Join us to get an extra 1000 submissions to the Senate Affairs Support at Home Inquiry before the closing date, 31 July 2026.
Parkinson’s Australia welcomes the Senate Inquiry into the Support at Home reforms, which will shape the future of aged‑care services across the country. This inquiry is an opportunity for older Australians, especially people living with chronic conditions like Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism (PSP, CBD, DLB, MSA), and those who support them, to speak directly to the government about how these changes may affect their daily lives.
Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism are chronic, progressive, incurable neurological conditions. They do not fit neatly into aged‑care categories based solely on ageing or frailty. Yet the current design of the Support at Home program, and the broader Aged Care Act (ACA) reforms, often fail to recognise the complexity, unpredictability, and long‑term support needs associated with these conditions. Many people risk being assessed for services that do not reflect the realities of living with a lifelong condition that affects the whole body, including movement, mood, cognition, speech, vision, sleep, swallowing, and independence.
This inquiry gives our community the chance to highlight these gaps and advocate for a system that truly understands and responds to chronic neurological illness.
What the Inquiry Will Examine
The Senate will consider how the Support at Home reforms will impact:
- access to appropriate home‑based supports
- the assessment process and whether it reflects chronic, progressive conditions
- the availability of specialised care for neurological conditions
- the flexibility of support packages for fluctuating symptoms
- the financial burden of essential therapies, equipment, and home modifications
- the needs of carers and families who provide daily support.
For people with Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism, these issues affect everyday safety, independence, and quality of life.
Every Voice, Every Story
We need to hear from you. People living with Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism know firsthand where the system falls short. Your experiences can help the Senate understand:
- how assessments often overlook the complexity of chronic neurological conditions
- the challenges of managing symptoms without consistent, specialised support
- the impact of rigid funding models that do not account for fluctuating needs
- the strain placed on carers when services are delayed or inadequate
- the importance of early, ongoing, and tailored support to remain safely at home.
Every submission, whether a short personal story or a detailed account, adds weight to the call for a fairer, more responsive Support at Home system.
How You Can Contribute
You can make a written submission to the Senate Inquiry outlining your lived experience, concerns, or recommendations. Submissions do not need to be formal. A simple explanation of how the current system affects your daily life is valuable and powerful.
Parkinson’s Australia will also prepare a national submission, drawing on research, community feedback, and the voices of people living with Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinsonism. If you prefer, you can share your story with us to be included in our submission anonymously. Your voice can help shape a Support at Home system that recognises chronic neurological conditions and provides the right support at the right time.
Together, we can advocate for a future where every Australian living with Parkinson’s or Atypical Parkinsonism receives care that reflects their needs, not just their age.
Key Information
Submissions close on 31 July 2026.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to write your letter before the deadline. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND USE THIS TEMPLATE (doc) to mail or email to the committee &/or use THIS GUIDE (pdf) to craft your own.
Submit your letter
Lodge my submission – Parliament of Australia
Or email to [email protected]
Post your letter to:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100 Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
For more information, go to Support at Home – Parliament of Australia
Rules & Consent
All letters and submissions will be published on the Senate Inquiry website. If you do not want your name published, you need to ask for your name to be withheld. If you do not want other people to read your ideas, write the word confidential in big letters at the top of the page.
If you write about another person or organisation, they will be asked to respond to the comment, so the letter will not remain anonymous.
