Australian & New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine

In Australia 440,000 people live with the wide-ranging effects of stroke – and another 46,000 people are likely to suffer a stroke in 2026.

Today the Commission published the Stroke Clinical Care Standard (2026), with the latest evidence-based guidance for stroke treatment in hospital and to ease patients’ transition to the community.

The 2026 Standard includes a stronger focus on timely rehabilitation, individualised care planning and follow-up after stroke.

Learn more and download a copy of the Standard here: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/resources/stroke-clinical-care-standard-2026

The federal government's new algorithm-assisted tool has faced scrutiny this week, with Senate Estimates revealing that about a thousand people are asking for a review of their assessment decision - ANZSGM President, Prof. Sue Kurrle has raised concerns about the process.

🎧 Find the full interview here:

ANZSGM President, Prof. Sue Kurrle is unconvinced the aged care assessment algorithm is creating fairer outcomes Should an algorithm determine how much older Australians receive for in-home care? The federal government’s new algorithm-assisted tool has faced scrutiny this week (Fri 5 June 2026)…

The release of the draft update to Australia’s Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines marks an important opportunity for those involved in dementia care to help shape the future direction of clinical practice in Australia. It is the first substantial revision of the guidelines in more than a decade and reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of dementia diagnosis, treatment, and care delivery.

As the peak professional society representing geriatricians across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, the ANZSGM welcomes the opportunity for clinicians, researchers, people living with dementia, carers, and the broader community to contribute to this consultation process.

Click the link below for further information and to contribute your feedback🖊️💻

https://anzsgm.org/consultation-now-open-on-the-updated-australian-dementia-clinical-practice-guidelines/

Consultation now open on the updated Australian Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines The release of the draft update to Australia’s Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines marks an important opportunity for those involved in dementia care to help shape the future direction of clinical…

👋👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️Clean hands mean safer care. Take action and help raise awareness to protect clinicians, patients and carers this World Hand Hygiene Day.

Find out more and access the resources at safetyandquality.gov.au/WHHD

Are we properly identifying the support needs of older Australians?

The ANZSGM is concerned that the current My Aged Care Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) may be missing early signs of frailty and complex health needs. This matters because assessment is what determines the support someone receives.

If needs aren’t fully recognised at the start, people may not get enough help. That can lead to more hospital visits, faster health decline and earlier entry into residential aged care.

Many common issues in older people, like poor nutrition, sensory problems, or gradual frailty, don’t always show up clearly in standard assessments. We believe the assessment tool needs targeted clinical improvements to better capture these risks.

This isn’t about redesigning the system. It’s about making sure it works as intended so older Australians get the right care at the right time.

Better assessment means better care, and better outcomes.

Read the full position and letter to the Minister on the ANZSGM website:

Urgent Refinement Required for Australia’s New Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) ANZSGM is increasingly concerned that the My Aged Care Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), in its current form, risks under-identifying frailty, functional vulnerability, and clinical complexity in…

We welcome the release of COTA Australia’s State of the Older Nation 2025 report.

The report highlights challenges many older Australians are facing, including difficulty accessing healthcare, rising costs, long waiting times, and delays in home care. These issues have real impacts on health, independence, and wellbeing.

As geriatricians, we see first-hand how timely healthcare and appropriate support can help older people age well and avoid unnecessary decline. The findings reinforce the need for fairer, better coordinated health and aged care systems that put older people at the centre of care.

ANZSGM looks forward to working with COTA Australia and others to support practical solutions that improve outcomes for older Australians.

Read our full response here: https://anzsgm.org/anzsgm-response-to-the-cota-state-of-the-older-nation-2025-report/

Read COTA Australia’s State of the Older Nation 2025 report here: https://cota.org.au/report/state-of-the-older-nation-soton-2025-report/

ANZSGM Response to the COTA State of the Older Nation 2025 Report ANZSGM welcomes the release of COTA Australia’s State of the Older Nation 2025 (SOTON) report and recognises the important role COTA plays in representing and amplifying the voices of older…

ANZSGM response to the Inspector-General of Aged Care’s submission to the Senate Inquiry on Aged Care Rules 2025

ANZSGM has released a statement supporting the submission of the Inspector-General of Aged Care to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Aged Care Rules 2025. This submission outlines the Inspector-General of Aged Care’s views on key Aged Care Rules 2025 provisions for the Senate Committee’s review. It focuses on rights-based, person-centred care, including reducing and eliminating restrictive practices.

While the Aged Care Act 2024 represents important progress, ANZSGM agrees that the Rules, as currently drafted, do not yet provide sufficient clinical, ethical, or human rights safeguards for older people with complex needs.

Our response highlights the need for:
- All aged care workers to uphold the full Statement of Rights
- Mandated training in dementia care and cultural safety
- A clear legislative focus on reducing and eliminating restrictive practices, supported by independent clinical oversight

ANZSGM believes these changes are essential to delivering safe, high-quality, and genuinely rights-based care for older Australians.

Read the ANZSGM's Full Statement here: https://anzsgm.org/response-to-the-inspector-general-of-aged-cares-submission-to-the-aged-care-rules-2025-senate-inquiry/

Read the OIGAC's Full Submission here: https://www.igac.gov.au/resources/submission-aged-care-rules-2025-senate-inquiry

The Inspector-General of Aged Care’s Review of My Aged Care confirms what geriatricians, older people and families have been saying for years: the front door to aged care is too hard to find, too complex to navigate, and least accessible for those with the greatest need.

ANZSGM strongly supports the Inspector-General’s findings and the seven priority areas for reform, including improved public awareness, reduced system complexity, stronger workforce capability, and better access to navigational and face-to-face supports.

From a geriatric medicine perspective, delays and barriers in My Aged Care have real clinical consequences. They contribute to functional decline, prolonged hospital stays, carer distress, and inequitable access to essential supports, particularly for people living with frailty, cognitive impairment, disability, cultural or linguistic barriers, or limited digital access.

We welcome the opportunity this review presents and look forward to working with government, sector partners, older people and their families to help design and implement a system that is genuinely accessible, rights-based, and fit for purpose.

Read ANZSGM’s full response here: https://anzsgm.org/response-to-the-inspector-general-of-aged-cares-2025-my-aged-care-review/

Read OIGAC's full review here: https://www.igac.gov.au/collections/my-aged-care-review

More than a thousand patients are stranded in NSW hospitals, with the state government saying that many of them are waiting for federally funded aged care or disability support.

Highlighting the complexity of a system funded by both the Commonwealth and the states and territories, ANZSGM President, Sue Kurrle, warns that nationwide bed blocks require more residential aged-care beds, not simply extra home-care packages.

"It's not just numbers, it's people." - Sue Kurrle, ANZSGM President.

🎧Listen to the full interview here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/aged-care-experts-call-for-more-beds-to-address-hospital-backlog/106128320

Aged care experts call for more beds to address hospital backlog - ABC listen More than a thousand patients are stranded in New South Wales hospitals, with the state government saying that many of them are waiting for federally funded aged care or disability support. The ANZSGM President, Sue Kurrle, warns that nationwide bed blocks require more residential aged-care beds, no...