When a person or organisation applies to be registered, we test their suitability, capacity and capability to provide aged care. We do this when they apply for registration and when their registration is renewed.
Registration gives us a better understanding of who is providing aged care and the services they are delivering. This increases transparency (openness and honesty) and gives us better information about providers and the sector. This means we can identify and act quickly on provider risks to safeguard older people.
Under the new Aged Care Act 2024 (Aged Care Act), all providers of funded aged care services must be registered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission).
Registered providers can claim Australian Government funding for delivering aged care services to a person who has been approved for those services. This includes services they deliver through:
- Support at Home program
- residential aged care
- a specialist aged care program.
Registration categories
All providers must register in one or more registration categories.
Each registration category groups together types of services based on:
- common characteristics
- risks associated with that service
- provider obligations that address those risks.
Registration categories and service types
| Provider registration category | Description | Service types |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Home and community services |
|
| Category 2 | Assistive technology and home modifications |
|
| Category 3 | Advisory and support services |
|
| Category 4 | Personal and care support in the home or community |
|
| Category 5 | Nursing and transition care |
|
| Category 6 | Residential care |
|
Becoming a registered provider
To become a registered provider, an organisation or person must apply to the Commission.
We assess each application for registration using specific criteria. We test the organisation or person’s suitability, capacity and capability to deliver aged care services.
When an organisation or person applies for registration in categories 4, 5 or 6, we do an audit against the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (Quality Standards).
When we register providers, we:
- set the period for registration
- may add conditions of registration to manage risks to older people
- give the provider a supervision status and monitor them through the Supervision Model. This helps us identify risks to older people and understand how the provider is meeting their obligations.
Registered providers must:
- comply with the obligations and conditions of their registration
- apply to renew their registration to keep delivering services.
Fees apply for registration. Find out more on registration fees.
You can find out more, on becoming a registered provider.
Changes to registration
A registered provider can ask us to vary, suspend or revoke their registration.
We can also change a provider’s registration to manage risks to older people.
We do an audit of providers when they apply to:
- renew their registration in categories 4, 5 or 6
- extend their registration to categories 4, 5 or 6
Fees may apply to vary a registration. Find out more on registration fees.
You can find out more, on vary a registration.
Registration decisions
When we make a registration decision, we:
- give the organisation, person or provider a Notice of Decision
- record and update their provider registration details in the Provider Register.
Some of our registration decisions are reviewable decisions. This means that a provider that disagrees with our decision can ask us to review it.
You can find out more, on Request reconsideration of a reviewable decision.
Provider obligations and conditions of registration
Registered providers have requirements they must meet, including obligations and conditions of registration. Providers must meet these to stay registered.
Requirements are in the new Aged Care Act or Aged Care Rules 2025.
Some requirements apply to all registered providers. Some requirements are specific to a category and only apply to some providers. We can also add conditions to a provider’s registration.
You can find out more about provider requirements on the Department of Health Disability and Ageing’s website (department). The department’s Aged Care Provider Requirements Search tool (Tool) will support registered providers to access and navigate the registration conditions, obligations and duties they must meet under the new Aged Care Act.
Associated providers
Registered providers who use other organisations known as associated providers to deliver funded aged care services on their behalf are required to provide certain information to the Commission. This includes providing information as part of a registration or renewal application, and through Change in Circumstances notifications.
Our regulatory bulletin explains your requirements when using associated providers in the delivery of aged care services. As a registered provider you remain responsible for the quality, safety and compliance of services delivered by your associated providers.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions providing guidance to common questions on when registered providers need to tell the Commission about their associated providers.
You can find out more on Associated providers.
Digital platform operators
Aged care digital platform operators are newly regulated entities under the new Aged Care Act. If you are a digital platform operator, there are obligations you will need to meet. You can find out more on Digital platform operators.
More information
Read our Provider Registration Policy to learn about our process and principles for registering providers.
