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.
NSQMHCMO Standards Guide for Service Providers
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program
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.
Mental health and wellbeing - Dementia and mental health
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.
Creating behaviour support plans that better support residents
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.
Goal planning tool
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.
First Nations - Digital Flipchart - Your rights in aged care
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.
Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care - Resources
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working Out What’s Right For You
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.
Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management
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.
Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines
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.
Medicines use in older people
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.
The Poisons Standard (the SUSMP)
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.
High risk medicines resources
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.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation - Medicines & Pharmacy
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.
National Consensus Statement - Essential elements for recognising and responding to acute physical deterioration
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.
Medicine safety: Aged care
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.
Fact sheet - Enrolled nurses and medicines administration
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.
Mental health and wellbeing - Anxiety
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.
Home Medicines Review
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
Working with older people with diabetes
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.