Quality Standards Resource Centre

This toolkit provides guidance for organisations on implementing trauma-informed care practices, aiming to improve safety, trust, and empowerment in care settings. It outlines strategies to adapt policies, environments, and staff approaches to better support people with trauma histories in various care environments.

This resource explains supported decision-making, a process that helps people retain control over choices in their lives, even with cognitive challenges. It outlines how aged care providers can support people’s decisions, providing information in accessible formats and respecting autonomy, as endorsed by national and international rights frameworks.

This resource outlines the process for speech pathology assessments and reports, which evaluate speech, language, and swallowing abilities. It is relevant to aged care for assessing communication and feeding challenges, guiding appropriate interventions, and supporting care plans. It ensures accurate reporting and informed decision-making in care settings.

This resource provides guidance on using accurate, respectful, and non-stigmatising language when discussing dementia. It emphasises avoiding negative terms, promoting dignity, and listening to individuals' preferences. It includes suggestions for talking about dementia symptoms, behaviour, and the impacts of dementia on individuals and their families, promoting understanding and reducing discrimination.

The Commission has developed a number of resources to help aged care consumers understand what dignity of risk is and what actions you should expect from your provider. The dignity of risk is another way of saying you have the right to live the life you choose.

This resource provides information on communication difficulties an person may encounter after experiencing a stroke. It discusses how strokes can affect communication, treatment to assist with communication, information on recovery, communication tips for family and friends and help resources for individuals.

This resource provides guidance for home service providers on managing key risks in aged care services. It identifies 5 critical areas: organisational governance, care planning and assessment, clinical care, support for vulnerable consumers, and management of Home Care Package funds

These colouring resources have been designed specifically for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission with the intention of providing a multifaceted creative experience for older Australians living in residential or home aged care settings, and for the people who care for them.

This fact sheet helps aged care residents communicate their food and dining preferences. It includes sections for meal choices, dining preferences, assistance needs, health considerations, cultural or religious customs, and contact information for allied health professionals. It also advises staff to monitor changes in weight and contact a dietitian if needed. 

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. 

This resource guides clinicians on the importance of advance care planning, particularly for those with life-limiting illnesses, chronic conditions, or cognitive impairment. It outlines the need for early conversations about patient preferences and comprehensive care, ensuring decisions are documented, shared, and align with clinical handover processes to respect patient autonomy and improve 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.

This resource explains the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), which connects volunteers with older people to provide companionship and reduce social isolation. It details how to become a volunteer, request a visitor, and outlines the scheme's benefits for both recipients and volunteers in 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.

This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans. 

This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. 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.

This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans. 

This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. 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.

This resource provides guidance on the concept of dignity of risk. It includes information about how to reframe thinking and ways you can support dignity of risk. The resource highlights the importance of choice and independence, and supporting someone to do what they want safely.

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.

This resource guides providers in identifying and setting goals of care with patients through shared decision-making. It fosters collaboration between patients, family, and healthcare teams to clarify expectations and establish personalised clinical and personal care objectives.

This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. 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.

This resource offers a range of environmental cleaning and infection prevention tools for healthcare settings, including guidelines for small organisations, cleaning audits, product selection, and emerging cleaning technologies. It supports aged care providers in maintaining clean, hygienic environments, helping them comply with infection control standards and ensure safety.​ 

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.

This resource supports improvements to environments for people living with dementia. The resource includes information and background on the key design principles and environmental assessment tools. It also includes the Indigenous Aged Care Design Guide. The handbook can be accessed in full, or individually as 7 separate resources. 

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.

This resource provides guidelines on visitor restrictions for aged care services during infectious outbreaks, such as COVID-19. It includes information on managing the impact of restrictions, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of care recipients, and balancing health risks with the need for social connection to prevent negative physical and psychological effects. 

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.

This resource outlines actions for health service organisations to review and improve comprehensive care delivery, focusing on aligning care with patients' needs and care plans. It emphasises regular assessment, multidisciplinary collaboration, and quality improvement to maintain responsive, person-centred care across services. 

This fact sheet covers the frequently asked questions about consent in aged care.