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Quality Standards Resource Centre

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.

Displaying 21 to 40 of 49 result(s)
/quality-standards/safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-aged-care-fact-sheet

Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date

This fact sheet is informed by the Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard (CCS), developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The CCS describes the safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for people with cognitive disability or impairment, in a way that upholds their rights, dignity, health and quality of life. 

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet
/quality-standards/food-focus-group-resources

Food focus group resources

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a collection of resources about food focus groups. It includes a fact sheet about setting up a food focus group and a checklist for an effective food focus group. It also contains associated templates, including agenda, minutes, terms of reference and feedback form. 

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks
Food focus group resources
/quality-standards/first-nations-stakeholder-communications-toolkit

First Nations - Stakeholder Communications Toolkit

Guidance, Tool
Published date
Last Updated

This Toolkit is designed for First Nations stakeholders including providers, workers and others involved in providing aged care services for First Nations people. We’ve developed it to make it easy for you to share relevant resources with your networks and members

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
First Nations Resources – Communications Toolkit
/quality-standards/quality-care-advisory-body-fact-sheet-0

Quality care advisory body fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date

Explains the quality care advisory body obligations, including who must be on the advisory body and what actions, reports and feedback are required.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.1: Partnering with individuals, 2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.2b: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support individuals, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
quality care advisory body thumbnail
/quality-standards/guidelines-pharmacists-supporting-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-medicines-management

Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management

Guidance
Published date

This resource describes the professional obligations of pharmacists when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with culturally safe and responsive care and medicines management. It includes information about appropriate and effective processes, desired behaviour or minimum standards of good practice and information about duties and responsibilities. 

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.

Author
External resource
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with Medicines Management
/quality-standards/residential-medication-management-review-and-quality-use-medicines

Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines

Guidance

This page provides information on the intent of the Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines (RMMR) Program. It outlines its purpose, participation requirements, claiming and payment processes, frequently asked questions, program rules, and extra available downloads.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines
/quality-standards/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flexible-aged-care-program

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides information on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. The program funds flexible and culturally appropriate aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, mainly in rural and remote areas. It covers service provider requirements, funding processes, and adaptations to ongoing aged care reforms. 

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 2: The Organisation, 1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 1.1: Person-centred care, 7.2: Transitions
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
/quality-standards/medicines-use-older-people

Medicines use in older people

Guidance
Published date

This resource is chapter six of the Fourth Atlas 2021 of Healthcare Variations. The chapter examines medicines use in people aged 75 and over, focusing on polypharmacy, medication management reviews (MMRs), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dispensing. It highlights variations in medication use and recommends improving access to MMR services and interventions for safe, effective medication use in older populations. 

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Medicines use in older people
/quality-standards/poisons-standard-susmp

The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)

Guidance
Last Updated

The Poisons Standard (SUSMP) is a resource that classifies medicines and chemicals into schedules for regulatory control in Australia. It outlines guidelines for labelling, packaging, and handling of substances. Key points include updates on scheduling decisions, which assist in public safety, healthcare, and chemical management. 

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)
/quality-standards/high-risk-medicines-resources

High risk medicines resources

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on high-risk medicines, including safety alerts, notices, and best practices for safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration. It includes information on insulin and anticoagulant safety, monitoring tools, and best practice recommendations to improve medication safety and reduce harm from high-risk medications across 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
High risk medicines resources
/quality-standards/national-aboriginal-community-controlled-health-organisation-medicines-pharmacy

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy

Guidance

This resources provides information for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other communities related to medicine use and management. It includes a collection of resources for health workers involved in prescribing and supplying medicines in these settings.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy
/quality-standards/medicine-safety-aged-care

Medicine safety: Aged care

Report
Published date

This report highlights medicine safety issues in aged care settings, detailing the prevalence of medicine-related problems, inappropriate prescribing, underuse of medicines, medicine regimen complexities, administration errors, and challenges during transitions of care. It provides opportunities for improvements and emphasises the need for safer medication practices, improved pharmacist involvement, and better regulatory frameworks to protect older people from medication harm.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Medicine safety: Aged care
/quality-standards/fact-sheet-enrolled-nurses-and-medicines-administration

Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This fact sheet outlines the requirements for enrolled nurses (ENs) in Australia regarding the administration of medicines. It details the education and qualifications needed to administer medications, the specific conditions under which ENs may administer intravenous medicines, and guidance on removing any limitations from their registration. The document also emphasises adherence to legislation, policies, and safe practices.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration
/quality-standards/home-medicines-review

Home Medicines Review

Guidance

This resource provides information on the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program, designed to support the safe and effective use of medicines for patients at home. It outlines the process, eligibility criteria, program variations, claiming and payments, rural loading allowance, and guidance for pharmacists and healthcare providers involved in medication reviews

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Home Medicines Review
/quality-standards/working-older-people-diabetes

Working with older people with diabetes

Guidance

This resource provides materials for health professionals supporting older people with diabetes. Resources cover diabetes symptoms and management, blood glucose monitoring, diabetes medication, healthy eating, and more, aiming to improve quality care.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Working with older people with diabetes
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-polypharmacy

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Polypharmacy

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide addresses polypharmacy in aged care, focusing on identifying inappropriate prescribing and reviewing all medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary and alternative medicines. It includes recommendations for reducing medication use through deprescribing, ensuring medication safety, and regular review of renal and hepatic functions. Tools such as Beers Criteria and other screening frameworks are provided to support optimal medication management in older adults.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Polypharmacy
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-deprescribing

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Deprescribing

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide focuses on deprescribing in aged care, aiming to reduce unnecessary or potentially harmful medications. It provides a framework for reviewing medication, assessing risks and benefits, developing tapering plans, and involving multidisciplinary teams. It provides recommendations including; patient-cantered communication, establishing written plans for medication withdrawal, and monitoring outcomes to improve quality of life.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-medication-management

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Medication management

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide covers medication management in aged care, addressing the use of multiple medications, reviewing prescriptions, and the role of multidisciplinary teams. It outlines principles for safe medication practices, deprescribing, administering medication, managing adverse events, and conducting medication reviews. It also provides guidelines for storage, disposal, and modification of medications.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Medication management
/quality-standards/clinical-governance-and-quality-improvement-support-medication-management

Clinical governance and quality improvement to support medication management

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines clinical governance and quality improvement systems to support safe medication management. It requires health service organisations to implement systems for procuring, prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring medicines. 

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Clinical governance and quality improvement to support medication management
/quality-standards/half-story-guide-meaningful-consultation-people-living-dementia-families-and-carers

Half the story: A guide to meaningful consultation with people living with dementia, families and carers

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a guide for meaningful consultation with people living with dementia, their families, and carers. It covers planning, ethical considerations, communication methods, and ways to improve accessibility. The guide offers strategies to ensure the voices of those living with dementia are respected, valued, and effectively integrated into decision-making processes.

Author
External resource
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Half the story: A guide to meaningful consultation with people living with dementia, families and carers