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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 72 result(s)
/quality-standards/what-open-disclosure-video

What is open disclosure? - video

Video
Published date
Last Updated

This video explains open disclosure and what older people can expect from their registered provider during the process. It highlights key aspects such as communication, transparency, and how concerns will be addressed. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Open disclosure - video
/quality-standards/clinical-governance-allied-health-practitioners

Clinical governance for allied health practitioners

Fact sheet
Published date

This fact sheet identifies the clinical governance and roles and responsibilities of allied health practitioners. It provides information on the National Model Clinical Governance Framework and lists the roles and responsibilities across Governance, leadership and culture, patient safety and quality systems, clinical performance and effectiveness and safe environment for the delivery 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Corporate and clinical governance, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Clinical governance for allied health practitioners
/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/allied-health-regulation

Allied health regulation

Guidance

This resource provides information about the regulation of allied health professions in Australia. It includes those registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) and self-regulating professions managed by professional peak bodies. It also provides links to further information about allied health professions currently registered with AHPRA and information for overseas-qualified practitioners.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 2.8: Workforce planning, 2.9: Human resource management
Allied health regulation
/quality-standards/about-speech-pathologists-aged-care

About speech pathologists - Aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource discusses the role of speech pathologists in supporting older people with communication and swallowing disorders caused by ageing, neurological conditions, and other health factors. It highlights the prevalence of communication and swallowing difficulties in aged care, their impacts, and how speech pathology services promote independence, participation, and quality of life through assessment, therapy, and tailored interventions.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
About speech pathologists - Aged care
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-multimorbidity

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Multimorbidity

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidelines for managing patients with multimorbidity in aged care settings. It includes frameworks for assessing treatment burden, identifying patients at risk, and developing individualised care plans. It recommends validated tools for screening, a focus on quality of life, and strategies for medication review and care coordination.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Multimorbidity
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-geriatric-syndromes

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Geriatric syndromes

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide outlines the challenges of diagnosing and managing geriatric syndromes, describing clusters like immobility, instability, incontinence, frailty, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment. It introduces the 'Geriatric 5Ms' framework: Mind, Mobility, Medications, Mult complexity, and Matters Most, which assists in comprehensive assessment and care planning for older adults, focusing on mental health, physical function, medication review, complex health needs, and care goals.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Geriatric syndromes
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-provision-after-hours-aged-care-services

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Provision of after-hours aged care services

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide details the provision of after-hours care for older adults in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and the community. It covers collaborative agreements between GPs and RACFs, processes to reduce emergency department visits, hospital avoidance strategies, and the importance of coordinating multidisciplinary care. It also addresses infrastructure needs, support staff availability, and funding arrangements to ensure quality care during after-hours periods.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Provision of after-hours aged care services
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-supporting-independent-living-older-people

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Supporting independent living in older people

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide discusses strategies for supporting independent living in older adults, covering concepts of healthy ageing, using aged care services, respite care, and re-aligning function. It highlights the role of general practitioners in promoting autonomy, addressing individual needs, and avoiding ageist language while facilitating access to community or residential care services.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Supporting independent living in older people
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-principles-multimorbidity

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Principles of multimorbidity

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide discusses managing multimorbidity, which involves the presence of multiple chronic diseases and their impact on older adults' quality of life and independence. It outlines the role of general practitioners in care coordination, shared decision-making, and holistic care approaches, considering the benefits and risks of interventions across residential and community care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Principles of multimorbidity
/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
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-frailty

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Frailty

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide discusses frailty in older adults, detailing assessment methods, risk factors, and management strategies. It includes annual frailty assessments, involvement of multidisciplinary teams (physiotherapists, dietitians), recommendations for physical activity, nutrition support, vitamin D supplementation, medication review, and interventions to reduce complications such as falls and malnutrition in aged care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Frailty
/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/centre-cultural-diversity-ageing-resources

Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing - Resources

Guidance

This page offers a wide range of resources aimed at helping aged care providers deliver culturally inclusive services. It includes multilingual communication cards, cultural care plans, and practice guides that help address the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual needs of people in care. The resources make sure aged care services are accessible, safe, and appropriate for culturally and linguistically diverse populations​.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Care coordination and transitions, Food and nutrition
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing - Resources
/quality-standards/draft-national-consumer-engagement-strategy-health-and-wellbeing

Draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing

Guidance
Published date

This resource presents the Draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing, which aims to foster partnerships between health policymakers and communities. It is designed to involve people and communities in the development and implementation of preventive health policies. The strategy supports policymakers and program developers in engaging effectively with consumers to achieve improved health outcomes across Australia. 

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services
Draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing
/quality-standards/consumer-and-carer-engagement-practical-guide

Consumer and carer engagement: A practical guide

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides a guide for engaging consumers and carers in mental health services. It outlines steps for involving people in decision-making, service design, and evaluation. The guide emphasises co-design, leadership, and dedicated resources to create a person-centred approach that improves care and service outcomes.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services
Consumer and carer engagement: A practical guide
/quality-standards/open-disclosure-resources-consumers

Open Disclosure resources for consumers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on open disclosure in healthcare, explaining what people should expect if harm occurs during care. It includes fact sheets in various languages and outlines how to prepare for open disclosure discussions. The resource aims to support transparent communication and improve care safety across 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
Feedback and complaints management system, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Open Disclosure resources for consumers
/quality-standards/cota-council-ageing

COTA - Council on the Ageing

Guidance

This resource provides information on the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia's work, including advocacy, policy priorities, and resources for older adults. It highlights key areas such as dental care affordability, aged care reform, and independence for seniors. The site offers publications, submissions to inquiries, and the Aged Care Visitors Code, relevant for aged care providers and consumers.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
COTA - Council on the Ageing
/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