The Quality Standards Resource Centre helps extend understanding of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which take effect from 1 November 2025. The Resource Centre will be updated to reflect key changes made to the draft strengthened Standards. You can search for resources by using keywords, or filtering by standard, outcome, audience and theme. Before using the Resource Centre, please read the terms of use.
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.
Speech pathology assessments and reports
This resource outlines the process for speech pathology assessments and reports, which evaluate speech, language, and swallowing abilities. It is relevant to aged care for assessing communication and feeding challenges, guiding appropriate interventions, and supporting care plans. It ensures accurate reporting and informed decision-making in care settings.
My food and dining preferences - form
This fact sheet helps aged care residents communicate their food and dining preferences. It includes sections for meal choices, dining preferences, assistance needs, health considerations, cultural or religious customs, and contact information for allied health professionals. It also advises staff to monitor changes in weight and contact a dietitian if needed.
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.
Advance care planning - Information for clinicians
This resource guides clinicians on the importance of advance care planning, particularly for those with life-limiting illnesses, chronic conditions, or cognitive impairment. It outlines the need for early conversations about patient preferences and comprehensive care, ensuring decisions are documented, shared, and align with clinical handover processes to respect patient autonomy and improve care outcomes.
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.
Comprehensive Care - Clinical assessment and diagnosis - Key actions for health service organisations
This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans.
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.
Comprehensive Care - Clinical assessment and diagnosis - Key actions for clinicians
This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans.
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.
Frequently asked questions about consent
This fact sheet covers the frequently asked questions about consent in aged care.
Improving aged care with speech pathology: Why it matters and how it helps
This page highlights the role of speech pathologists in supporting older people with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. It provides resources for aged care providers on how to improve care quality through effective communication tools and tailored strategies. This resource includes practical examples, like sample plates and picture boards, for enhancing dining experiences and supporting individual choice.
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.
National Consensus Statement - Essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physical deterioration
This consensus statement outlines essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physiological deterioration in healthcare settings. It covers clinical processes like vital signs monitoring, diagnosis, and rapid response systems, as well as organisational aspects such as leadership, education, and evaluation. It provides generic information that can be applied to the aged 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.
National framework for advance care planning documents
This resource provides a nationally consistent framework for advance care planning documents in Australia. It outlines principles, ethical considerations, and best practices for creating, implementing, and accessing advance care plans, including Advance Care Directives. It aims to guide policymakers, administrators, and healthcare providers in recognising people’s values, preferences, and rights regarding future care.
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.
Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program
This resource outlines the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program, designed to strengthen corporate and clinical governance capabilities for aged care leaders. It provides tools, online learning modules, webinars, and podcasts to support governance improvement and help leaders engage in reform efforts.
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.
A little yarn goes a long way - Fact sheet
The ‘A little yarn goes a long way’ fact sheet has been developed to inform older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and their friends and family, about the support available to help them resolve concerns about aged care services, and why it’s important to raise these concerns.
Information is also available in 7 different languages including: English, Alyawarra, Arrernte, Luritja, Pitjantjatjarra, Torres Strait Creole and Warlpiri.
Explaining aged care and your rights – locally tailorable poster - First Nations resources
We’ve developed a tailorable poster for you to edit with your own local details, and print and display at community notice boards or waiting areas.
First Nations - Visual Storyboard - Aged care and your rights
The storyboards use pictures to explain aged care, your rights and what to do if your rights aren’t being met.
Complaints about aged care services report
This resource provides reports on complaints about aged care services, offering insights for providers to improve complaint handling. It includes data, case studies, and guided questions to help providers address concerns in both residential and home care settings, supporting better outcomes for people receiving care.
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.
Complaints & concerns
This resource explains how to raise complaints or concerns about aged care services. It outlines the complaints process, how to submit confidential or anonymous complaints, and the importance of good complaints handling in improving care quality. Providers are required to have systems for addressing and resolving complaints.
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.
Consumer advisory bodies
This resource explains the role of consumer advisory bodies in aged care, which provide feedback to governing bodies on care and services. It outlines the process for joining, the importance of feedback in decision-making, and the responsibility of providers to offer participation opportunities annually.
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.
Raising concerns and making an effective complaint
This resource provides guidance on how to raise concerns and make an effective complaint in aged care. It offers practical tips, a checklist, and tools to help people clearly communicate their issues with service providers. It also explains how to escalate complaints to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if necessary. 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.
Older Persons Advocacy Network
This resource provides information on aged care advocacy services, offering free and confidential support to older people receiving government-funded aged care. It includes resources to help people understand their rights, navigate the aged care system, and access advocacy for issues such as care quality, decision-making, and protection from harm.
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.