budget-13Care and opportunity

Source: https://budget.gov.au/content/05-care-and-opportunity.htm # Care and opportunity Strengthening care and broadening opportunity Print or save page On this page ## Securing the NDIS for future generations ### Returning the NDIS to its original intent The NDIS was established to support people with permanent and significant disability. The reforms in this Budget will protect that original intent for current and future participants. The Government will implement reforms across four pillars to secure the future of the NDIS. 1. To ensure quality services and supports that meet the needs of participants, the Government will commission plan management and support coordination, and consult on a commissioning approach for home and living supports for Supported Independent Living participants so they receive the best supports and address provider viability challenges. 2. To set clearer eligibility requirements, the Government will put standardised, evidence‑based assessments of functional capacity at the core of determining access to the NDIS. 3. To slow cost increases, the Government will tighten criteria around plan reassessments and strengthen guidance about what are reasonable and necessary supports. Budgets for social, civic and community participation and capacity building daily activities will be reset, and New Framework Planning will deliver more equitable, consistent and sustainable participant plans from April 2027. 4. To fight fraud and stop rorts, the Government will increase oversight of providers and payments, strengthen the National Disability Insurance Agency’s investigative and enforcement capabilities, and introduce new regulatory controls to protect participants and the NDIS from exploitation. The Government is also providing $2 billion to establish the Thriving Kids program as part of the $5 billion Foundational Supports commitment to be matched by the states. These reforms are expected to save a total of $37.8 billion over the next four years. The NDIS will continue to grow each year and remain Australia’s largest social program outside of the Age Pension. ## Better care for older Australians This Government is investing $3.7 billion to deliver more beds, more packages and better care for older Australians to ensure they get the support they deserve. ### More aged care beds and Support at Home packages The Government is investing $1.7 billion to incentivise construction of up to 5,000 aged care beds a year and protect equity of access for those less well off. This investment includes $606.5 million to: - introduce new capital subsidies for aged care providers who build or expand residential accommodation - deliver up to 20 additional Specialist Dementia Care units, and - expand the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support program from 11 to 20 locations nationally. The Government is also provisioning $1.1 billion for future spending to increase and restructure the Accommodation Supplement and introduce an additional payment for homes with more than 60 per cent low‑means residents. An additional $565.1 million will improve sector quality, safety and viability. This builds on the Government’s first‑term measures to improve the quality of residential aged care, including by increasing minutes of care delivered to older Australians and strengthening regulatory oversight. The Government is providing $389.8 million to accelerate the release of Support at Home packages and make the program fairer and more affordable. ### Quality, affordable personal care for older Australians The Government is committing $1 billion to fully subsidise and remove co‑contributions for personal care services such as showering through the Support at Home program. These changes build on the Government’s landmark aged care reforms that have codified the rights of older Australians in law and established a system to deliver safe, dignified and high‑quality care for an ageing population. ## Strengthening Medicare ### Record funding for public hospitals The Government is delivering $25 billion in additional funding for public hospitals, to reach a record $220.3 billion over five years. The renewed National Health Reform Agreement will ensure Australians receive safe and high‑quality care. Reforms will also better meet the needs of First Nations people with a dedicated funding schedule. ### Investing in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics This Budget provides $1.8 billion to secure the future of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics as permanent features of Australia’s health system. This builds on previous investments to expand the total network to 137 clinics across Australia. The network has delivered almost three million free visits nationwide. By July 2026, four in five Australians will live within a 20‑minute drive of their local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. ### More bulk billing The Government has invested $11.4 billion to incentivise bulk billing, with a goal of ensuring nine out of ten GP services are bulk billed by 2030. Since the Government’s recent bulk billing reforms commenced on 1 November 2025, 1,420 general practices across Australia that were previously mixed billing have become fully bulk billing. The national GP bulk billing rate has also risen to 81.4 per cent in the period between November 2025 and January 2026. This Budget also provides an additional $25.3 million in targeted funding to lift bulk billing rates in the Central Coast, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter regions. ## Broadening opportunity and increasing equality ### Investing in First Nations communities and Closing the Gap The Government continues to work with First Nations communities to deliver Closing the Gap commitments. This Budget invests $1.2 billion, building on work already underway, including a 10-year, $4 billion joint investment to halve overcrowding in remote Northern Territory communities, and targeted investment in Indigenous Rangers programs, education, justice reinvestment, health, water and digital connectivity. #### Jobs and economic empowerment The Government is investing $299 million to double the successful Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program from 3,000 to 6,000 new jobs - delivering the dignity of work with decent pay and conditions in First Nations communities. #### Easing the cost‑of‑living for remote communities The Government has invested an additional $27.4 million to expand the Low‑Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme to all 225 remote stores around Australia, reducing prices for 30 essential grocery items. The Store Efficiency and Resilience Package is also being expanded to 75 more remote stores, with $32.7 million to increase supplies of groceries and essentials in preparation for seasonal weather events. #### Investing in culturally‑safe healthcare The Government is continuing to invest in improving health infrastructure across Aboriginal Community‑Controlled Health Services with $144.1 million to expand on the more than 100 projects already delivered or underway. The Government is also supporting Birthing on Country with $44.4 million for culturally‑safe maternal care for 1,100 mothers, and providing $18.9 million to expand access to culturally‑safe crisis care through 13YARN. The Government’s investment in public hospitals also includes almost $250 million in dedicated funding for new, co‑designed programs to improve First Nations health outcomes, with $200 million matched by states and territories. #### Improving education outcomes The Government is investing $113 million to improve education outcomes, including extending the Clontarf Foundation’s young men’s program and the Indigenous Boarding Provider grants program. ### Continuing to support veterans and their families This Budget provides a further $583.4 million to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and $169.7 million for allied health services for veterans. ### Supporting women and advancing gender equality The Government is improving the lives of Australian women by putting gender equality at the centre of decision making. The gender pay gap is at an historic low and women’s workforce participation reached record highs in 2025. #### A safer and more effective Child Support Scheme The Government is investing $182.6 million to make the Child Support Scheme safer so children get the financial support they need and women are protected from conflict and abuse. #### Supporting families and children The 3 Day Guarantee entitles eligible families to three days of subsidised child care per week. From July, government‑funded Paid Parental Leave will increase to a full six months. This Budget also provides $171.7 million for front line community services including through a new, simplified Children and Families Support program. #### Better healthcare for women This Budget will expand access to Keytruda®, a cervical cancer treatment, and support more long‑acting reversible contraceptives, while continuing the work to achieve universal perinatal mental health screening. #### Addressing violence against women, children and families Since 2022, the Government has invested over $4.4 billion to deliver the _National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children_. The Government is also investing $218.3 million to support delivery of Our Ways - Strong Ways - Our Voices, Australia’s first standalone plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. ## Budget themes [Fuel supply and security](01-fuel-supply-and-security.htm) [Cost of living](02-cost-of-living.htm) [Productivity](03-productivity.htm) [Tax reform](04-tax-reform.htm) Care and opportunity [Security and investment](06-security-and-investment.htm) [Back to top](#masthead-top)