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The Australian government is putting up the price of aged care as part of what it's described as a "once in a generation" overhaul. A crisis of bed availability and financial strain prompted an inquiry which resulted in 23 recommendations that the government is now working through. As part of this, aged care will become more expensive and financial support for those living independently will be boosted. Back home, New Zealand may soon be following suit, as a government review looks at new funding models. Some towns are completely out of beds with tight financial books forcing providers to reduce their capacity. Tom Symondson is the chief executive of Australia's Aged and Community Care Providers Association. He played a pivotal role in the recent reforms and is in New Zealand to discuss the redesign of our system.
