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.
Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet
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.
What is open disclosure? - video
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.
Clinical governance and quality improvement to support medication management
This resource outlines clinical governance and quality improvement systems to support safe medication management. It requires health service organisations to implement systems for procuring, prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring medicines.
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.
Effective incident management education pack
The Effective incident management education pack is designed for providers to deliver to their own staff. It can be delivered in full or delivered as a series of shorter sessions where you can focus on the sections that are most relevant to your setting or the time you have available.
This pack will support your staff to understand the role they play in effectively managing incidents at your aged care service and help them understand what an incident management system is and its key elements.
Electronic prescribing
This resource outlines the framework for electronic prescribing, offering an alternative to paper prescriptions for healthcare providers and consumers. It explains the benefits of electronic prescriptions, such as reducing errors, improving efficiency, and supporting medication safety. The resource also covers technical and legislative requirements for implementing electronic prescriptions in various 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.
Electronic prescriptions
This resource provides an overview of electronic prescriptions, which offer a digital alternative to paper prescriptions. It explains how electronic prescriptions can be issued by healthcare providers and stored on digital devices for convenience. The resource also details the benefits of the Active Script List (ASL) for managing multiple prescriptions, enhancing efficiency and medicine safety.
Open Disclosure resources for consumers
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.
COTA - Council on the Ageing
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.
Seeking support from an advocate
This resource describes the advocacy support available for people receiving government-funded aged care, provided through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program. It outlines the role of advocates in assisting with understanding services, managing rights, addressing concerns, and learning self-advocacy skills, supporting respectful and fair treatment in aged care.
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.
About the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline – provider and worker fact sheet
This resource provides information about the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Hotline, which offers advice and addresses concerns regarding food and dining in aged care. It allows aged care providers, staff, residents, families, and carers to raise issues about nutrition, menu planning, and dining experiences to improve quality and care 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.
First Nations - Digital Flipchart - Your rights in aged care
A visual guide for conversations between providers/workers and older people about aged care. It includes notes for providers/workers to help guide the conversation.
How an aged care advocate can help you
If you are concerned about the quality of the aged care service you or the person you represent is receiving, an advocacy service may be able to help.
Better Practice Complaint Handling Guide
This resource provides best practice guidance for handling complaints within public service agencies and private providers. It outlines the principles for creating an effective, customer-focused complaint system, including steps for logging, resolving, and communicating complaints. The guide also provides insights on staff training, performance benchmarks, and systemic improvement to enhance service quality and public trust, with relevance for aged care providers ensuring fair and transparent complaint resolution processes.
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.