2026-27 Budget: $389.8m to release 24,000 extra places
Last updated 20 August 2026
The 2026-27 federal Budget committed $389.8 million to release 24,000 additional Support at Home places. It’s the government’s main answer to a waitlist that has kept growing since the program launched - and it comes with a deadline attached.
What changed
The Budget funds 24,000 extra Support at Home places on top of the places already planned. It backs a statutory goal that already sits in the aged care framework: an average wait of around three months by 1 July 2027. That target has a long way to travel - at 30 June 2026 there were 106,977 people waiting, with medium-priority waits typically running 8-11 months, and an assessment backlog of around 98,600 as at March 2026 sitting in front of the queue itself.
Who it affects
Mainly the people waiting in the National Priority System, and anyone about to apply. Places are released in batches, so the queue eases gradually rather than overnight - nobody jumps forward on Budget night. But more places genuinely means shorter waits over time, and the three-month statutory goal gives advocates a firm yardstick to hold the government to. Peak bodies have been doing exactly that: in August 2026, five of them jointly demanded faster action on waits and the assessment tool.
Extra places flow through the National Priority System in the existing order - by priority category, then by wait time. You don’t need to apply for a “Budget place” or do anything differently; if you’re in the queue, the releases simply reach you sooner.
What to do
- If you’re already waiting: nothing changes about your place in the queue, and your approval doesn’t expire. Keep your contact details current with My Aged Care (1800 200 422) so a funding letter doesn’t miss you. Our guide to how the waitlist works explains the priority categories and typical waits.
- If your situation worsens while you wait, ask for your priority category to be reviewed - urgent-priority waits are around a month.
- If you haven’t applied yet, don’t wait for the queue to shrink first - register now; the full journey from application to services often takes 9-12 months.
- In the meantime, CHSP interim services and the short-term pathways can help - see what you can do while you wait.
Waiting and not sure where you stand?
We’ll help you understand your priority category and your interim options - free, no obligation.
Sources
- Australian Government, 2026-27 Budget papers - $389.8 million for 24,000 additional Support at Home places.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, health.gov.au - Support at Home place releases and the National Priority System, accessed 20 August 2026.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - Support at Home waitlist data at 30 June 2026, released August 2026.