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.
Outbreak Management Plan - key features
Outbreak management planning is a key part of infection prevention and control. This document supports both the development of a new outbreak management plan (OMP) and the quality assurance of existing plans. It details common OMP sections to get you started as you tailor your OMP to your service.
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 Immunisation Program Schedule
This resource provides the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule, outlining the recommended immunisations for people at specific stages of life, from birth through to adulthood. It includes information about free vaccines under the NIP and guidance for catch-up immunisations, ensuring the best possible protection through timely vaccinations.
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 Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
This resource provides an overview of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which tracks over 70 diseases that pose a risk to public health in Australia. It helps identify disease trends, supports outbreak responses, and informs public health policies. The system collects de-identified data from states and territories to ensure coordinated disease 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.
Optimising ventilation for infection prevention and control in healthcare settings
This resource provides guidance on optimising ventilation in healthcare settings to prevent and control infections. It outlines actions that organisations can take to improve ventilation systems, reduce infection transmission risks, and enhance the safety of both patients and staff. It should be used alongside relevant health authority notices.
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.
5 Moments for Hand Hygiene
This resource explains the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene, a framework designed to minimise the risk of infection transmission in healthcare. It outlines key moments when hand hygiene should be performed, including before and after patient contact or procedures, and after touching a patient’s surroundings.
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.
Joint letter from CMO and Commissioner to Board Chairs on winter preparedness 2025
Joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Anthony Lawler and Commissioner Liz Hefren-Webb to Board Chairs, Residential Aged Care Providers on winter preparedness in residential aged care.
Infection prevention and control in aged care
This resource is a collection of resources on infection prevention and control (IPC) for aged care service providers and staff. It includes guidelines, IPC posters and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) fact sheets.
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.
Infection prevention & control resources
This resource provides guidance on infection prevention and control for aged care providers, outlining responsibilities to make sure safety and minimise infection risks. It covers the development of infection control programs, training requirements, governance, and compliance with national standards, supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality care in residential aged care settings.
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.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Infection and sepsis
This guide provides information on preventing and managing infections and sepsis in aged care settings. It includes recommendations on vaccination, antibiotic stewardship, recognising symptoms, and managing conditions such as respiratory, urinary tract, skin, and gastrointestinal infections. It also covers risk assessment, treatment considerations, and the role of general practitioners in infection control.
Aseptic technique
This resource provides information on aseptic techniques to support service provides adapt practices to protect patients from healthcare-associated infections and healthcare workers from contact with blood, body fluid and body tissue. It provides guides for implementation, principles of aseptic technique and safe use of chlorhexidine.
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.
AMR - Antimicrobial resistance
The AMR provides information on antimicrobial resistance and it's threats to human and animal health. It contains information on how to reduce it's spread, news, AMR resources and other resources on antimicrobial resistance.
National Infection Control Guidance Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium infections associated with heater-cooler devices
This guidance addresses the infection risks associated with heater-cooler devices, particularly Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium infections. It provides recommendations for Australian healthcare organisations on managing these risks, including using safety notices and infection control guidelines. It should be used alongside state and territory health advice. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care and please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting.
Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard
The Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard (National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards) outlines infection prevention and control strategies, antimicrobial stewardship, the safe use of resources, and evidence-based practices. It aims to minimise infection risks and ensure the safety of people receiving care and workforce members. It also supports compliance with infection control standards in healthcare and aged care settings. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care and please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting.
Recommendations for the control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales
This resource provides guidance on preventing and managing carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in healthcare. It covers screening, outbreak control, and environmental cleaning, helping to reduce antimicrobial resistance. The resource supports infection control policies and aims to enhance safety in aged care and health service organisations.
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.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccination program
This resource outlines the flu and COVID-19 vaccination program for residential aged care providers. It includes information about what services must do to take precautions to prevent and control the flu and COVID-19 and minimise infection-related risks. 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.
Infection prevention and control - ACSQH
This resource provides guidelines to reduce infection transmission risks in healthcare settings. It provides information on standard and transmission-based precautions, specific diseases or conditions, other infection prevention and control strategies and promotional resources practices such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, and environmental cleaning.
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.