The Quality Standards Resource Centre helps extend understanding of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which took effect from 1 November 2025. You can search for resources by using keywords, or filtering by standard, outcome and audience. Before using the Resource Centre, please read the terms of use.
Nutrition and hydration - Eating well to prevent falls
This resource provides specifications for adult diets tailored to inpatient use in NSW hospitals, including allergy-specific and therapeutic requirements. Although intended for inpatients, it can serve as general guidance for dietitians and food service providers in creating meal plans for diverse health needs. This resource applies to healthcare contexts outside of aged care.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Communication Matters
This You Tube video emphasises the importance of communication for people in aged care, especially those with impairments. It advocates using varied methods, such as gestures and expressions, to make sure everyone can connect meaningfully, supporting dignity and autonomy.
Older people and falls
This resource provides information on the causes, treatments, and prevention of falls in older people. It outlines risk factors, such as home hazards and health conditions, and offers practical tips for reducing falls, including lifestyle changes, home modifications, and medical assessments. The document emphasises the importance of fall prevention in aged care settings.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Clinical Care Standard
This Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care clinical care standards provides guidelines for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to reduce hospitalisations and improve outcomes. It includes quality statements, care indicators, and palliative care considerations to support best practices and enhance the quality of life for people with COPD. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care.
Informed consent
This resource provides guidance on ensuring informed consent in healthcare settings. It outlines legal, ethical, and professional requirements for obtaining consent, supports person-centred care, and ensures compliance with Australian healthcare standards. It highlights the importance of providing accurate information about interventions and alternatives, ensuring people have sufficient knowledge of potential risks and benefits.
Ageing and Communication
This resource discusses age-related communication changes, covering sensory, speech, language, and cognitive adjustments. It offers strategies for improving communication, such as using hearing aids, choosing quiet settings, and involving speech pathologists, helping older people and their families maintain effective and enjoyable communication.
Supported decision-making
This resource explains supported decision-making, a process that helps people retain control over choices in their lives, even with cognitive challenges. It outlines how aged care providers can support people’s decisions, providing information in accessible formats and respecting autonomy, as endorsed by national and international rights frameworks.
What is dignity of risk? consumer resources
The Commission has developed a number of resources to help aged care consumers understand what dignity of risk is and what actions you should expect from your provider. The dignity of risk is another way of saying you have the right to live the life you choose.
Dignity of Risk
This resource provides guidance on the concept of dignity of risk. It includes information about how to reframe thinking and ways you can support dignity of risk. The resource highlights the importance of choice and independence, and supporting someone to do what they want safely.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Essential element 2: Identifying goals of care
This resource guides providers in identifying and setting goals of care with patients through shared decision-making. It fosters collaboration between patients, family, and healthcare teams to clarify expectations and establish personalised clinical and personal care objectives.
This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Falls prevention
This resource provides guidance for preventing falls and harm from falls in older people in healthcare settings. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Frequently asked questions about consent
This fact sheet covers the frequently asked questions about consent in aged care.
Care management for Home Care Packages
This resource details requirements for managing Home Care Packages, including creating care plans, maintaining Home Care Agreements, and conducting ongoing care discussions. Providers must align services with the person’s needs, goals, and preferences, ensuring high-quality care that is culturally safe and compliant with quality standards.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for providers
This resource provides tools and guidance for aged care providers to ensure quality food, nutrition, and dining experiences. It includes hotlines, resources for dining, choice, swallowing, and oral health, as well as webinars, research findings, and practical tips to support older adults' wellbeing and meet care standards.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Supporting the dining experience for people living with dementia – Providers and workers guide
This guide is about how to support people living with dementia to maintain good nutrition and enjoy positive dining experiences.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Providing food and dining choice - aged care staff poster
This guide supports aged care staff in providing food and dining choices for residents. It outlines the importance of upholding residents' rights to choose, enhancing their health and quality of life. The guide recommends confirming preferences regularly, involving residents in meal planning, and respecting individual choices regarding when, where, and what they eat or drink. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Measurement tools for assessing quality of life, consumer satisfaction and consumer experience across residential and in-home aged care: Summary Report
This report reviews validated tools for measuring quality of life, consumer satisfaction, and experience in aged care, assessing their suitability for residential and home care. It provides an evidence-based ranking of tools to support aged care providers in quality improvement, accountability, and aligning with the National Aged Care Quality Indicator Program.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Oral health care for adult patients - Recommendations
This resource provides recommendations for oral health care in adult inpatients, focusing on preventing issues like aspiration pneumonia, infections, and malnutrition. It emphasises regular oral assessments and evidence-based care practices. Its principles are applicable in aged care settings to enhance overall care.
Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability
This resource provides guidance for the health care of people with intellectual disability. The user guide is part of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The resource was developed in response to significant evidence of poor health outcomes for people with intellectual disability in Australia’s health system.
This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.
Food and dining - your choices matter
This fact sheet informs aged care residents of their rights to safe, enjoyable, and respectful dining experiences. It outlines steps for raising concerns with providers about food and dining, offers a preference form for residents to communicate their dietary needs, and provides contact information for support services if issues remain unresolved. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.