A significant legal action has commenced against Bupa Aged Care Australia, alleging a widespread failure to provide adequate care within its residential facilities.
Filed in the Federal Court today, the class action claims that between 2019 and 2025, Bupa’s aged care homes have consistently fallen short of expected standards of service. The lawsuit contends residents were not afforded the level of care promised to them.
Lauren Meath, a senior associate at Echo Law in Melbourne, stated that Bupa has repeatedly neglected to meet essential benchmarks for resident wellbeing. “Families and individuals deserve assurance that their loved ones will receive secure and superior care when choosing an aged care provider,” she explained.
“The reality should align with the promises made by Bupa, reflecting community expectations and legal requirements. Sadly, this has not been the case.”
The allegations echo concerns raised during the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2019-2020), which documented “unacceptably high levels of substandard care” within the Australian aged care system – a problem particularly noted in facilities operated by for-profit providers like Bupa. The commission specifically highlighted systemic issues, including insufficient staffing numbers and an inadequate balance of skills among caregivers.
The current lawsuit asserts that these shortcomings persist today within Bupa’s aged care homes.
As Meath emphasized, “While dedicated staff strive to deliver the best possible care, their efforts are undermined by systemic issues.” She continued, “Bupa’s own internal reports acknowledge pervasive understaffing and a failure to meet the legally mandated minimum care levels across all its facilities. These aren’t isolated incidents; they represent fundamental failures at the corporate level, occurring at the expense of resident wellbeing.”
The class action alleges that Bupa has violated contractual agreements with residents and breached consumer law guarantees.
- Breach of Contractual Obligations
- Contravention of Consumer Law Guarantees
The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages resulting from these breaches.
Bupa has been contacted for comment.
