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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 541 to 560 of 603 result(s)
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-hotline-stakeholder-communications-kit

Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline - Stakeholder Communications Kit

Tool
Last Updated

This resource provides a communications kit to help promote the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Hotline. It includes social media posts, fact sheets, and videos to support providers in raising awareness of the hotline, which offers advice, information, and assistance on food, nutrition, and dining-related matters in 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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks
Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline - Stakeholder Communications Kit
/quality-standards/antimicrobial-stewardship-self-assessment-tool-and-user-guide

Antimicrobial Stewardship Self-Assessment Tool and User Guide

Guides, Tool
Published date

This tool and user guide supports residential aged care services in self-assessing their antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices. It covers AMS governance, policies, education, monitoring, and feedback, aiming to improve antibiotic use and reduce risks associated with antimicrobial resistance. The resources helps identify gaps and develop action plans to enhance AMS activities and patient care. 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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
AMS tool
/quality-standards/effective-incident-management-system-checklist

Effective incident management system checklist

Guides, Tool
Published date

This resource provides a checklist to help aged care providers ensure their incident management systems meet regulatory requirements. It outlines key responsibilities, reporting processes, and steps to review and manage incidents effectively, aligning with the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) guidelines​.

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
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.5: Incident management
Document with teal header and and the test Effective incident management system checklist  and checklist items in table
/quality-standards/goal-planning-tool

Goal planning tool

Guides, Tool
Published date

This resource is a goal planning tool designed to support aged care providers in improving food, dining, nutrition, and consumer choice. It helps providers set objectives, track progress, and implement actions to enhance service quality, ensuring that people’s preferences and dietary needs are consistently met​. 

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. 

Goal planning tool  (PDF  899.52 KB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 1: The Individual
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life
Goal planning document with an orange header and two tables with four columns and three rows
/quality-standards/dementia-friendly-environments-dining-areas-kitchens-and-eating

Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidelines for creating dementia-friendly dining and kitchen spaces, emphasising sensory engagement, personalised meal experiences, and a home-like environment. It includes practical adjustments for lighting, noise, seating, and social interaction to enhance dining enjoyment.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating
/quality-standards/dementia-enabling-environments

Dementia enabling environments

Guidance

The Dementia Enabling Environments website, developed by Alzheimer's WA, provides guidance and resources to help create enabling environments for a person living with dementia. It includes design principles for different environment types, include home and residential aged care facilities.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Dementia Enabling Environments
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-information-providers

Food, nutrition & dining - information for providers

Guidance

This resource provides information and support for aged care providers to improve food, nutrition, and dining services. It includes guidance on meeting nutritional standards, promoting resident choice, and ensuring a positive dining experience. The resource also offers tools for monitoring food quality, addressing dietary needs, and enhancing overall meal service delivery. 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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
Food, nutrition & dining - information for providers
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-information-workers

Food, nutrition & dining - information for workers

Guidance

This resource provides guidance for aged care workers on improving food, nutrition, and dining experiences for residents. It covers meal preparation, resident engagement in food choices, safe food handling, and the importance of nutrition in promoting wellbeing. The resource offers practical tips for ensuring meals meet individual dietary needs and preferences. 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
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
Food, nutrition & dining - information for workers
/quality-standards/eat-health-healthy-eating-when-youre-older

Eat for health: Healthy eating when you're older

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on healthy eating for older adults, emphasising nutrient-dense foods while limiting energy-dense options. It highlights the importance of consuming a variety of foods from the 5 food groups, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, and managing dietary needs for chronic conditions. It also includes tips for food safety and preventing malnutrition.

Author
External resource
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Eat for health: Healthy eating when you're older
/quality-standards/partnering-care-caring-together

Partnering in care - Caring together

Fact sheet
Published date

This resource outlines the Partnerships in Care (PiC) programme, which encourages family and friends to support companionship and care for people in aged care, even during outbreak situations. It provides guidance on infection control, visitation protocols, and formal engagement with care activities to enhance resident well-being in a safe, structured manner. 

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
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy
Partnering in care - Caring together
/quality-standards/national-roadmap-improving-health-people-intellectual-disability

National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability, aiming to address health inequities. It focuses on enhancing care support, developing better models of care, improving oral health, and supporting health professionals. The roadmap includes projects on primary care, health assessments, curriculum development, and more.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  
National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability
/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/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-registration

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Registration

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Organisations or persons must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Registration as part of the initial registration audit. This is compulsory for organisations or persons applying for registration in categories 4, 5 and 6 from 1 November 2025.

The registration audit helps us to understand if the organisation or person can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Audit evidence collection tool
/quality-standards/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-renewal

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Renewal

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Renewal as part of a renewal audit in registration categories 4, 5 and 6. This is compulsory for providers from 1 November 2025.

Providers only need to complete this tool once as part of the audit program.

The renewal audit helps us to understand if the provider can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

  • your systems and processes
  • how you deliver high-quality care to older people.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Draft audit evidence tool - renewal
/quality-standards/audit-evidence-collection-tool-aect-variation

Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Variation

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

Providers must complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) – Variation as part of a variation audit, where they are asking to add categories 4, 5 or 6 to their registration. This is compulsory for providers from 1 November 2025.

The variation audit helps us to understand if the provider can conform with the related strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. 

We use this tool to collect evidence about:

  • the systems and processes you will establish
  • how you will deliver high-quality care to older people.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Draft audit evidence tool - variation
/quality-standards/renewal-registration-audit-guide

Renewal of registration audit guide

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This guide helps you prepare for and take part in a renewal of registration audit.

It describes:

  • the purpose of audits and how they inform (help us make) registration decisions
  • the 3 stages of the audit process (initiation, delivery, reporting)
  • what to expect and what to do at each stage
  • the types of evidence we consider during audits
  • how we define our audit ratings
  • the audit tools we use
  • other relevant resources.
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Renewal of  registration  audit guide
/quality-standards/variation-registration-audit

Variation of registration audit

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This guide helps you prepare for and take part in a variation of registration audit.

It describes:

  • the purpose of audits and how they inform (help us make) registration decisions
  • the 3 stages of the audit process (initiation, delivery, reporting)
  • what to expect and what to do at each stage
  • the types of evidence we consider during audits
  • how we define our audit ratings
  • the audit tools we use
  • other relevant resources.
Variation of registration audit  (PDF  434.03 KB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Variation of registration audit
/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/infection-prevention-and-control-acsqh

Infection prevention and control - ACSQH

Guidance
Published date

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
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
Infection prevention and control
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-reflection-practice

Food, nutrition and dining: a reflection on practice

Guides, Presentations
Published date
Last Updated

This training PowerPoint is a presentation that trainers/managers can download, customise and use to promote discussion and educate their staff to support and improve the food, nutrition and dining experience of consumers in their care.

The resource is designed to support reflective discussions about what ‘best practice’ looks like and a reflection on how it applies in practice.  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, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
PowerPoint thumbnail image FND training