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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 81 to 100 of 197 result(s)
/quality-standards/cultural-considerations-food-nutrition-and-dining

Cultural considerations in Food, Nutrition and Dining

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on incorporating cultural considerations into food, nutrition, and dining in aged care settings. It highlights the importance of understanding diverse dietary preferences, religious practices, and family dynamics to support person-centred care, improve wellbeing, and promote inclusivity within the aged care environment. 

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
Food and nutrition, Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 1.1: Person-centred care, 7.1: Daily living
Cultural considerations in Food, Nutrition and Dining
/quality-standards/free-aged-care-translation-service

Free aged care translation service

Brochure
Published date

This resource provides information on a free translation and interpreting service funded by the government for aged care providers. It supports effective communication with older people from diverse backgrounds, offering language translation, sign language, and captioning services to enhance accessibility and inclusivity 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Free aged care translation service
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-resources-workers

Food, nutrition & dining: resources for workers

Guidance

This resource provides aged care workers with tools to enhance food, nutrition, and dining experiences for people in their care. It includes practical guides on offering choice, managing swallowing difficulties, promoting oral health, and creating an enjoyable dining environment, all while ensuring adherence to aged care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
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, 7.1: Daily living
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for workers
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-resources-providers

Food, nutrition & dining: resources for providers

Guidance

This resource provides tools and guidance for aged care providers to ensure quality food, nutrition, and dining experiences. It includes hotlines, resources for dining, choice, swallowing, and oral health, as well as webinars, research findings, and practical tips to support older adults' wellbeing and meet care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
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, 7.1: Daily living
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for providers
/quality-standards/guide-consumers-psychotropic-medicines-cognitive-disability-or-impairment-clinical-care-standard

Guide for consumers - Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a guide for consumers about the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard.  The resource includes 8 quality statements about the health care consumers should receive to support the correct use of psychotropic medicines. 

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
Medication management, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Guide for consumers - Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard
/quality-standards/governing-reform-aged-care-practical-tools

Governing for Reform in Aged Care - Practical tools

Tool

This resource provides practical tools for aged care governing bodies and executives to support governance processes. It includes templates for audit planning, risk management, performance reporting, and compliance monitoring, helping providers ensure effective oversight and decision-making aligned with the Aged Care Quality 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Accountability and quality system, Risk management system, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.4: Risk management, 2.7: Information management, 2.8: Workforce planning
Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program
/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/healthcare-identifiers-and-healthcare-identifier-service

Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service

Guidance
Last Updated

This document explains the Healthcare Identifier Service, a national system for assigning unique healthcare identifiers to individuals, providers, and healthcare organisations. The service aims to improve patient safety, ensure accurate records, and facilitate secure data sharing across health, aged care, and allied health services. It includes privacy measures and public consultation outcomes for potential legislative improvements. 

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
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service
/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/health-workforce

Health workforce

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of the support and programs available for Australia's health workforce, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and mental health workers. It highlights incentives, training, and initiatives to address workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote areas, ensuring Australians receive the care they need across the country. 

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
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Health workforce
/quality-standards/supporting-people-living-dementia-eat-and-drink-well

Supporting people living with dementia to eat and drink well

Guidance

This resource provides guidance for aged care services on how to support people living with dementia to eat and drink well. It highlights innovative approaches such as creating familiar, enjoyable meals, reducing mealtime interruptions, and offering 24-hour access to nutritious foods. These strategies help address challenges like malnutrition and dehydration. 

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
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 6.4: Dining experience, 7.1: Daily living
Supporting people living with dementia to eat and drink well
/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/improving-aged-care-speech-pathology-why-it-matters-and-how-it-helps

Improving aged care with speech pathology: Why it matters and how it helps

Guidance

This page highlights the role of speech pathologists in supporting older people with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. It provides resources for aged care providers on how to improve care quality through effective communication tools and tailored strategies. This resource includes practical examples, like sample plates and picture boards, for enhancing dining experiences and supporting individual choice. 

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
Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Food and nutrition
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences
Improving aged care with speech pathology: Why it matters and how it helps
/quality-standards/incident-management-systems

Incident Management Systems

Guidance

This resource explains Incident Management Systems (IMS) used in aged care to record, manage, and respond to incidents. It provides guidance on building a safety culture, recording and analysing incidents, and implementing steps to prevent reoccurrences, supporting continuous improvement in care delivery. 

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
Incident management system, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
2.5: Incident management, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Incident Management Systems
/quality-standards/independence-and-conflict-interest

Independence and conflict of interest

Guidance

This resource outlines the principles for managing independence and conflicts of interest in aged care provider governance. It includes guidance on maintaining impartiality, identifying potential conflicts, and implementing conflict-of-interest policies. It helps providers ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of people receiving 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
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.9: Human resource management
Independence and conflict of interest
/quality-standards/rural-health-workforce

Rural health workforce

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of the rural health workforce in Australia, including policies and programs designed to encourage health professionals to train and practise in rural and remote areas. It highlights strategies for improving healthcare access and quality in these regions, supporting both professionals and communities. 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
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Rural health workforce
/quality-standards/screening-requirements-aged-care-workforce

Screening requirements for the aged care workforce

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information about screening requirements for the aged care workforce. It contains information about screening checks, types of screening and screening requirements. It also includes links to relevant resources for more information. 

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
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.9: Human resource management
Screening requirements for the aged care workforce