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.
First Nations - YouTube videos
This resource includes a series of YouTube videos developed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Australian First Nations older people discuss good quality, culturally appropriate and safe aged care, including person-centred care, rights and how to speak up about 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.
Food and drink in your aged care - supporting informed choice and risk - staff poster
This resource provides guidance for aged care staff on supporting older people's informed choices regarding food and drink, even when those choices involve personal risks. It encourages staff to respect resident autonomy, provide information on risks, document decisions, and ensure access to professional advice, promoting dignity and quality of life in care 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.
Creating behaviour support plans that better support residents
This document outlines the development of behaviour support plans (BSPs) in aged care, focusing on person-centred assessments, identification of triggers, tailored strategies, and regular reviews. It highlights the involvement of healthcare professionals and adherence to care principles to effectively manage residents’ behavioural changes and improve their 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.
Restrictive practices provider resources
This resource offers guidance and tools for aged care providers on managing restrictive practices. It emphasises using restrictive practices as a last resort, obtaining informed consent, and developing behaviour support plans. The materials include fact sheets, regulatory updates, webinars, and decision-making tools to ensure compliance with legislation and promote person-centred 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.
First Nations - Stakeholder Communications Toolkit
This Toolkit is designed for First Nations stakeholders including providers, workers and others involved in providing aged care services for First Nations people. We’ve developed it to make it easy for you to share relevant resources with your networks and members
Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management
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.
National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines
This guide provides guidance on different systems and tools that can be used in residential aged care and community settings. It includes topics such as clinical handover and continuity of care (medication management), information technology systems, My Aged Care, quality improvement, and more. This resource complements Part A: Common clinical conditions in aged care and Part B: General approaches to aged care of the RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book).
National Dementia Action Plan
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.
Creating safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers
This resource provides guidance for creating safe, inclusive aged care for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers, focusing on trauma-informed practices. It supports providers in recognising unique needs, avoiding re-traumatisation, and promoting respect and sensitivity in care environments.
Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines
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.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
This resource provides information on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. The program funds flexible and culturally appropriate aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, mainly in rural and remote areas. It covers service provider requirements, funding processes, and adaptations to ongoing aged care reforms.
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.
Medicines use in older people
This resource is chapter six of the Fourth Atlas 2021 of Healthcare Variations. The chapter examines medicines use in people aged 75 and over, focusing on polypharmacy, medication management reviews (MMRs), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dispensing. It highlights variations in medication use and recommends improving access to MMR services and interventions for safe, effective medication use in older populations.
The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)
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.
High risk medicines resources
This resource provides guidance on high-risk medicines, including safety alerts, notices, and best practices for safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration. It includes information on insulin and anticoagulant safety, monitoring tools, and best practice recommendations to improve medication safety and reduce harm from high-risk medications across 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.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy
This resources provides information for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other communities related to medicine use and management. It includes a collection of resources for health workers involved in prescribing and supplying medicines in these settings.
Medicine safety: Aged care
This report highlights medicine safety issues in aged care settings, detailing the prevalence of medicine-related problems, inappropriate prescribing, underuse of medicines, medicine regimen complexities, administration errors, and challenges during transitions of care. It provides opportunities for improvements and emphasises the need for safer medication practices, improved pharmacist involvement, and better regulatory frameworks to protect older people from medication harm.
Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration
This fact sheet outlines the requirements for enrolled nurses (ENs) in Australia regarding the administration of medicines. It details the education and qualifications needed to administer medications, the specific conditions under which ENs may administer intravenous medicines, and guidance on removing any limitations from their registration. The document also emphasises adherence to legislation, policies, and safe practices.
Home Medicines Review
This resource provides information on the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program, designed to support the safe and effective use of medicines for patients at home. It outlines the process, eligibility criteria, program variations, claiming and payments, rural loading allowance, and guidance for pharmacists and healthcare providers involved in medication reviews
Working with older people with diabetes
This resource provides materials for health professionals supporting older people with diabetes. Resources cover diabetes symptoms and management, blood glucose monitoring, diabetes medication, healthy eating, and more, aiming to improve quality care.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Polypharmacy
This guide addresses polypharmacy in aged care, focusing on identifying inappropriate prescribing and reviewing all medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary and alternative medicines. It includes recommendations for reducing medication use through deprescribing, ensuring medication safety, and regular review of renal and hepatic functions. Tools such as Beers Criteria and other screening frameworks are provided to support optimal medication management in older adults.