Aged care laws in Australia have now changed. The Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025 now apply. We're completing updates to this page to align with the new laws. Providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations and legal responsibilities. Thank you for your patience.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Resources
Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship Self-Assessment Tool
- AMS Self-Assessment Tool for Residential Aged Care Services Use Guide
- Alis Program: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and quality improvement for aged care leaders
Resources to support AMS implementation
To Dip Or Not To Dip
- To Dip or Not to Dip flyer
- To Dip or Not to Dip audit tool
- To Dip or Not to Dip: case-based education presentation
- To Dip or Not to Dip facilitator guide
- To Dip or Not to Dip - Implementation Guide for Nurse and Pharmacist Champions
- Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections - with catheter
- Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections - without catheter
- User guide to the Clinical Pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections
- To Dip or Not to Dip in Australian residential aged care services key findings summary
- To Dip or Not To Dip project summary
- Implementation of an intervention to reduce urine dipstick testing in aged care homes: a qualitative study of enablers and barriers, and strategies to enhance delivery
- Feasibility of a Nurse-Led Intervention to Reduce Urine Dipstick Testing in Long-Term Residential Aged Care Homes
Consumer Resources
- Do you need antibiotics? (Available in 25 languages)
Resources from other organisations
World Health Organization (WHO)
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
- Guidance for implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Clinical Care Standard in aged care
- The Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide
- Antimicrobial use in the community: 2023
- AURA 2023 Highlights for Aged care
Therapeutic Guidelines
Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC)
Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure
Aged care providers can now engage an aged care on-site pharmacist to provide expert support and advice about residents' medications and the quality use of medicines in aged care facilities.
An on-site pharmacist can:
- Review medications, providing residents and their families with more confidence in their care.
- Work with aged care staff to best meet the residents' and facility's needs with regards to medication management.
This will:
- Improve medication use and safety in your facility, especially regarding safe and appropriate use of high-risk medications.
- Allow for continuity in medication management through the regular review of medications and provide additional support during transitions of care.
- Enable easy access to pharmacist advice for staff and residents.
- Integrate on-site pharmacists with the health care team, including local general practitioners, nurses and community pharmacy.
How will it work?
Community pharmacies will be funded to employ on-site pharmacists to be placed in residential aged care facilities. If aged care providers cannot access on-site pharmacists through a community pharmacy of their choice, they will be able to engage on-site pharmacists directly.
For more information on the on-site pharmacist program please refer to: www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-on-site-pharmacist
