Aged care in Australia

Published 30th June 2020

Australia’s population is aging and nowhere more than in rural and remote areas. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 40 per cent of those between 70 and 74 years of age live outside capital cities, compared to only 25 per cent of Australians aged 25 to 29. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare finds that older people in rural areas are more likely to have lower incomes, greater levels of disability and poorer quality housing. 

All of these factors combined create an enormous demand for aged care services in rural and remote areas. Where there is high demand for services you would expect the market to generate the necessary supply to meet the demand, however the market is failing. Due to operational challenges that come from running an organisation in regional and rural areas, for-profit providers are opting out of these locations. 

To read the full article, please visit the Pro Bono Australia website.

Source:
Andrew Cairns, 2020, Probono Australia (https://probonoaustralia.com.au)