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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 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.

Displaying 41 to 59 of 59 result(s)
/quality-standards/improving-accommodation-residential-aged-care

Improving accommodation in residential aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on improving accommodation in residential aged care through the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, effective from July 2024. It covers areas such as creating dementia-friendly environments, improving access to outdoor spaces, fostering community connections, and ensuring privacy. The guidelines aim to promote independence and a home-like atmosphere. 

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
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
Improving accommodation in residential aged care
/quality-standards/dignity-risk-introduction-aged-care-video

Dignity of risk – Introduction to aged care video

Video
Last Updated

This video explains the concept of dignity of risk in aged care, emphasising that older people have the right to make their own choices, even when those choices involve risks. It provides examples of how care providers can support decision-making while promoting safety and respect for individual autonomy. 

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
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 7.1: Daily living
Dignity of risk – Introduction to aged care video
/quality-standards/seeking-support-advocate

Seeking support from an advocate

Guidance

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.

Author
External resource
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Seeking support from an advocate
/quality-standards/first-nations-youtube-videos

First Nations - YouTube videos

Video
Published date

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
First Nations - YouTube videos
/quality-standards/silver-rainbow-ageing-and-aged-care

Silver Rainbow: Ageing and Aged Care

Guidance

This resource is about the Silver Rainbow project to improve the experiences of LGBTI people as they age and enter aged care. The resource offers resources and training information to support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ older people. It also includes relevant reports and papers, such as government submissions.

Author
External resource
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 7.1: Daily living
Silver Rainbow: Ageing and Aged Care
/quality-standards/food-and-drink-your-aged-care-supporting-informed-choice-and-risk-staff-poster

Food and drink in your aged care - supporting informed choice and risk - staff poster

Poster
Published date

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. 

 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 7.1: Daily living
thumbnail food and drink poster
/quality-standards/about-food-nutrition-and-dining-hotline-provider-and-worker-fact-sheet

About the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline – provider and worker fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks
First page of About the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline provider fact sheet.
/quality-standards/first-nations-digital-flipchart-your-rights-aged-care

First Nations - Digital Flipchart - Your rights in aged care

Presentations, Tool
Published date

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Your rights in aged care cover page
/quality-standards/how-aged-care-advocate-can-help-you

How an aged care advocate can help you

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation, 1: The Individual
Outcomes
2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life
How an aged care advocate can help you
/quality-standards/better-practice-complaint-handling-guide

Better Practice Complaint Handling Guide

Guidance
Published date

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.

Author
External resource
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Better Practice Complaint Handling Guide
/quality-standards/consumer-advisory-body-discussion-card-template

Consumer advisory body discussion card template

Template
Published date

A discussion card template that consumer advisory body members can use to write their own topics and questions to prompt discussion about any concerns older people receiving care may have.

Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Consumer advisory body discussion card template thumbnail
/quality-standards/consumer-advisory-body-welcome-letter-template

Consumer advisory body welcome letter template

Template
Published date

A welcome letter template that consumer advisory body members can use to communicate with new members.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Consumer advisory body welcome letter template thumbnail
/quality-standards/consumer-advisory-body-meeting-agenda-template

Consumer advisory body meeting agenda template

Template
Published date

A template that consumer advisory body members can use to plan their meeting agendas.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Consumer advisory body meeting agenda template thumbnail
/quality-standards/consumer-advisory-body-minutes-template

Consumer advisory body minutes template

Template
Published date

A template that consumer advisory body members can use in their meetings to take minutes.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Consumer advisory body minutes template thumbnail
/quality-standards/statement-rights-workers

Statement of Rights - Workers

Guidance

This resource provides information for providers about the Statement of Rights. The Statement of Rights promote quality and safe care for older persons accessing, or seeking to access, funded aged care services. The rights help to ensure that older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system. 

This page includes information about what the Statement of Rights means for providers, and has links to additional resources about the rights, including videos and fact sheets.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 7.1: Daily living
Statement of rights - workers
/quality-standards/better-practice-guide-complaints-handling-aged-care-services

Better practice guide to complaints handling in aged care services

Guides
Published date
Last Updated

This booklet aims to give guidance on how to:

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Better practice guide to complaints handling in aged care services
/quality-standards/statement-rights-providers

Statement of Rights - Providers

Guidance

This resource provides information for providers about the Statement of Rights. The Statement of Rights promote quality and safe care for older persons accessing, or seeking to access, funded aged care services. The rights help to ensure that older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system. 

This page includes information about what the Statement of Rights means for providers, and has links to additional resources about the rights, including videos and fact sheets.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 7.1: Daily living
Statement of Rights - Providers
/quality-standards/national-aged-care-design-principles-and-guidelines

National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines

Guidance
Published date

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).

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 4: The Environment, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience, 7.1: Daily living
National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines thumbnail
/quality-standards/national-aged-care-advocacy-program-nacap

National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP), which provides free and confidential advocacy services to older people receiving government-subsidised aged care. It helps people understand their rights, navigate the aged care system, and resolve issues. It also offers education and support to aged care providers to ensure they uphold these rights. 

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
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) webpage thumbnail