Skip to main content

Aged care laws in Australia have now changed. The new Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025 now apply. While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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.

Quality Standards Resource Centre

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.

Displaying 21 to 36 of 36 result(s)
/quality-standards/food-and-drink-your-aged-care-supporting-informed-choice-and-risk-staff-poster

Food and drink in your aged care - supporting informed choice and risk - staff poster

Poster
Published date

This resource provides guidance for aged care staff on supporting older people's informed choices regarding food and drink, even when those choices involve personal risks. It encourages staff to respect resident autonomy, provide information on risks, document decisions, and ensure access to professional advice, promoting dignity and quality of life in care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 7.1: Daily living
thumbnail food and drink poster
/quality-standards/about-food-nutrition-and-dining-hotline-provider-and-worker-fact-sheet

About the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline – provider and worker fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides information about the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Hotline, which offers advice and addresses concerns regarding food and dining in aged care. It allows aged care providers, staff, residents, families, and carers to raise issues about nutrition, menu planning, and dining experiences to improve quality and 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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Feedback and complaints management system, Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks
First page of About the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline provider fact sheet.
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-stand-discussion-notes

Food, nutrition and dining stand-up discussion notes

Presentations
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides discussion notes to improve the food, nutrition, and dining experience in aged care settings. It includes reflective questions for corporate teams and care staff, focusing on governance, resident choice, oral health, and support for those with swallowing difficulties. The resource promotes continuous improvement and quality care through group discussions. 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. 

Stand-up discussion notes  (DOCX  6.68 MB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
thumbnail image fnd stand-up discussion notes
/quality-standards/know-look-act-oral-pain-aged-care-staff-poster

KNOW, LOOK, ACT - Oral Pain aged care staff poster

Poster
Published date

This poster serves as a resource for aged care staff to recognise and respond to signs of oral pain in residents. It provides guidance on identifying mouth and tooth pain and taking appropriate action to address these issues. The poster is available for download and use in residential aged care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
thumbnail - know look act oral pain poster
/quality-standards/first-nations-digital-flipchart-your-rights-aged-care

First Nations - Digital Flipchart - Your rights in aged care

Presentations, Tool
Published date

A visual guide for conversations between providers/workers and older people about aged care. It includes notes for providers/workers to help guide the conversation.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Feedback and complaints management system, Assessment and planning, Person-centred care
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Your rights in aged care cover page
/quality-standards/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-registration

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Registration

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Organisations or persons must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Registration as part of the initial registration audit. This is compulsory for organisations or persons applying for registration in categories 4, 5 and 6 from 1 November 2025.

The registration audit helps us to understand if the organisation or person can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Audit evidence collection tool
/quality-standards/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-renewal

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Renewal

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Renewal as part of a renewal audit in registration categories 4, 5 and 6. This is compulsory for providers from 1 November 2025.

Providers only need to complete this tool once as part of the audit program.

The renewal audit helps us to understand if the provider can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

  • your systems and processes
  • how you deliver high-quality care to older people.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Draft audit evidence tool - renewal
/quality-standards/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-variation

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Variation

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Variation as part of a variation audit, where they are asking to add categories 4, 5 or 6 to their registration. This is compulsory for providers from 1 November 2025.

The variation audit helps us to understand if the provider can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

  • the systems and processes you will establish
  • how you will deliver high-quality care to older people.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Draft audit evidence tool - variation
/quality-standards/care-delivery-evidence-collection-tool-cdect-care-delivery-location-category-4-5

Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool (CDECT) – Care delivery location (Category 4 & 5)

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete this tool as part of a renewal audit in registration categories 4 and 5. 

We will identify a targeted sample of care delivery locations (Category 4 & 5). You will be notified of this sample and the CDECT – Care delivery location must only be completed for these targeted sample locations. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about care and services delivered in a home or community setting.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
CDECT – Care delivery location (Category 4 & 5) thumbnail
/quality-standards/care-delivery-evidence-collection-tool-cdect-residential-category-6

Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool (CDECT) – Residential (Category 6)

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete this tool as part of a renewal audit in registration category 6. 

The CDECT – Residential must be completed once for each category 6 service. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about the residential care home.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
CDECT – Residential (Category 6) thumbnail
/quality-standards/renewal-registration-audit-guide

Renewal of registration audit guide

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This guide helps you prepare for and take part in a renewal of registration audit.

It describes:

  • the purpose of audits and how they inform (help us make) registration decisions
  • the 3 stages of the audit process (initiation, delivery, reporting)
  • what to expect and what to do at each stage
  • the types of evidence we consider during audits
  • how we define our audit ratings
  • the audit tools we use
  • other relevant resources.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Renewal of  registration  audit guide
/quality-standards/variation-registration-audit

Variation of registration audit

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This guide helps you prepare for and take part in a variation of registration audit.

It describes:

  • the purpose of audits and how they inform (help us make) registration decisions
  • the 3 stages of the audit process (initiation, delivery, reporting)
  • what to expect and what to do at each stage
  • the types of evidence we consider during audits
  • how we define our audit ratings
  • the audit tools we use
  • other relevant resources.
Variation of registration audit  (PDF  434.03 KB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Variation of registration audit
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-reflection-practice

Food, nutrition and dining: a reflection on practice

Guides, Presentations
Published date
Last Updated

This training PowerPoint is a presentation that trainers/managers can download, customise and use to promote discussion and educate their staff to support and improve the food, nutrition and dining experience of consumers in their care.

The resource is designed to support reflective discussions about what ‘best practice’ looks like and a reflection on how it applies in practice.  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
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
PowerPoint thumbnail image FND training
/quality-standards/liquidity-calculator-registered-providers-aged-care-sector

Liquidity calculator for registered providers in the aged care sector

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

This calculator informs registered providers of the minimum level of liquid assets they are required to hold calculated based on Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) financial statements.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Liquidity calculator
/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
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Delivering comprehensive care and services
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/new-financial-and-prudential-standards

The new Financial and Prudential Standards

Guidance, Guides
Published date

The new Financial and Prudential Standards will be introduced with the commencement of the new Aged Care Act. The new Standards set out the minimum requirements for good financial and prudential management of registered aged care providers. Registered providers must comply with the Financial and Prudential Standards that apply to them as a condition of their registration.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
New financial and prudential standards