The Australian aged care sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by demographic shifts, regulatory reforms and increasing consumer expectations. As the Australian population over 85 is expected to double by 2042, the role of data has become critical in delivering high-quality, efficient and person-centred care.
The 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety laid bare the systemic issues plaguing the sector. Among its 148 recommendations, it specifically called out the urgent need for improved data collection, sharing and transparency. The Commission found that the aged care system “lacks crucial data on the quality and safety of services”, limiting both providers’ ability to improve and regulators’ ability to oversee care standards. This presents immense opportunities for innovation, operational improvement and better health outcomes if data is harnessed properly.
While aged care providers collect a substantial amount of data (clinical records, staffing information, financial data, resident satisfaction surveys), much of it remains siloed, underutilised or inconsistently gathered.
The Royal Commission noted that there was no single source of truth in aged care data and that information was often fragmented across multiple government agencies and providers, leading to duplication, inefficiencies and blind spots in assessing quality of care.
These gaps create major risks but also huge opportunities for improvement.
Key Data Opportunities
1. Personalised Care Planning
Personalised care planning involves using resident-specific data to create individualised care plans. Instead of one-size-fits-all services, each resident receives care that reflects their unique needs, values and lifestyle.
By creating personalised care plans, providers can:
- Improved Compliance: Regulators, including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, increasingly expect evidence of person-centred care. Personalised care planning helps meet these regulatory standards and avoid penalties.
- Better Resident Outcomes: Tailored plans reduce incidents like hospital admissions, falls and medication errors, leading to better clinical outcomes and fewer complaints.
- Higher Occupancy and Reputation: Families actively seek facilities that offer personalised, dignified care. Providers who can demonstrate this differentiation can drive higher occupancy rates and positive public reviews.
- Operational Efficiency: By matching services more closely to individual needs, resources are used more effectively, avoiding unnecessary interventions and wasted staff time.
2. Workforce Optimisation and Efficient Rostering
Data-driven rostering tools can significantly improve workforce management by aligning staff skills, qualifications and availability with the dynamic needs of residents. Smart rostering can minimise agency reliance, reduce overtime costs and enhance staff satisfaction.
The Royal Commission emphasised that staffing shortages and misallocations were key contributors to care failures. Leveraging data to manage workforce deployment ensures that minimum staffing standards – such as the 200 minutes of care per resident per day target (recommended by the Royal Commission) – are met efficiently.
3. Financial Management and Addressing Revenue Leakage
Aged care organisations face complex billing arrangements tied to government subsidies (e.g., AN-ACC funding), means-tested fees and private contributions. Inefficient data management often leads to missed revenue opportunities, claim inaccuracies and revenue leakage.
Advanced data analytics can help providers:
- Identify gaps where services delivered are not properly recorded or billed.
- Automate subsidy claims to maximise entitlements and minimise rejections.
- Track occupancy rates and bed-day utilisation more accurately.
- Audit compliance with funding models to avoid future penalties or repayments.
Implementing revenue assurance analytics can uncover trends like underreported care minutes or underutilised service charges, allowing providers to recapture lost revenue.
4. Quality and Compliance Reporting
Automated data systems can streamline regulatory reporting to bodies like the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. This reduces administrative burden and improves transparency.
The Royal Commission recommended a mandatory national aged care quality indicator system, requiring providers to collect and publish performance data across key clinical and consumer experience areas. Having robust, real-time reporting frameworks will soon move from being a competitive advantage to a compliance necessity.
5. Enhancing Consumer Choice and Market Differentiation
Consumer choice is increasingly driving the aged care market, particularly after the Consumer Directed Care (CDC) reforms. Providers who use data to measure and showcase superior care outcomes, resident satisfaction and service quality can differentiate themselves and build stronger brand reputations. By investing in data driven market differentiation strategies, Aged care providers can:
- Attract More Residents: Families and consumers actively compare providers. Those who can demonstrate high-quality outcomes through transparent data are more likely to be chosen.
- Defend Pricing and Service Models: Providers with proven performance can justify premium pricing or tiered service offerings without pushback.
- Meet Future Regulatory Expectations: With moves towards publicly available performance metrics (as recommended by the Royal Commission), providers must prepare to be benchmarked against their competitors.
- Build Brand Loyalty: Demonstrating genuine transparency and superior outcomes helps build trust, leading to higher retention rates and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
- Reduce Risk of Negative Publicity: Proactively sharing strong performance data helps control the narrative, reducing the reputational damage that can occur during audits, complaints or media investigations.
Challenges to Overcome
Despite these opportunities, there are notable challenges that are to be addressed before the data is used at the core of aged-care:
- Privacy and Data Security: Protecting sensitive health information is paramount.
- Interoperability: Systems must be able to share data seamlessly across providers and government bodies.
- Data Literacy: Both management and frontline staff need upskilling to leverage insights meaningfully.
- Initial Investment: Developing robust data infrastructure requires upfront financial and organisational commitment.
The Royal Commission warned that without strong leadership and investment in digital capability, the sector risks continued fragmentation and systemic inefficiencies.
The Way Forward
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety made it clear – the future of aged care in Australia must be built on transparency, accountability and genuine respect for the dignity of older people. Central to achieving this future is how providers use data not simply as a compliance tool, but as a foundation for continuous improvement and trust-building.
At INGRITY, we work alongside our customers to unlock the full potential of their data, helping them drive quality, improve efficiency and prepare confidently for the future of regulation and consumer expectations.
If you’re ready to move beyond minimum standards and embrace a future built on real evidence and real integrity, reach out to the team at INGRITY today.