Something remarkable is happening in aged care facilities across Australia. Robots are moving in - not as novelties or experiments, but as genuine tools for improving the daily lives of residents and the workloads of care staff.
For aged care providers evaluating new technology, this shift raises practical questions: what do these systems actually do, how mature is the technology, and is it worth the investment? Let's break it down.
In early 2026, Australian-founded Andromeda Robotics secured over $23 million in funding to scale production of Abi, a humanoid robot already deployed in Benetas aged care homes across Melbourne. Abi isn't a prototype sitting in a lab - she's greeting residents by name, leading group activities, and communicating in over 90 languages to connect with residents from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Benetas, one of Victoria's largest aged care providers, is targeting 100 robots across its facilities by mid-2026. That's not a pilot anymore. That's an operational rollout.
Meanwhile, companion robots like PARO (the therapeutic seal) and newer AI-driven social robots are being used in dementia care, where consistent, patient interaction can reduce agitation and improve mood in ways that time-poor staff often can't sustain across a full shift.
Australia's aged care workforce crisis isn't easing. Staff shortages, high turnover, and growing regulatory demands mean care workers are stretched thinner than ever. Robots and AI companions aren't replacing carers - that's an important distinction - but they are absorbing some of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that pull staff away from hands-on care.
Think about what a typical day looks like: medication reminders, activity facilitation, wayfinding for confused residents, basic companionship for those who spend long hours alone. These are areas where AI companions are already proving useful, freeing up human carers to focus on the clinical and emotional work that only people can do.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that robotics in aged care requires massive capital investment. The reality is more nuanced. Companion tablets with AI assistants can cost less than a few hundred dollars per unit. Social robots range from mid-tier consumer pricing to enterprise-grade systems. And the Andromeda model is being deployed through partnership arrangements rather than outright purchase, making it accessible to providers of varying sizes.
The Australian Government's push toward digital transformation in aged care is also creating funding pathways. Providers who invest in technology that improves care outcomes and operational efficiency are increasingly finding support through grants, pilot programmes, and sector innovation funds.
If you're considering AI companions or robotics for your facility, here's what matters most:
We're at an inflection point. The combination of workforce pressure, advancing AI capability, and government support means robotic and AI companions in aged care will become standard within the next few years - not decades. Providers who engage with this technology early will be better positioned to attract staff (who want to work in modern, well-resourced environments), improve resident satisfaction, and meet the increasingly sophisticated expectations of families choosing care for their loved ones.
The robots are here. The question isn't whether they'll become part of aged care - it's whether your organisation is ready to make the most of them.
Generation Tech. Generation Care.