 

Australia’s aged care sector is undergoing a profound transformation—a quiet revolution that will shape how we age and how we care for older Australians. In this episode, Ryan Banting speaks with Ian Yates AM, one of the nation’s most respected advocates for older people, about the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Ryan and Ian discuss:
Why aged care is more than residential facilities, or aged care properties —it’s a system spanning home care, health services and community support.
The impact of rationing aged care and whether access should be legislated like the aged pension.
How reforms and private capital can unlock innovation and investment.
The rise of home care and what it means for the future of residential aged care.

Ian shares insights from decades of leadership, including his tenure as Chief Executive of COTA Australia and Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, where he championed a rights-based, person-centred system.

This episode was recorded on Thursday 9 October, prior to the commencement of the new Aged Aged Care Act on 1 November 2025. (https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about?language=en)

Key Themes 
Demographics: By 2062, Australians aged over 80 will triple to 3.5 million—equivalent to the current combined population of WA and ACT.
Innovation imperative: Providers must rethink models as baby boomers’ preferences diverge from previous generations.
Home care revolution: Packages have grown from 60,000 in 2016 to 300,000 today—a seismic shift in how care is delivered

Host: Ryan Banting, Executive General Manager – Social Infrastructure
Guest: Ian Yates AM



About Ian Yates AM

Ian was Chief Executive of COTA Australia for over three decades. He was then asked to be Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, which he did for two years until his term finished in January 2025.

Under his leadership, the OIGAC became Australia’s first independent entity dedicated to overseeing the Government’s administration of the aged care system.

During his time as Acting Inspector General Ian initiated a review of My Aged Care, the Government's portal for accessing aged care services, and provided the Minister and Parliament with two comprehensive independent reports on the government's implementation of the Aged Care Royal Commission Recommendations—highlighting among other things the importance of a rights-based and older person controlled system to both protect and enable older people.

In 2005 Ian was made a Member of the Order of Australia for “outstanding service to the welfare of the aged in South Australia and to a range of community, health and education organisations.”

---

Health and Care Blueprint – Business Council of Australia: https://www.bca.com.au/reports-submissions/reports/supporting-a-healthy-and-productive-nation/
CEDA: Media release - Australia needs an essential skills visa to fix the aged care worker   
shortage: https://www.ceda.com.au/news-and-resources/media-releases/workforce-skills/australia-needs-an-essen…
Learn more about Australian Unity’s social infrastructure investments: australianunity.com.au/wealth  

Subscribe to Towards 2050 on your favourite podcast platform and join us as we explore the future of Australia’s social infrastructure.

Important information

The information in this podcast is general information only and contains information in summary form.

The information contained in this podcast is not, and is not intended to be, an offer or invitation for subscription or sale, or promotion or advertisement of, financial products or services of any kind, or advice or a recommendation of any kind.

It is not intended as, and is not intended to be relied upon as, financial product advice and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular investor or any other person.

No warranty is made as to accuracy, reliability or completeness. To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither the Australian Unity group of companies, or any of their respective employees or any other person, accept any liability for any claim in respect of anything stated in this podcast, and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person acting in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the contents of this podcast.

In deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of any units in any Australian Unity fund which may be referred to in the podcast, an investor should obtain a copy of the relevant offering document or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (if applicable) and consider whether these products are appropriate, based on their own independent review and should seek professional advice as deemed appropriate, considering the nature and extent of any investment, economic, legal, regulatory, tax, and/or accounting risks, and the consequences of an investment in the relevant financial.

A copy of the offer document, PDS and Target Market Determination (as the case may be) of any Australian Unity fund referred to in the podcast is available at www.australianunityinvestments.com.au/wealth.

Australian Unity Funds Management Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without the written permission of the publishers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

&nbsp;
Australia&rsquo;s aged care sector is undergoing a profound transformation&mdash;a quiet revolution that will shape how we age and how we care for older Australians. In this episode, Ryan Banting speaks with Ian Yates AM, one of the nation&rsquo;s most respected advocates for older people, about the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Ryan and Ian discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why aged care is more than residential facilities, or aged care properties &mdash;it&rsquo;s a system spanning home care, health services and community support.</li>
<li>The impact of rationing aged care and whether access should be legislated like the aged pension.</li>
<li>How reforms and private capital can unlock innovation and investment.</li>
<li>The rise of home care and what it means for the future of residential aged care.</li>
</ul>
Ian shares insights from decades of leadership, including his tenure as Chief Executive of COTA Australia and Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, where he championed a rights-based, person-centred system.
This episode was recorded on Thursday 9 October, prior to the commencement of the new Aged <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about?language=en">Aged Care Act</a> on 1 November 2025. (<a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about?language=en">https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about?language=en</a>)
Key Themes 
<ul>
<li>Demographics: By 2062, Australians aged over 80 will triple to 3.5 million&mdash;equivalent to the current combined population of WA and ACT.</li>
<li>Innovation imperative: Providers must rethink models as baby boomers&rsquo; preferences diverge from previous generations.</li>
<li>Home care revolution: Packages have grown from 60,000 in 2016 to 300,000 today&mdash;a seismic shift in how care is delivered</li>
</ul>
Host: Ryan Banting, Executive General Manager &ndash; Social Infrastructure Guest: Ian Yates AM 
About Ian Yates AM
Ian was Chief Executive of COTA Australia for over three decades. He was then asked to be Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, which he did for two years until his term finished in January 2025.
Under his leadership, the OIGAC became Australia&rsquo;s first independent entity dedicated to overseeing the Government&rsquo;s administration of the aged care system.
During his time as Acting Inspector General Ian initiated a review of My Aged Care, the Government's portal for accessing aged care services, and provided the Minister and Parliament with two comprehensive independent reports on the government's implementation of the Aged Care Royal Commission Recommendations&mdash;highlighting among other things the importance of a rights-based and older person controlled system to both protect and enable older people.
In 2005 Ian was made a Member of the Order of Australia for &ldquo;outstanding service to the welfare of the aged in South Australia and to a range of community, health and education organisations.&rdquo;
---
Health and Care Blueprint &ndash; Business Council of Australia: <a href="https://www.bca.com.au/reports-submissions/reports/supporting-a-healthy-and-productive-nation/" aria-label="Link https://www.bca.com.au/reports-submissions/reports/supporting-a-healthy-and-productive-nation/">https://www.bca.com.au/reports-submissions/reports/supporting-a-healthy-and-productive-nation/</a> CEDA: Media release - Australia needs an essential skills visa to fix the aged care worker&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; shortage: <a href="https://www.ceda.com.au/news-and-resources/media-releases/workforce-skills/australia-needs-an-essential-skills-visa-to-fix-the-aged-care-worker-shortage" aria-label="Link https://www.ceda.com.au/news-and-resources/media-releases/workforce-skills/australia-needs-an-essen&hellip;">https://www.ceda.com.au/news-and-resources/media-releases/workforce-skills/australia-needs-an-essen&hellip;</a> Learn more about Australian Unity&rsquo;s social infrastructure investments: australianunity.com.au/wealth&nbsp;&nbsp;
Subscribe to Towards 2050 on your favourite podcast platform and join us as we explore the future of Australia&rsquo;s social infrastructure.
Important information
The information in this podcast is general information only and contains information in summary form.
The information contained in this podcast is not, and is not intended to be, an offer or invitation for subscription or sale, or promotion or advertisement of, financial products or services of any kind, or advice or a recommendation of any kind.
It is not intended as, and is not intended to be relied upon as, financial product advice and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular investor or any other person.
No warranty is made as to accuracy, reliability or completeness. To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither the Australian Unity group of companies, or any of their respective employees or any other person, accept any liability for any claim in respect of anything stated in this podcast, and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person acting in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the contents of this podcast.
In deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of any units in any Australian Unity fund which may be referred to in the podcast, an investor should obtain a copy of the relevant offering document or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (if applicable) and consider whether these products are appropriate, based on their own independent review and should seek professional advice as deemed appropriate, considering the nature and extent of any investment, economic, legal, regulatory, tax, and/or accounting risks, and the consequences of an investment in the relevant financial.
A copy of the offer document, PDS and Target Market Determination (as the case may be) of any Australian Unity fund referred to in the podcast is available at www.australianunityinvestments.com.au/wealth.
Australian Unity Funds Management Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without the written permission of the publishers.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians are changing. By 2042, the number of Australians over 85 will double to over one million. There’ll be greater rates of chronic disease, more people requiring specialist aged care, more people living with disability. By 2041, there’ll also be six million more people living in this country. Our nation will require more hospital beds, childcare centres, disability housing, student accommodation, seniors living and other housing. For the sake of our future community, it’s time for open conversations about what infrastructure we must deliver and who will deliver it. This podcast is a forum for expert-led conversation on Australia’s growing and changing population and future community requirements, and ideas for building the necessary social infrastructure to meet our needs.

Australians are changing. By 2042, the number of Australians over 85 will double to over one million. There&rsquo;ll be greater rates of chronic disease, more people requiring specialist aged care, more people living with disability. By 2041, there&rsquo;ll also be six million more people living in this country. Our nation will require more hospital beds, childcare centres, disability housing, student accommodation, seniors living and other housing. For the sake of our future community, it&rsquo;s time for open conversations about what infrastructure we must deliver and who will deliver it. This podcast is a forum for expert-led conversation on Australia&rsquo;s growing and changing population and future community requirements, and ideas for building the necessary social infrastructure to meet our needs.

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