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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 61 to 80 of 83 result(s)
/quality-standards/nsqmhcmo-standards-guide-service-providers

NSQMHCMO Standards Guide for Service Providers

Guidance
Published date

This guide helps service providers implement the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations. It covers governance, care models, and quality systems. While focused on mental health services, elements like governance and quality may be relevant to 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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 3.1 Assessment and planning
NSQMHCMO Standards Guide for Service Providers
/quality-standards/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-mental-health-program

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This resource provides information on a mental health program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It includes funding for culturally appropriate mental health services, offering psychological therapies, complex care, and clinical coordination. The program integrates with other services such as drug and alcohol support and suicide prevention initiatives. 

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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 1: The Individual
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 1.1: Person-centred care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program
/quality-standards/mental-health-and-wellbeing-dementia-and-mental-health

Mental health and wellbeing - Dementia and mental health

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource examines mental health challenges in people living with dementia, covering complexities in diagnosing conditions like depression and anxiety. It provides evidence-based insights on therapeutic approaches, including music and cognitive therapies, and offers tools to aid aged care providers in supporting mental health in dementia care.

Author
External resource
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Mental health and wellbeing - Dementia and mental health
/quality-standards/creating-behaviour-support-plans-better-support-residents

Creating behaviour support plans that better support residents 

Guidance
Published date

This document outlines the development of behaviour support plans (BSPs) in aged care, focusing on person-centred assessments, identification of triggers, tailored strategies, and regular reviews. It highlights the involvement of healthcare professionals and adherence to care principles to effectively manage residents’ behavioural changes and improve their 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. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Creating behaviour support plans that better support residents 
/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/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/australian-centre-evidence-based-aged-care-resources

Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care - Resources

Guidance

This resource provides a collection of tools and guidelines for improving person-centred care in aged care settings. It includes assessments on care personalisation, pain management, staff-family relationships, and support for sexuality and decision-making for people with dementia.

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

Author
External resource
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care - Resources
/quality-standards/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-discussion-starter-working-out-whats-right-you

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working Out What’s Right For You

Guidance
Published date

This resource includes information and tools to support thinking and talking about wishes and preferences for care at the end of life. This resource has been developed for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, their community, and those working with them. The resource also includes information about identifying decision makers and advance care planning.

Author
External resource
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working Out What’s Right For You
/quality-standards/guidelines-pharmacists-supporting-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-medicines-management

Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management

Guidance
Published date

This resource describes the professional obligations of pharmacists when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with culturally safe and responsive care and medicines management. It includes information about appropriate and effective processes, desired behaviour or minimum standards of good practice and information about duties and responsibilities. 

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
External resource
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with Medicines Management
/quality-standards/residential-medication-management-review-and-quality-use-medicines

Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines

Guidance

This page provides information on the intent of the Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines (RMMR) Program. It outlines its purpose, participation requirements, claiming and payment processes, frequently asked questions, program rules, and extra available downloads.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines
/quality-standards/medicines-use-older-people

Medicines use in older people

Guidance
Published date

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. 

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Medicines use in older people
/quality-standards/poisons-standard-susmp

The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)
/quality-standards/high-risk-medicines-resources

High risk medicines resources

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on high-risk medicines, including safety alerts, notices, and best practices for safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration. It includes information on insulin and anticoagulant safety, monitoring tools, and best practice recommendations to improve medication safety and reduce harm from high-risk medications across 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
High risk medicines resources
/quality-standards/national-aboriginal-community-controlled-health-organisation-medicines-pharmacy

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy

Guidance

This resources provides information for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other communities related to medicine use and management. It includes a collection of resources for health workers involved in prescribing and supplying medicines in these settings.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy
/quality-standards/national-consensus-statement-essential-elements-recognising-and-responding-acute-physical-deterioration

National Consensus Statement - Essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physical deterioration

Guidance
Published date

This consensus statement outlines essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physiological deterioration in healthcare settings. It covers clinical processes like vital signs monitoring, diagnosis, and rapid response systems, as well as organisational aspects such as leadership, education, and evaluation. It provides generic information that can be applied to the aged 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.1 Assessment and planning
National Consensus Statement - Essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physical deterioration
/quality-standards/medicine-safety-aged-care

Medicine safety: Aged care

Report
Published date

This report highlights medicine safety issues in aged care settings, detailing the prevalence of medicine-related problems, inappropriate prescribing, underuse of medicines, medicine regimen complexities, administration errors, and challenges during transitions of care. It provides opportunities for improvements and emphasises the need for safer medication practices, improved pharmacist involvement, and better regulatory frameworks to protect older people from medication harm.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Medicine safety: Aged care
/quality-standards/fact-sheet-enrolled-nurses-and-medicines-administration

Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This fact sheet outlines the requirements for enrolled nurses (ENs) in Australia regarding the administration of medicines. It details the education and qualifications needed to administer medications, the specific conditions under which ENs may administer intravenous medicines, and guidance on removing any limitations from their registration. The document also emphasises adherence to legislation, policies, and safe practices.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration
/quality-standards/mental-health-and-wellbeing-anxiety

Mental health and wellbeing - Anxiety

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on anxiety among older adults, especially those in residential aged care. It outlines risk factors, detection tools, and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions such as reminiscence therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. It also provides guidance on what both individuals and organisations can do to prevent and manage anxiety effectively.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 3.1 Assessment and planning
Mental health and wellbeing - Anxiety
/quality-standards/home-medicines-review

Home Medicines Review

Guidance

This resource provides information on the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program, designed to support the safe and effective use of medicines for patients at home. It outlines the process, eligibility criteria, program variations, claiming and payments, rural loading allowance, and guidance for pharmacists and healthcare providers involved in medication reviews

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Home Medicines Review
/quality-standards/working-older-people-diabetes

Working with older people with diabetes

Guidance

This resource provides materials for health professionals supporting older people with diabetes. Resources cover diabetes symptoms and management, blood glucose monitoring, diabetes medication, healthy eating, and more, aiming to improve quality care.

Author
External resource
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Working with older people with diabetes