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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 41 to 60 of 98 result(s)
/quality-standards/partners-culturally-appropriate-care-picac

Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource supports aged care providers in delivering culturally appropriate care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. It offers free training, workshops, and resources, helping providers understand and respect diverse needs, ensuring safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive care across all 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
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)
/quality-standards/nsqhs-standards-user-guide-health-care-people-intellectual-disability

NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides guidance for the health care of people with intellectual disability. The user guide is part of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The resource was developed in response to significant evidence of poor health outcomes for people with intellectual disability in Australia’s health system. 

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
Person-centred care, Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability
/quality-standards/governing-reform-aged-care-program

Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program

Guidance

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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Accountability and quality system, Risk management system, Incident management system, Feedback and complaints management system, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Emergency and disaster management
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, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.4: Risk management, 2.5: Incident management, 2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 2.7: Information management, 2.8: Workforce planning, 2.9: Human resource management, 2.10: Emergency and disaster management
Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program
/quality-standards/little-yarn-goes-long-way-fact-sheet

A little yarn goes a long way - Fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

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.

Key Theme
Person-centred care, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
A little yarn goes a long way image
/quality-standards/explaining-aged-care-and-your-rights-locally-tailorable-poster-first-nations-resources

Explaining aged care and your rights – locally tailorable poster - First Nations resources

Poster
Published date

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Explaining aged care and your rights – locally tailorable poster
/quality-standards/first-nations-visual-storyboard-aged-care-and-your-rights

First Nations - Visual Storyboard - Aged care and your rights

Story board
Published date

The storyboards use pictures to explain aged care, your rights and what to do if your rights aren’t being met.

Key Theme
Person-centred care, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Storyboards
/quality-standards/consumer-advisory-bodies

Consumer advisory bodies

Guidance

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Feedback and complaints management system, Person-centred care
Standard
2: The Organisation, 1: The Individual
Outcomes
2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 1.1: Person-centred care
Consumer advisory bodies
/quality-standards/first-nations-visual-information-sheet-your-rights-when-accessing-aged-care

First Nations - Visual information sheet - Your rights when accessing aged care

Guidance
Published date
Yarning about your aged care  (PDF  645.07 KB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Yarning aged care
/quality-standards/case-study-safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-residential-aged-care

Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - Residential Aged Care

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a fictional scenario that follows an older person’s care pathway with a residential aged care provider. The resource focuses on the systems and processes to support high-quality care of older people living with cognitive impairment. It includes 4 key priority areas: person-centred care, medication management, managing changed behaviours and transitions of 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
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
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  
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - Residential Aged Care
/quality-standards/case-study-safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-home-aged-care

Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - In-home Aged Care

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a fictional scenario that follows an older person’s care pathway with an in-home aged care provider. The resource focuses on the systems and processes to support high-quality care of older people living with dementia. It includes 4 key priority areas: person-centred care, medication management, managing changed behaviours and transitions of 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
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
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  
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - In-home Aged Care
/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
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
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
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Food and nutrition
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/national-model-clinical-governance-framework

National Model Clinical Governance Framework

Guidance
Last Updated

This framework provides a consistent national approach to clinical governance in healthcare, focusing on governance structures, leadership, culture, safety and quality improvement systems, clinical performance, care environment, and consumer partnerships. It supports healthcare organisations in developing systems to ensure accountability, safety, quality of care, and continuous improvement, following the NSQHS Standards. 

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, Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
National Model Clinical Governance Framework
/quality-standards/knowledge-and-implementation-hub-clinical-governance

Knowledge and Implementation Hub - Clinical governance

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource discusses clinical governance in aged care, highlighting its importance in delivering safe, high-quality care. It includes evidence-based resources, themes on governance like leadership, culture, consumer partnerships, and workforce strategies, and provides access to research projects, reviews, and practical guidance to support care quality improvements.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Knowledge and Implementation Hub - Clinical governance
/quality-standards/social-and-emotional-wellbeing-resources-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples

Social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Guidance

This page provides resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on social and emotional wellbeing. It contains information on support services, scholarships, lived experience centres, stories and other resources for mental health.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Clinical safety
Standard
1: The Individual, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-multiculturalism-aged-care

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Multiculturalism in aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide discusses multiculturalism in aged care, addressing the diverse needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) older adults. It covers healthcare principles, communication strategies, clinical considerations, and culturally tailored approaches for areas like medication management, dementia, mental health, nutrition, and substance use. It also provides practical advice for general practitioners, carers, and aged care facilities to deliver culturally safe and effective care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
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, 5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Multiculturalism in aged care
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-older-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide addresses barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in accessing aged care, such as cultural safety, geographic challenges, and geriatric syndromes experienced at younger ages. It discusses the importance of culturally appropriate care, the use of specific assessment tools, and the unique needs of the Stolen Generation within residential and community settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
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, 5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-disability-aged-care

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Disability in aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide addresses the management of disabilities in older adults, including mobility, cognitive impairments, developmental disabilities, hearing and visual impairment, psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. It outlines approaches for general practitioners to provide holistic care, monitor health risks, adapt support systems, and coordinate with allied health professionals in residential aged care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
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, 5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Disability in aged care
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-care-older-lgbti-people

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Care of older LGBTI people

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide addresses the healthcare needs of older LGBTI people, covering areas such as mental health, substance use, chronic disease risks, and the importance of inclusive care. It provides strategies for culturally safe practices, promoting wellbeing, recognising abuse, and details standards for LGBTI-inclusive services, such as organisational capability and consumer participation.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
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, 5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Care of older LGBTI people
/quality-standards/digital-health-healthcare-providers

Digital health - For healthcare providers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance for aged care assessors and service providers on accessing and using the My Aged Care portals. It outlines steps for setting up secure access through authentication methods, managing organisation information, and creating staff accounts, supporting efficient service delivery and assessment processes. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 July 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Information management system, Care coordination and transitions, Workforce and human resources management, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
2: The Organisation, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 5.1: Clinical governance
Digital health - For healthcare providers