Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, , 5:37:12 to 5:40:01
Officials provide data on the number of individuals who died while on the home support waitlist and discuss expedited end-of-life pathways.
Topics: Social services, Health
Speakers: Mr Josh Maldon, Senator Penny Allman-Payne
Yeah, thank you. Um just going um back to I know that um Senator Ruston had asked some questions about um number of people who died waiting for a package. Um in 2025-2026, an average of 17 older people a day died on the home support wait list, and that's that looks like a 34% increase on the on the previous year. Uh so just wondering how you account for that increase, and in particular, interested to understand how that increase in deaths compares to the increase in the number of people actually waiting.
Thanks, Senator. So um just in relation to your question, like just before we talk about the numbers, I just want to acknowledge that you know these people are individuals. Um like to send my condolences to their to their family friends and communities. Um in relation to the recent data that's been published. So in 25-26, we had 6,436 people who died while active in the prioritization system, and that's compared to 4,812 in 2024 to 25. What I would say is based on the population size are active in the priority systems, there's been no material increase in people departing the priority system due to death. So the data has remained relatively stable since 21-22 at around 2%.
Okay. Um what actions is the department taking to reduce the numbers of older people that are dying waiting for care?
So I think it's really important to note that you know, since June 2022, um, we have more people accessing care than any before. And so building on the points that were made by the minister before, um, you know, we do have uh we're on track at the moment to have uh around 420,000 older people expected to be receiving support at home ongoing services by 30 June 2027.
Uh you know you noted that the um the percentage of people dying, if I understand that right, is 2% in both years? Um is is the department taking steps to see what they can do to try and get that down below that? I mean we don't want anyone dying waiting for care, I would think.
Yes, Senator. So other things that we're doing in relation to this is, and we've mentioned this before, I think at our previous estimates is that we are undertaking an evaluation of the support at home program. And so that'll assess um whether or not the program is providing timely access to services, including the new end of life pathway to make sure that we are supporting people to make me in home and get those services and particularly uh expedited pathways to end of life. Where appropriate.