CEO interview with ABC Darwin on challenges of accessing, navigating and paying for aged care services
20 May 2026
Following news that aged care price caps have been deferred and refunds introduced for overcharging, Council on the Ageing Northern Territory (COTA NT)’s CEO Sue Shearer spoke with Lara Stimpson on ABC Radio Darwin about the challenges older Territorians face in accessing, navigating and paying for aged care services.
Aged care advocates responded to news [19 May] that long-awaited price caps intended to prevent older Australians from being overcharged for aged care support services have been deferred indefinitely by the Federal Government.
To protect older Australians while the price caps are being developed, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be able to order refunds where providers are found to have overcharged. It will also be able to act against providers that fail to issue monthly statements and require public reporting. Reports on pricing will be published so people can compare costs between providers.
The Health Minister said planned changes to remove private health insurance discounts for people over 65 will still go ahead, meaning more than three million Australians will pay about $240 a year extra for insurance, with the funding redirected to aged care.
Sue Shearer said many older Australians — along with their children, families and friends — are understandably struggling to navigate the aged care system. She said many older people are unsure:
- which services they are entitled to
- how to apply for support
- how much they will be expected to pay
- which costs are covered by government funding
- how prices vary between providers.
She said these issues are especially challenging for older people living in regional and remote communities, as well as for those with limited digital access or support networks.
She described the current situation as ‘atrocious’ and said the Federal Government has been “on the back foot all the time”. She said it needs to respond more closely to the lived experience of older Australians and the advice of the Council of Elders.
Sue also highlighted the need for strong, independent oversight of the sector and said the Federal Government should appoint a replacement for Natalie Siegel-Brown, Australia’s first Inspector-General of Aged Care. Siegel-Brown commenced the role in January 2025 and resigned earlier this month.
Sue reinforced the need for:
- clearer information for seniors
- simpler access pathways
- transparent pricing and fees
- stronger advocacy and navigation support
- better consultation with older Australians
The interview also highlighted COTA NT’s advocacy in supporting older Territorians and raising awareness of barriers within the aged care system.
Aged care navigation service: Free priority consultations are available for COTA NT members and their families requiring support to access government-funded aged care, up-to-date and relevant Territory-centric information. Consultations also available for non-members and small groups on application. Contact COTA NT 08 8941 1004.