MACST - meeting highlight 30 October 2025

The Minister’s Advisory Council for Senior Territorians (MACST) met on 30 October 2025 in Darwin with the Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality, the Hon Jinson Charls MLA.

Minister's update

The Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality welcomed a new peak body representative and eight community members to the Council, appointing Mr Robert (Bob) Shewring OAM, GAICD, ICDA as Chair.

The Australian Government is calling for expressions of interest to deliver a new 120-bed residential care home. The Northern Territory Government has allocated land for the facility next to Palmerston Regional Hospital.

The Minister confirmed voluntary assisted dying (VAD) remains a key Advisory Council priority. The Attorney-General has tasked the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee with an inquiry into VAD in the NT, focusing on broad community consultation, especially in remote areas and assessing models and safeguards suited to the Territory. Legislation is now being drafted. The Minister stressed the Government’s goal is to ensure all members can contribute to the debate and represent their constituents’ views.

Council members highlighted the need for stronger protections for senior Territorians and shared examples highlighting the importance of clear safeguards and legislative reform. The Minister acknowledged these concerns and confirmed the Northern Territory Government, through the Attorney-General’s Department, is contributing to the Australian Government’s National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2025–2035. This national framework will guide the Territory’s future policy to protect older people.

Working group discussions

The working groups were reviewed, due to the new appointments to the Council, and members agreed to the following working groups in 2026:

• concessions
• working seniors
• aged care home support
• housing.

Council members will collaborate with NT departmental representatives to advance this work throughout 2026.

Commonwealth aged care update

With the Support at Home program commencing on 1 November 2025 under the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth), the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing briefed Council members on the changes that will accompany the rollout of the new program.

The new Support at Home program will replace the existing home care packages with an expanded eight-tier system, alongside additional programs such as assistive technology, home modifications, and a palliative care pathway funded separately to ensure people can access specialised services when required.  The aim is to help older Australians live independently at home for longer by offering more tailored, flexible support, such as clinical care, domestic help, transport, and social support.

A key recommendation is for senior Territorians to register with My Aged Care as early as possible, rather than waiting until they need services. Early registration helps avoid delays in assessment and entry into the Support at Home program.  Registration can be completed by the individual themselves, a family member or friend, a GP, or an aged care provider. In Darwin, the local aged care specialist can assist with registration on 1800 227 475.

Members received an information pack from the Aged Care team to accompany their presentation, which included guidance on aged care reforms, the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, advocacy resources, and dementia-related information.