Australia’s Ageing Population: Why it matters

Australia’s population is ageing rapidly — and our aged care system is struggling to keep up. With fewer carers, growing regional pressures, and rising demand, many families are already feeling the strain. This blog explores what’s changing, why it matters, and what we can do — as a country and as individuals — to better support older Australians now and into the future.
Read on for the full story.

Australia is getting older — and fast. Right now, around 1 in 6 Australians is aged 65 or over. That’s about 4.8 million people. But by 2050, that number is expected to grow to over 7.5 million, or nearly 1 in 4 of us.

This shift isn’t just about numbers — it’s about how we live, work, and care for one another as a society. People are living longer, healthier lives, which is something to celebrate. But with longer life also comes the need for more support: medical care, help at home, and aged care services that all respect dignity and independence.

Australia’s healthcare and aged care systems were designed in a very different time — when older Australians made up a much smaller part of the population. As our aged landscape changes, we need to rethink how we support people to age well — not just in major cities, but across every community.

Fewer Carers, Greater Need

While the number of older Australians is growing, the number of people available to care for them is not keeping up. In fact, we’re facing a serious and growing aged care workforce shortage.

Many aged care workers are leaving the industry due to low pay, high stress, and limited career progression. At the same time, fewer younger people are entering the profession. To make things even worse, a significant portion of the current workforce is nearing retirement themselves.

This shortage affects care availability in very real ways. Older Australians may receive fewer hours of help at home. Some face long waitlists just to access basic support. Families are stepping in more often to fill the gap, taking on roles they may not be prepared for — juggling work, parenting, and unpaid care all at once.

The demand for aged care is only going to increase, and unless we strengthen the workforce now, the gap between what people need and what the system can provide will continue to widen.

Regional Australia: Where Ageing Hits Hardest

The impact of Australia’s ageing population isn’t felt equally across the country. In fact, regional and rural areas have a significantly older population than our major cities.

Across Australia, about 34% of people in regional areas are aged 55 and over, compared to just 26% in capital cities. The contrast is even more noticeable in some states. For example, in regional South Australia, around 40% of the population is aged 55 and over, while in Adelaide, it’s closer to 30%.

This means regional communities often face greater pressure on local health and aged care services — at the same time as they struggle with staff shortages, limited infrastructure, and long travel distances between clients. In some places, it’s simply harder to find a local care provider, let alone one with availability.

Family carers in rural areas are often carrying even more of the load, particularly when formal services are stretched or unavailable. For many families, this can lead to significant emotional and financial stress.

As the number of older people continues to grow, regional Australia will need tailored support — not just more services, but the workforce, transport, and systems to deliver them reliably and close to home.

The Consequences of Inaction

If we don’t address these growing challenges now, the consequences will be felt across every part of the aged care system — and in many Australian households.

Older people may miss out on the care they need to live safely and with dignity. That could mean going without basic help at home, experiencing long delays for services, or moving into residential care earlier than they would have liked — simply because no support was available at home.

Families will continue to bear more of the responsibility. Many are already stepping into unpaid caring roles without formal training or support. This can affect their own health, finances, and ability to stay in the workforce. It also increases the risk of carer burnout, which has flow-on effects for the whole household.

In regional and rural areas, where the population is older and services are thinner on the ground, these pressures are even more intense. Without targeted action, these communities’ risk being left behind.

What’s clear is that the current system isn’t designed to handle the scale of what’s coming. Unless we plan and invest now, we’re heading toward a care shortfall that will affect all of us — whether we’re ageing ourselves, supporting a parent, or working in the system.

What Can Be Done?

The good news is that there are practical steps we can take now to prepare for Australia’s ageing future — but it will take a coordinated effort across government, communities, and the aged care sector.

Strengthen the workforce.
We need more aged care workers, and we need to better support the ones we already have. That means improving wages and working conditions, offering more training and career pathways, and making aged care a respected, long-term profession. In regional areas, targeted incentives like housing support or relocation bonuses could help attract and retain staff.

Support family carers.
Unpaid carers — often family members — are doing an enormous amount of work, often behind the scenes. Expanding respite services, providing carer payments, and making it easier to navigate support options can make a real difference in their wellbeing. Have a look at my other article if you are a carer about some of the supports available now to you.

Embrace technology and innovation.
Telehealth, remote monitoring, and smart home systems can help older people remain independent for longer, especially in regional and remote areas. Technology won’t replace human care, but it can complement it and help fill some of the gaps.

Plan for local solutions.
What works in Sydney or Melbourne may not suit a small rural town. We need flexible, place-based models of care that are designed around the needs of the local community. That includes investing in transport, housing, and culturally appropriate services.

Start conversations early.
Too often, aged care is only considered in a crisis. Encouraging families to talk about care preferences, plan ahead, and understand the system can help avoid stress and rushed decisions down the track.

What Families Can Do Now

While big-picture solutions will take time, there are important steps that families can take today to better prepare for the future.

Start the conversation early.
Talk with your loved ones about their wishes, values, and what “ageing well” means to them. These discussions can feel uncomfortable at first, but they help avoid uncertainty and confusion later on — especially during times of stress or crisis.

Understand what support is available.
The aged care system can feel complex and overwhelming, but you don’t need to navigate it alone. Start by learning about the different types of care — from help at home to residential services — and what eligibility looks like.

Check what’s available locally.
Services can vary widely depending on where you live, especially in regional areas. It’s helpful to research local options early, before urgent care is needed. Knowing what’s nearby — and where the gaps might be — helps you plan with more confidence.

Look after the carers too.
Whether it’s a partner, adult child, or friend providing care, support for the carer is just as important as support for the person receiving care. Encourage breaks, seek respite options, and look for emotional and practical support to avoid burnout.

Be proactive, not reactive.
Making decisions early — about finances, housing, and care preferences — gives families more choice and control. It can also reduce stress when unexpected health issues or life changes arise.

A Shared Responsibility

Australia’s ageing population is not a distant problem — it’s already reshaping our communities, our health system, and the way we care for one another. With millions more people expected to enter older age in the coming decades, the time to act is now.

We face a growing gap between the support older Australians need and the capacity of our current care system to deliver it. That gap is especially wide in regional and rural areas, where older people make up a larger share of the population and services are often harder to access.

But this challenge also presents an opportunity: to reimagine aged care as something we all have a stake in — not just as a service, but as a shared responsibility. By supporting carers, building a stronger workforce, embracing innovation, and having open conversations within families, we can help ensure that every older Australian is treated with dignity, respect, and care.

Ageing is a part of life — and when we plan for it well, it can be a time of comfort, connection, and security. The decisions we make today will shape what that experience looks like for millions of Australians tomorrow.