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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 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 281 to 294 of 294 result(s)
/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/australian-centre-evidence-based-aged-care-resources

Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care - Resources

Guidance

This resource provides a collection of tools and guidelines for improving person-centred care in aged care settings. It includes assessments on care personalisation, pain management, staff-family relationships, and support for sexuality and decision-making for people with dementia.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care - Resources
/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/first-nations-workplace-poster-standard-5-clinical-care

First Nations – Workplace poster – Standard 5 Clinical care

Poster
Published date
Last Updated

These workplace standards posters demonstrate the strengthened Standards and what they mean for aged care providers and workers. You can print these out and display them around your workplace.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Standard 5 thumbnail image
/quality-standards/government-support-providers-and-workers

Government support for providers and workers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines government support for aged care providers managing COVID-19 outbreaks. It covers information on infection prevention measures, vaccination assistance, and mental health resources to help providers maintain care quality and safety during outbreaks.

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
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Government support for providers and workers
/quality-standards/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-discussion-starter-working-out-whats-right-you

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working Out What’s Right For You

Guidance
Published date

This resource includes information and tools to support thinking and talking about wishes and preferences for care at the end of life. This resource has been developed for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, their community, and those working with them. The resource also includes information about identifying decision makers and advance care planning.

Author
External resource
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working Out What’s Right For You
/quality-standards/clinical-governance

Clinical governance

Guidance

This page provides information about clinical governance. It includes links to topics including infection and prevention control, dealing with infectious outbreaks, medication management, wound care and restrictive practices. 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
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Clinical governance landing page thumbnail
/quality-standards/infection-prevention-and-control-aged-care-cognitive-decline-and-dementia

Infection prevention and control in aged care - Cognitive decline and dementia

Guidance, Guides
Published date

How to create an environment with strong infection prevention and control practices while continuing to provide a positive experience for people with cognitive decline and dementia.

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
5: Clinical Care, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
IPC dementia coverpage
/quality-standards/antimicrobial-stewardship

Antimicrobial stewardship

Guidance

This resource addresses antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in aged care, focusing on optimising antimicrobial use to combat antimicrobial resistance. It includes tools, self-assessment guides, and quality improvement strategies to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, particularly for urinary tract infections. It supports providers in improving infection prevention and control within their services.

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
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Antimicrobial stewardship
/quality-standards/wound-management

Wound management

Guidance

This resource provides information about wound management, including wound management mistakes. It contains treatment plan information and highlights the importance of monitoring and analysing data under the National Mandatory 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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Wound management page 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/new-aged-care-infection-prevention-and-control-guide-webinar

New Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide – Webinar

Webinar
Published date

This resource provides an overview of a webinar discussing the new Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guide. It explains how aged care providers can apply infection prevention principles to minimise risks, meet the Aged Care Quality Standards, and develop local IPC policies and procedures tailored to their services. 

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
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
New Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide – Webinar
/quality-standards/national-dementia-action-plan

National Dementia Action Plan

Guidance
Last Updated

This action plan outlines practical steps to improve the experiences of people living with dementia, their carers, and families in Australia. It aims to guide government policies, improve care services, raise awareness, and integrate support systems over the next 10 years, incorporating feedback from public consultations and stakeholders. 

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, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034 thumbnail
/quality-standards/aged-care-centre-food-safety-requirements

Aged care centre food safety requirements

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource details food safety requirements for aged care centres, highlighting guidelines for managing risks with potentially hazardous foods. It includes standards for food safety programs, compliance templates, and regulatory guidance to protect vulnerable people.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Aged care centre food safety requirements webpage thumbnail