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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 116 result(s)
/quality-standards/celebrating-successes-engaging-people-improve-food-nutrition-and-dining

Celebrating successes in engaging people to improve food, nutrition and dining

Guidance

This resource highlights successful practices in engaging older people to improve food, nutrition, and dining experiences. Providers can use examples like food focus groups, family involvement in recipe changes, and resident-led dining committees to promote enjoyable, dignified, and inclusive dining. It fosters better health, wellbeing, and relationships with staff. 

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
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 7.1: Daily living
Celebrating successes in engaging people to improve food, nutrition and dining
/quality-standards/communication-clinical-handover

Communication at clinical handover

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource focuses on structured clinical handover processes to improve communication during patient care transitions. It highlights the importance of standardising handover procedures to make sure relevant information is effectively communicated, reducing errors and enhancing patient safety, especially during care transfers 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
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communication at clinical handover
/quality-standards/communicating-safety

Communicating for Safety

Guidance

This resource provides tools and guidance on improving clinical communication to enhance patient safety. It focuses on key communication touchpoints, such as handovers, decision-making, and care transitions. Designed to support healthcare providers, it offers practical strategies to reduce errors and improve outcomes in aged care and other 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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communicating for Safety
/quality-standards/cultural-considerations-food-nutrition-and-dining

Cultural considerations in Food, Nutrition and Dining

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on incorporating cultural considerations into food, nutrition, and dining in aged care settings. It highlights the importance of understanding diverse dietary preferences, religious practices, and family dynamics to support person-centred care, improve wellbeing, and promote inclusivity within the aged care environment. 

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, Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 1.1: Person-centred care, 7.1: Daily living
Cultural considerations in Food, Nutrition and Dining
/quality-standards/food-thought-positive-stories

Food for thought - positive stories

Guidance

This resource shares positive stories about food, nutrition, and dining improvements in aged care facilities. It highlights initiatives that enhance the dining experience, including resident involvement in meal planning, use of fresh and seasonal ingredients, and creating more social and enjoyable mealtime environments. These stories demonstrate best practices and innovative approaches to improve resident satisfaction and wellbeing. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
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
Food for thought - positive stories
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-resources-workers

Food, nutrition & dining: resources for workers

Guidance

This resource provides aged care workers with tools to enhance food, nutrition, and dining experiences for people in their care. It includes practical guides on offering choice, managing swallowing difficulties, promoting oral health, and creating an enjoyable dining environment, all while ensuring adherence to aged care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
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, 7.1: Daily living
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for workers
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-resources-providers

Food, nutrition & dining: resources for providers

Guidance

This resource provides tools and guidance for aged care providers to ensure quality food, nutrition, and dining experiences. It includes hotlines, resources for dining, choice, swallowing, and oral health, as well as webinars, research findings, and practical tips to support older adults' wellbeing and meet care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
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, 7.1: Daily living
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for providers
/quality-standards/using-technology-improve-dining-experience

Using technology to improve the dining experience

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on how technology, such as virtual reality (VR) and mobile applications, can enhance the dining experience in aged care settings. These tools are designed to increase engagement, support meal choices, improve communication with families, and contribute to overall wellbeing by making mealtimes more enjoyable. 

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
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
Using technology to improve the dining experience
/quality-standards/transitioning-residential-aged-care-loss-and-grief

Transitioning to Residential Aged Care: Loss and Grief

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explores the emotional impact of transitioning into residential aged care, focusing on loss and grief experienced by older people and their families. It highlights the common emotional challenges, such as fear, loss of independence, and guilt, and provides strategies to support emotional well-being during this difficult transition. 

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
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
Transitioning to Residential Aged Care: Loss and Grief
/quality-standards/healthcare-identifiers-and-healthcare-identifier-service

Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service

Guidance
Last Updated

This document explains the Healthcare Identifier Service, a national system for assigning unique healthcare identifiers to individuals, providers, and healthcare organisations. The service aims to improve patient safety, ensure accurate records, and facilitate secure data sharing across health, aged care, and allied health services. It includes privacy measures and public consultation outcomes for potential legislative improvements. 

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
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service
/quality-standards/transitions-care

Transitions of Care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains transitions of care, when responsibility for a person’s health care is transferred between providers. It covers the risks involved, such as medication errors and readmissions, and offers principles for safe and high-quality transitions across care settings, including aged care, to reduce harm and improve 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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
Transitions of Care
/quality-standards/supporting-dining-experience-people-living-dementia-providers-and-workers-guide

Supporting the dining experience for people living with dementia – Providers and workers guide

Guidance, Guides
Published date

This guide is about how to support people living with dementia to maintain good nutrition and enjoy positive dining experiences. 

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
Standard
1: The Individual, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 6.4: Dining experience
Supporting the dining experience guide thumbnail
/quality-standards/supporting-people-living-dementia-eat-and-drink-well

Supporting people living with dementia to eat and drink well

Guidance

This resource provides guidance for aged care services on how to support people living with dementia to eat and drink well. It highlights innovative approaches such as creating familiar, enjoyable meals, reducing mealtime interruptions, and offering 24-hour access to nutritious foods. These strategies help address challenges like malnutrition and dehydration. 

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
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Food and nutrition
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 6.4: Dining experience, 7.1: Daily living
Supporting people living with dementia to eat and drink well
/quality-standards/how-home-care-packages-interact-other-aged-care-programs

How Home Care Packages interact with other aged care programs

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains how Home Care Packages interact with other aged care programs, such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, residential respite care, and the Transition Care Programme. It outlines how to coordinate services to avoid overlaps and provides guidance for accessing multiple programs without service duplication. 

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
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
How Home Care Packages interact with other aged care programs
/quality-standards/improving-aged-care-speech-pathology-why-it-matters-and-how-it-helps

Improving aged care with speech pathology: Why it matters and how it helps

Guidance

This page highlights the role of speech pathologists in supporting older people with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. It provides resources for aged care providers on how to improve care quality through effective communication tools and tailored strategies. This resource includes practical examples, like sample plates and picture boards, for enhancing dining experiences and supporting individual choice. 

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
Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Food and nutrition
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences
Improving aged care with speech pathology: Why it matters and how it helps
/quality-standards/short-term-restorative-care-program

Short Term Restorative Care Program

Guidance

This resource outlines the Short Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program which offers early interventions aimed at reversing or slowing functional decline in older people to enhance their wellbeing. It provides care for up to 8 weeks in home or residential settings, helping people regain independence. STRC is part of a broader care system, alongside other aged care 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
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
Short Term Restorative Care Program
/quality-standards/introducing-tasty-nutritious-and-safe-meals-aged-care-themed-innovator-training-program

Introducing tasty, nutritious, and safe meals in aged care - Themed Innovator Training Program

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on implementing safe, nutritious, and appealing meals in aged care. It emphasises informed choice, accommodating dietary needs, and preventing malnutrition. It highlights the importance of culturally appropriate meal planning, supporting residents' autonomy, and ensuring that nutritious food enhances social interaction, mental health, and overall 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
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Introducing tasty, nutritious, and safe meals in aged care - Themed Innovator Training Program
/quality-standards/isbar-poster

ISBAR Poster

Poster
Last Updated

This poster is a tool for improving clinical handover. It outlines the principles of ISBAR: Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. This supports clinical conversations to be clear, focused and relevant. 

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, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
ISBAR Poster
/quality-standards/providing-food-and-dining-choice-aged-care-staff-poster

Providing food and dining choice - aged care staff poster

Poster
Published date

This guide supports aged care staff in providing food and dining choices for residents. It outlines the importance of upholding residents' rights to choose, enhancing their health and quality of life. The guide recommends confirming preferences regularly, involving residents in meal planning, and respecting individual choices regarding when, where, and what they eat or drink. 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, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 7.1: Daily living
thumbnail providing choice
/quality-standards/privacy-and-confidentiality-introduction-aged-care-video

Privacy and confidentiality – Introduction to aged care video

Video
Last Updated

This resource is a training video guiding aged care staff on the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality for people receiving care. It covers protecting personal information, proper handling of sensitive data, and safe sharing practices, aiming to make sure clients feel secure in sharing information. 

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
Dignity, respect and privacy, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy, 7.1: Daily living, 7.2: Transitions
Privacy and confidentiality – Introduction to aged care video