Overview
The federal government has registered a new legislative instrument - the Aged Care Amendment (July and August Indexation and Other Measures) Rules 2026 - on 26 June 2026. The instrument is authorised under the Aged Care Act 2024 and is administered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The rules amend the Aged Care Rules 2025 across five schedules, each with a different commencement date.
Commencement dates
The five schedules commence on different dates:
- Assessment-related changes - commence 29 June 2026
- Indexation and other measures - commence 1 July 2026
- Further indexation - commence 1 August 2026
- Personal care changes (Schedule 4) - commence 1 October 2026
- Transitional cohort fee changes (Schedule 5) - backdated to 1 November 2025
What the rules cover
The instrument makes amendments across five schedules. The source does not specify the dollar amounts for the indexation changes or the specific fee figures for transitional cohorts.
Assessment changes
Amendments to assessment-related provisions commence 29 June 2026.
Indexation measures
Two rounds of indexation changes are included - one commencing 1 July 2026 and a further round commencing 1 August 2026.
Personal care changes
Schedule 4 contains changes to personal care rules, commencing 1 October 2026.
Transitional cohort fee changes
Schedule 5 contains fee changes for transitional cohorts. These changes are retrospective, with an effective date of 1 November 2025.
Key actions
- Registered aged care providers are required to review the full text of the instrument at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L00862 to understand how the indexation and fee changes affect funding and fee structures from 29 June, 1 July, and 1 August 2026.
- The Schedule 4 amendments commencing 1 October 2026 cover changes to personal care rules - operational adjustments are to be planned before that date.
- Schedule 5 covers backdated fee changes for transitional cohorts effective from 1 November 2025 - past billing or fee arrangements may require review.
- The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing can be contacted for guidance on how the assessment changes commencing 29 June 2026 affect service delivery or client assessments.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.