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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 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 301 to 320 of 357 result(s)
/quality-standards/national-clinical-terminology-service

National Clinical Terminology Service

Guidance

This resource provides information for healthcare providers on digital health tools and initiatives. It covers services such as My Health Record, secure messaging, electronic prescriptions, and telehealth. It supports providers in using digital technologies to enhance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Information management system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
2: The Organisation, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 5.1: Clinical governance
This resource provides information for healthcare providers on digital health tools and initiatives. It covers services such as My Health Record, secure messaging, electronic prescriptions, and telehealth. It supports providers in using digital technologies to enhance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.
/quality-standards/working-stolen-generations-understanding-trauma-providing-effective-dental-services-stolen-generation-survivors

Working with the Stolen Generations: understanding trauma - Providing effective dental services to Stolen Generation survivors

Guidance

This resource is a fact sheet providing guidance for dental staff when working with Stolen Generations survivors. It discusses understanding trauma, effective communication, addressing potential triggers in clinical settings, and respecting cultural sensitivities. It includes practical tips on culturally safe practices to support the specific needs of this community.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Working with the Stolen Generations:  understanding trauma - Providing effective dental services to Stolen Generation survivors
/quality-standards/resources-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing

Guidance

This resource provides a variety of documents and resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It covers topics including leadership in mental health, culturally safe practices, social and emotional wellbeing, suicide prevention, and strategic policy frameworks, offering tools for health professionals and communities.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Assessment and planning, Clinical safety
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing
/quality-standards/dementia-our-mob

Dementia & Our Mob

Guidance

This resource provides information about dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It covers the effects on mind, body, and spirit, the prevalence among older and younger people, risk factors like genetics and lifestyle, and the types of dementia most common in these communities. It emphasises the importance of cultural understanding in dementia care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
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, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Dementia & Our Mob
/quality-standards/abbey-pain-scale

Abbey Pain Scale

Forms
Published date

This resource introduces the Abbey Pain Scale, a non-verbal pain assessment tool designed for identifying pain in people living with dementia. It aids healthcare professionals in recognising pain behaviours in those unable to communicate their needs effectively, supporting timely and appropriate pain management interventions.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
/quality-standards/racgp-guidelines-preventive-activities-general-practice-miscellaneous

RACGP Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - Miscellaneous

Guidance

This resource provides guidelines for preventive activities in general practice, covering frailty, hearing, sleep disorders, oral health, urinary incontinence, and vision.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 3.1 Assessment and planning
RACGP Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - Miscellaneous
/quality-standards/health-care-people-cognitive-disability

Health care for people with cognitive disability

Discussion paper
Published date

This resource addresses the challenges people with cognitive disabilities face when accessing healthcare, such as communication barriers, limited access to quality services, over-prescription, and restrictive practices. It invites feedback on how to improve care quality and ensure the human rights of those with disabilities are upheld, incorporating considerations for different cultural and demographic groups.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Health care for people with cognitive disability
/quality-standards/palliative-care-knowledge-network-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-care

Palliative care knowledge network - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides culturally safe and responsive palliative care information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It includes guidance for health professionals on culturally appropriate care, patient and family journeys, and relevant research and practices to support respectful and effective healthcare for Indigenous communities.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Palliative and end of life 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, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Palliative care knowledge network - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care
/quality-standards/nutrition

Nutrition

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on nutrition for people in palliative care. It highlights the importance of prioritising comfort and quality of life over nutritional intake. It discusses oral intake, artificial hydration, and medically assisted nutrition, emphasising communication with families and cultural considerations when managing nutrition and hydration at the end of life.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Nutrition
/quality-standards/qi-program-quick-reference-guide-unplanned-weight-loss

QI Program quick reference guide – Unplanned weight loss

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides a quick reference guide for approved aged care providers on collecting and reporting data related to unplanned weight loss as part of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program. It outlines reporting requirements for significant and consecutive unplanned weight loss and offers guidance on how to track and submit data quarterly. 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
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
QI Program quick reference guide – Unplanned weight loss
/quality-standards/electronic-prescribing

Electronic prescribing

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the framework for electronic prescribing, offering an alternative to paper prescriptions for healthcare providers and consumers. It explains the benefits of electronic prescriptions, such as reducing errors, improving efficiency, and supporting medication safety. The resource also covers technical and legislative requirements for implementing electronic prescriptions in various 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Medication management, Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.1: Clinical governance
Electronic prescribing
/quality-standards/digital-health-developer-portal-aged-care-clinical-information-system-standards-v10

Digital Health Developer Portal - Aged Care Clinical Information System Standards v1.0

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards version 1.0, which sets minimum software requirements for clinical information and electronic medication management systems in aged care. The standards support interoperability, data sharing, and improved care quality by enabling safe and efficient clinical decision-making and information exchange between care providers.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance, 2.7: Information management
Digital Health Developer Portal - Aged Care Clinical Information System Standards v1.0
/quality-standards/aged-care-clinical-information-system-accis-standards

Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards, providing minimum software requirements for clinical information systems used in aged care. It supports interoperability, data sharing, and safe clinical decision-making. The standards aim to enhance care coordination, improve data accuracy, and ensure compliance with privacy and security protocols within residential aged care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance, 2.7: Information management
Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards
/quality-standards/electronic-prescriptions

Electronic prescriptions

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of electronic prescriptions, which offer a digital alternative to paper prescriptions. It explains how electronic prescriptions can be issued by healthcare providers and stored on digital devices for convenience. The resource also details the benefits of the Active Script List (ASL) for managing multiple prescriptions, enhancing efficiency and medicine safety.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Medication management, Information management system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.1: Clinical governance
Electronic prescriptions
/quality-standards/advance-care-planning-australia

Advance Care Planning Australia

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on advance care planning, which enables people to make decisions about their future health care in case they are unable to communicate their preferences. It helps ensure that healthcare providers and loved ones understand and respect their treatment choices. The resource includes tools, forms, and advice for creating an advance care plan.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Palliative and end of life care, Assessment and planning
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Advance Care Planning Australia
/quality-standards/implementing-comprehensive-care-standard-clinical-assessment-and-diagnosis

Implementing the Comprehensive Care Standard - Clinical assessment and diagnosis

Guidance
Published date

This document provides guidance on implementing the clinical assessment and diagnosis element of the Comprehensive Care Standard (National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards). It helps clinicians identify a person’s conditions or needs through examination and investigation. The resource supports safe, patient-centred care, improving diagnostic accuracy and promoting teamwork in healthcare settings, including aged 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Implementing the Comprehensive Care Standard - Clinical assessment and diagnosis
/quality-standards/comprehensive-care-element-5-deliver-comprehensive-care-actions-health-service-organisations

Comprehensive Care - Element 5: Deliver comprehensive care - Actions for health service organisations

Fact sheet
Published date

This resource outlines the key actions for health service organisations to deliver comprehensive care. It ensures care is provided continuously and collaboratively, aligning with the patient’s diagnoses, goals, and care plan. It promotes a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach, with staff training to support comprehensive care delivery. Applicable to multiple settings, including aged 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Comprehensive Care - Element 5: Deliver comprehensive care - Actions for health service organisations
/quality-standards/implementing-comprehensive-care-standard-review-and-improve-comprehensive-care-delivery

Implementing the Comprehensive Care Standard - Review and improve comprehensive care delivery

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides guidance for reviewing and improving comprehensive care delivery. It outlines how to assess if care meets clinical and personal needs, mitigates risks, and achieves intended outcomes. Relevant to aged care, it helps clinicians and managers implement continuous quality improvement in care delivery processes. 

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
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care
Implementing the Comprehensive Care Standard - Review and improve comprehensive care delivery
/quality-standards/nsqmhcmo-standards-guide-service-providers

NSQMHCMO Standards Guide for Service Providers

Guidance
Published date

This guide helps service providers implement the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations. It covers governance, care models, and quality systems. While focused on mental health services, elements like governance and quality may be relevant to aged 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 3.1 Assessment and planning
NSQMHCMO Standards Guide for Service Providers
/quality-standards/improving-accommodation-residential-aged-care

Improving accommodation in residential aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on improving accommodation in residential aged care through the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, effective from July 2024. It covers areas such as creating dementia-friendly environments, improving access to outdoor spaces, fostering community connections, and ensuring privacy. The guidelines aim to promote independence and a home-like atmosphere. 

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
Key Theme
Environment, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Food and nutrition
Standard
4: The Environment, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 6.4: Dining experience, 7.1: Daily living
Improving accommodation in residential aged care