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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 91 result(s)
/quality-standards/caring-older-people-heatwaves-home-care-and-chsp

Caring for older people in heatwaves – Home Care and CHSP

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides a checklist for home care and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers to help them prepare for and manage the care of older people during heatwaves. It outlines steps to take before, during, and after heatwaves, ensuring the health and safety of those under their 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Emergency and disaster management, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment
Standard
2: The Organisation, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
2.10: Emergency and disaster management, 4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home
Caring for older people in heatwaves – Home Care and CHSP
/quality-standards/your-questions-answered-influenza

Your questions answered - Influenza

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource answers common questions about influenza vaccination. It explains the importance of annual flu vaccines, who should get vaccinated, and how the vaccine works. It highlights the vaccine's role in preventing serious complications, particularly for older adults, children, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Your questions answered - Influenza
/quality-standards/australian-immunisation-handbook-updates-handbook

Australian Immunisation Handbook - Updates to Handbook

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides a summary of recent updates made to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. It details changes to vaccine recommendations, including the removal of discontinued vaccines, new vaccines for diseases, and revised guidance for specific populations such as pregnant women and immunocompromised people. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Australian Immunisation Handbook - Updates to  Handbook
/quality-standards/communicable-diseases-network-australia-cdna

Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA), which coordinates national surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases. It outlines CDNA’s role in managing outbreaks, developing policy, and strengthening disease control. The document supports collaboration with national and international partners to prevent and manage disease outbreaks effectively. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)
/quality-standards/covid-19-vaccine-advice-and-recommendations-2024

COVID-19 vaccine advice and recommendations for 2024

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides the latest COVID-19 vaccine advice for 2024. It covers primary vaccination doses, booster eligibility, general facts about vaccines and the latest data for case numbers and vaccinations. It also includes vaccine information for specific groups of people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in aged care and people with disability. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
COVID-19 vaccine advice and recommendations for 2024
/quality-standards/dealing-infectious-outbreaks

Dealing with infectious outbreaks

Guidance

This resource provides guidance for aged care providers on managing infectious outbreaks. It includes information on visitor access, visitor restrictions, and innovative practices to maintain residents' health and safety. It also covers essential steps for visitors to take to protect themselves and residents during outbreaks. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services, 4.2: Infection prevention and control
Dealing with infectious outbreaks
/quality-standards/give-flu-boot

Give flu the boot

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource promotes the free influenza vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older. It explains the benefits of flu vaccination, including reducing the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation, and provides guidance on when and where to receive the vaccine to protect communities from influenza.

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Give flu the boot
/quality-standards/government-support-providers-and-workers

Government support for providers and workers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines government support for aged care providers managing COVID-19 outbreaks. It covers funding through the Outbreak Management Support Supplement, surge workforce programs, infection prevention measures, vaccination assistance, and mental health resources to help providers maintain care quality and safety during outbreaks. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Government support for providers and workers
/quality-standards/sustainability-and-infection-prevention-and-control

Sustainability and infection prevention and control

Guidance
Published date

This resource highlights the importance of environmentally sustainable infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in healthcare. It covers fundamental practices such as hand hygiene and sustainable glove use, providing guidance on reducing environmental impact while maintaining safety and quality. It also links to relevant IPC guidelines for aged 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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Sustainability and infection prevention and control
/quality-standards/vaccination-people-occupational-risk

Vaccination for people at occupational risk

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides vaccination guidelines for people in occupations with increased risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. It outlines recommended vaccinations for healthcare workers, carers, emergency services, and others in high-risk environments. The document supports the development of vaccination policies and programs to protect workers and the people they serve. 

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
Infection prevention and control, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
4: The Environment, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 2.9: Human resource management
Vaccination for people at occupational risk
/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/heaters-and-burns-reducing-heater-burn-risks-residential-aged-care-services

Heaters and burns - Reducing heater burn risks in residential aged care services

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides guidance for aged care providers on managing risks related to hydronic heaters. It advises regular maintenance, accurate temperature checks, and positioning of beds away from heaters. Installing guards and monitoring heat settings are also recommended to prevent burns and ensure the safety of older people in cooler months. 

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
Environment, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home
Heaters and burns - Reducing heater burn risks in residential aged care services
/quality-standards/supporting-visitors-and-partners-care-ipc

Supporting visitors and partners in care with IPC

Guidance

This resource offers guidance for aged care providers on supporting visitors and partners in care through infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. It includes training resources to help visitors follow IPC protocols and maintain safe care, especially during infectious outbreaks, through the 'Partnerships in Care' program. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Supporting visitors and partners in care with IPC
/quality-standards/iceg-endorsed-resources-infection-prevention-and-control

ICEG-endorsed resources for infection prevention and control

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource collection includes guidance on infection prevention and control practices endorsed by the Infection Prevention and Control Expert Group (ICEG). It supports health and aged care providers with best practices related to COVID-19, personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning, disinfection, and minimising transmission risks in institutional and community 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
ICEG-endorsed resources for infection prevention and control
/quality-standards/immunisations-health-care-workers

Immunisations for health care workers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines recommended immunisations for healthcare workers, emphasising the importance of vaccination to prevent disease transmission to vulnerable populations. It lists vaccines such as Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR, Pertussis, and Varicella, and highlights more requirements for workers in specific settings or with higher risks of exposure. 

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
Infection prevention and control, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 2.9: Human resource management
Immunisations for health care workers
/quality-standards/hot-water-scalding

Hot water scalding

Guidance
Published date

This page provides guidance for aged care providers on preventing and responding to hot water scalding incidents. It highlights the importance of staff oversight, proper training, and temperature checks when providing care. It also includes immediate first aid steps for burns, helping to reduce risks for vulnerable people, especially older people. 

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, Environment
Standard
4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home
Hot water scalding
/quality-standards/home-services

Home services

Guidance

This page provides guidance for home service providers delivering care to older people in their homes. It outlines how providers must follow the Aged Care Quality Standards, conduct regular assessments, manage risks, and ensure the safety of vulnerable people. It includes resources to help providers identify and manage 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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Environment, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home
Home services
/quality-standards/staphylococcus-aureus-bloodstream-infection-sabsi-prevention-resources

Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SABSI) prevention resources

Guidance
Published date

This resource offers guidelines for preventing Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SABSI) in healthcare settings. It covers infection control strategies, including hand hygiene, device management, and surgical site care, helping organisations reduce infection risks and comply with national SABSI prevention 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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SABSI) prevention resources
/quality-standards/shield-yourself-shingles

Shield yourself from shingles

Guidance

This resource provides information on the shingles vaccine, which is free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over. It explains the risks of shingles, vaccination locations, and potential side effects. The document encourages older adults to discuss vaccination with their healthcare professional to protect against shingles. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Shield yourself from shingles
/quality-standards/sepsis-clinical-care-standard

Sepsis Clinical Care Standard

Guidance
Published date

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Sepsis Clinical Care Standard 2022 outlines 7 quality statements to ensure early recognition and best-practice care for sepsis, reducing risks of death and complications. It includes indicators for monitoring care and ensuring timely treatment. Applicable to multiple settings, including aged care, it supports high-quality sepsis management and improved 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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Sepsis Clinical Care Standard