The Australian population is rapidly ageing, and with an ever-growing number of seniors opting to age in place, home care services from providers such as The CareSide have become an essential part of day-to-day life for people across the country.

We aggregated the most reliable national data from the past few years to help you understand the current home care landscape—and what it might look like in the future. From government reports to user trends, here’s a breakdown of the most important home care statistics in Australia.  

Australia’s Ageing Population

Home care statistics in Australia reflect a simple truth: the country’s ageing population is driving a growing demand for home care and aged care services.

We’re seeing fewer babies being born than in previous generations, longer life expectancies, and fallout from ‘the baby boomer effect’, which saw a large population born post-World War II. All of those factors have swirled together to create a unique moment in history—a moment in which unpaid carers shoulder immense responsibility and healthcare services such as telemedicine for seniors are essential.

Before we dive into Australia home care statistics, here are some key figures about the country’s population gathered over the past few years:

  • Over 4.4 million Australians (17% of the population) were aged 65 and over in 2023. (ABS, 2023)
  • By 2050, projections forecast that nearly 1 in 4 Australians will be in the over-65 age group. (Productivity Commission, 2023)
  • Given the choice, about 7 in 10 older Australians want to receive care in their own homes as they age. (The CareSide)

A sketch of older people accompanied by text about home care statistics in Australia.

Home Care Usage in Australia

Now let’s take a closer look at some key home care statistics in Australia using data collated by the Report on Government Services (RoGS 2024) and Home Care Packages Data Report 2024:

  • Over 280,000 people had access to a Home Care Package (HCP) as of March 2024. That was a 6% increase from March 2023.
  • More than 800,000 people accessed support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) in the 2022–2023 period.
  • Roughly 60% of HCP recipients were women. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)
  • In 2023-24, 35% of home care admissions were aged 85 or older. Comparatively, this age group accounted for 54% of permanent residential care admissions. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)
  • In 2024, more than 273,000 recipients were actively using their Home Care Packages, a 10% increase compared to 2023. (Home Care Packages Data Report).

Costs and Funding

Of course, costs are a critical part of home care statistics in Australia. Several key figures tell the story of Australia’s aged care system and how it’s evolved in recent years, particularly those tied to government funding: 

A circular photo of a home care client walking with her caregiver, with accompanying text about government funding for aged care — one of the most important home care stats in Australia.

Home Care Workforce Statistics

Australia’s aged care workforce has also seen a boom in the past few years, as more aged care providers enter the marketplace and the sector grows to meet increasing care needs. 

A text graphic with a home care statistic about aged care workers in Australia.

Wait Times and Service Gaps

Wait times for Home Care Packages are a key challenge, and Australia home care statistics reflect that. As of 2025, the average wait times for each level of care (according to My Aged Care) are as follows:

  • Level 1 package: 6 to 9 months
  • Level 2 package: 6 to 9 months 
  • Level 3 package: 9 to 12 months
  • Level 4 package: 12 to 15 months

As of March 2024, roughly 45,000 older Australians were waiting for their approved package level—though recent trends point to that number being much higher now. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)

Market Trends in Home Care

Service providers play a vital role in the home care landscape: they deliver health services tailored to help people achieve their goals in older age, especially remaining independent. Let’s explore Australia’s home care statistics surrounding private and not-for-profit providers: 

  • As of 2024, not-for-profit organisations operated around 65% of home care services and 73% of home support outlets. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)
  • Private organisations came in second, with 29% of home care services and 9.5% of home support outlets. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)
  • Government organisations operated the fewest number of home care (6%) services, but almost one-fifth of home support outlets (18%). (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)
  • More than 60% of support services were located in metropolitan areas, while 25% were located in rural towns and remote communities. (Gen Aged Care Data, 2024)

Need more home care stats?

If you’d like to gather your own insights or dig deeper into home care statistics in Australia, The CareSide recommends these sources:

Why does this page matter?

Many writers, researchers, and marketers reference home care statistics in their work—but they don’t always link to original sources. A well-organised, consistently updated page like this can be handy as a quick, easy-to-scan resource. Be sure to bookmark and share this post as a go-to reference.