Four Corners airs tonight on ABC and ABC iview with The Waiting Game, as reporter Anne Connolly investigates whether Australia’s aged care reforms are delivering for older people and their families.
The episode comes less than a year after the government introduced major reforms it described as once-in-a-generation change. Those reforms promised more choice, control and dignity, with older Australians able to stay at home for longer.
Tonight’s investigation puts that promise against the experience of families, assessors, clinicians and aged care experts who say the system is still failing people waiting for assessment, funding and practical support.
What Happens On Four Corners Tonight
Anne Connolly travels across the country to meet families trying to care for loved ones while they wait for help. The episode looks at the strain those delays place on older Australians and the relatives who are left trying to keep them safe.
The program also examines a controversial algorithm used to help decide how much funding a person receives. Insiders say it can get those decisions wrong, while experts warn the policy meant to fix aged care may create new problems for both elderly Australians and taxpayers.
Connolly’s return to aged care carries weight because her earlier Four Corners reporting helped trigger the Royal Commission into the sector. The Waiting Game asks whether the reforms that followed have changed what families experience when they need care at home.
Watch The Promo
When To Watch
Four Corners: The Waiting Game airs tonight, Monday 17 August 2026, at 8.30pm on ABC. The episode is also available to stream on ABC iview.
For more ABC coverage, visit TV Central’s ABC section.
Stream Four Corners on ABC iview.
