The question, "Who is the biggest aged care provider in Australia?" is more complex than it first appears, as the answer depends on the specific service and measurement criteria. While media reports and industry analysis often focus on the largest players, the aged care sector is diverse, with major providers specialising in different areas, such as residential care or in-home support. An understanding of the market requires distinguishing between these services and considering factors like ownership structure.
The Residential Aged Care Market Leader
For residential aged care, which involves care homes and facilities, the market leader is determined by metrics such as the number of available operational places and revenue. Opal HealthCare is identified as the largest operator in this segment based on operational places and 2025 revenue. The company has grown through acquisitions and consolidation.
The Home Care Sector's Largest Provider
In the home care market, market share is often based on the volume of Home Care Packages. A significant acquisition in March 2024 impacted this sector.
- Australian Unity: Following the acquisition of MyHomecare Group, Australian Unity is positioned as the largest provider of Home Care Packages, according to KPMG's analysis for FY24.
- Future Changes: A new government program, the Support at Home program, is scheduled to start on November 1, 2025, and will replace the current Home Care Packages system.
Top Not-For-Profit Aged Care Providers
Not-for-profit (NFP) providers constitute a significant part of the Australian aged care sector, operating a substantial portion of services.
Bolton Clarke is known as Australia's largest independent NFP aged care provider. Their offerings include home support, retirement living, and residential aged care. Bolton Clarke has expanded through mergers and acquisitions. Other major NFP providers include Uniting, St Vincent's Health Australia, and Calvary.
Comparing the Leading Aged Care Providers
To clarify the differences, this table compares three key players across the different segments of Australia's aged care market.
| Feature | Opal HealthCare | Australian Unity | Bolton Clarke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector Focus | Residential Aged Care | Home Care Packages | Residential, Home Care, Retirement Living |
| Ownership | For-Profit | For-Profit | Not-for-Profit |
| Key Metric | Operational places, Revenue | Home Care Package market share | Independent NFP size, Diversification |
| Positioning | Largest residential operator | Largest home care package provider | Largest independent not-for-profit provider |
| Growth Method | Acquisitions and new developments | Strategic acquisitions (e.g., MyHomecare) | Mergers and acquisitions (e.g., Allity) |
Conclusion
Identifying the single biggest aged care provider in Australia depends on the specific criteria used. Opal HealthCare is the largest by residential care places, Australian Unity leads in home care package provision, and Bolton Clarke is the largest independent not-for-profit provider. The market is undergoing consolidation and future changes are anticipated with new government programs. For more detailed information, consult the {Link: KPMG Aged Care Market Analysis 2025 https://kpmg.com/au/en/insights/industry/aged-care-market-analysis.html}.
