A welcome return of continence care to clinical funding under Support at Home
Continence Health Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s changes to aged care funding, including the return of continence management and care to the clinical funding stream under the Support at Home program.
Continence Health Australia strongly supports the decision to recognise continence management as a core clinical care need. Fully funding continence management appropriately acknowledges its vital role in maintaining older people’s wellbeing, safety and dignity as well as preserving skin integrity while reducing the risk of falls, infections and avoidable hospital admissions.
This change also strengthens alignment with Standard 5 – Clinical Care of the Aged Care Quality Standards, in particular Action 5.5.3 (Continence), which requires providers to identify, assess and manage continence needs in a way that is person-centred and evidence-based.
Importantly, fully funded continence management under Support at Home means older people and their families will no longer be forced to make impossible choices about their personal care, such as choosing between being able to shower safely or purchasing essential continence products.
Jim Cooper, CEO of Continence Health Australia said the reinstatement of continence care as clinical funding sends a clear message that it is not an optional extra, but essential healthcare that supports wellbeing, dignity and independence.
“Continence care should always have been treated as core clinical care. This change acknowledges its essential role in protecting dignity, independence and health outcomes for older people in Australia,” said Mr Cooper. “When continence care is properly recognised as clinical care, older people are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. This change is an important step toward safer, higher-quality aged care,” he said.
Continence Health Australia looks forward to working closely with the Australian Government as aged care and disability reforms progress, particularly to ensure:
- adequate funding for comprehensive continence assessments
- strong clinical oversight of continence care
- increased investment in preventative and early-intervention treatments to reduce the occurrence and impact of incontinence over time.
Robust prevention measures and clinical management of continence in aged care and disability has the potential to save the Australian Government money as some incontinence can be treated, and reliance on expensive continence products can be reduced.
Through the renewed 2026–2029 National Continence Program, Continence Health Australia will continue providing the free National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66), a national service that has supported individuals, families and health professionals for over 19 years.
