged Care Royal Commission Recommendations is an important opportunity to examine how well LGBTI older people have been served by the reforms following the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

The introduction of Specialisation Verification framework is a measure that holds particular promise, but it is currently limited uptake is disappointing. Improved incentive for greater uptake is necessary, including through support for Aged Care service providers to do necessary training.

Compliance with Aged Care Quality Standards (the Standards) is mandatory, providing a potential mechanism to hold service providers to account for the provision of welcoming and sensitive care. However, it is unknown to what extent the Standards actually do provide this for LGBTI older people.

LHA encourages the OIGAC’s monitoring of the entities charged with ensuring providers’ compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards and Specialisation Verification Framework – i.e. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and Department of Health and Aged Care.

You can read the full submission here.