Greens push for human override in aged care assessment after ombudsman’s scathing report into algorithm tool
News Source
•Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:36 GMT
📰 What Happened
The Greens want the government to let aged care staff overrule a computer tool that helps decide funding for older Australians. The push follows a 104-page report from the Commonwealth Ombudsman, released on Monday. It found the Integrated Assessment Tool is producing unfair results and has damaged public trust in aged care.
Under the system, an assessor visits an older person and asks a set of questions. An algorithm then works out whether they get a home support package and how much money they receive. The ombudsman says staff should be able to fix decisions that come out wrong.
🔍 The Backstory
The tool was introduced to make aged care assessments faster and more consistent across the country. In practice, older people and their families say the questions miss important details about their lives. Some have been given less support than their health needs suggest.
The ombudsman recommends changing the law so assessors can correct the outcome. Greens leader David Shoebridge says there are only two sitting weeks left this year to act. The government has also faced criticism over a late change of position on the override rule.
🎯 Why It Matters
This tool helps decide how much support older people get to stay in their own homes. A wrong score can mean less care for someone who really needs it.
The Greens want the government to let aged care staff overrule a computer tool that helps decide funding for older Australians. The push follows a 104-page report from the Commonwealth Ombudsman, released on Monday. It found the Integrated Assessment Tool is producing unfair results and has damaged public trust in aged care.
Under the system, an assessor visits an older person and asks a set of questions. An algorithm then works out whether they get a home support package and how much money they receive. The ombudsman says staff should be able to fix decisions that come out wrong.
The tool was introduced to make aged care assessments faster and more consistent across the country. In practice, older people and their families say the questions miss important details about their lives. Some have been given less support than their health needs suggest.
The ombudsman recommends changing the law so assessors can correct the outcome. Greens leader David Shoebridge says there are only two sitting weeks left this year to act. The government has also faced criticism over a late change of position on the override rule.
This tool helps decide how much support older people get to stay in their own homes. A wrong score can mean less care for someone who really needs it.