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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 108 result(s)
/quality-standards/preventing-falls-home

Preventing falls at home

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This resource provides information on preventing falls at home for older people. It explains common causes of falls, such as poor lighting and slippery surfaces, and offers practical solutions like home modifications, exercise, and footwear adjustments. The document emphasises maintaining safety in and around the home to reduce the risk of falls.

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

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment, Clinical safety
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Preventing falls at home
/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
Key Theme
Medication management
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines
Medicines use in older people
/quality-standards/social-and-emotional-wellbeing-resources-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples

Social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Guidance

This page provides resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on social and emotional wellbeing. It contains information on support services, scholarships, lived experience centres, stories and other resources for mental health.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Clinical safety
Standard
1: The Individual, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
/quality-standards/teethorgau

Teeth.org.au

Guidance

Teeth.org.au is a website designed to provide oral health information to maintain a healthy mouth. It provides educational resources, information on accessing dental care, finding a dentist tool, and articles on oral health.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Teeth.org.au
/quality-standards/mental-health-and-wellbeing-suicidal-thoughts-and-self-harm

Mental health and wellbeing - Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource examines suicidal thoughts and self-harm in older adults, particularly in residential aged care. It discusses associated risk factors, the prevalence of mental health conditions, what organisations and individuals can do and gaps in understanding suicide risk. It also reviews interventions, highlighting the need for mental health assessments and training to improve detection and care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
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 - Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
/quality-standards/mental-health-and-wellbeing-screening-tools

Mental health and wellbeing - Screening tools

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource covers screening tools for detecting anxiety and depression in older adults, especially in residential aged care. It discusses the importance of mental health screening, steps individuals and organisations can take, choosing appropriate tools, and highlights tools such as the Geriatric Depression Scale and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. It emphasises early detection and routine mental health screening in aged care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
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 - Screening tools
/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
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
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/mental-health-and-wellbeing-depression

Mental health and wellbeing - Depression

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on depression in older adults, particularly in residential aged care. It discusses risk factors, detection tools, and treatment approaches, including psychotherapy, music-based interventions, and exercise. It also provides guidance on what both individuals and organisations can do to prevent and manage depression effectively.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
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 - Depression
/quality-standards/diet-and-nutrition-health-advice

Diet and nutrition health advice

Guidance

This resource provides evidence-based diet and nutrition advice to support healthy communities. It includes articles on various diets, managing health conditions, and guidelines for healthy eating across different life stages. The resource also offers guidance on when to consult a dietitian for personalised nutrition planning and support.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Diet and nutrition health advice
/quality-standards/first-aid-fact-sheet-choking-adult-or-child-over-1-year

First aid fact sheet - Choking adult or child (over 1 year)

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This fact sheet provides first aid instructions for choking in adults or children over one year. It details recognising choking symptoms and steps for emergency care and guidance to call emergency services if necessary.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
First aid fact sheet -  Choking adult or child (over 1 year)
/quality-standards/improving-patient-outcomes-through-medical-nutrition-therapy

Improving patient outcomes through Medical Nutrition Therapy

Guidance
Published date

This resource outlines the role of Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) in medical nutrition therapy across various health conditions, including those common in aged care. It includes indications for referral to an APD and highlights benefits such as improved nutritional status, symptom management, and enhanced health outcomes. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Improving patient outcomes through Medical Nutrition Therapy
/quality-standards/working-stolen-generations-understanding-trauma-providing-effective-dental-services-stolen-generation-survivors

Working with the Stolen Generations: understanding trauma - Providing effective dental services to Stolen Generation survivors

Guidance

This resource is a fact sheet providing guidance for dental staff when working with Stolen Generations survivors. It discusses understanding trauma, effective communication, addressing potential triggers in clinical settings, and respecting cultural sensitivities. It includes practical tips on culturally safe practices to support the specific needs of this community.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Working with the Stolen Generations:  understanding trauma - Providing effective dental services to Stolen Generation survivors
/quality-standards/resources-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing

Guidance

This resource provides a variety of documents and resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It covers topics including leadership in mental health, culturally safe practices, social and emotional wellbeing, suicide prevention, and strategic policy frameworks, offering tools for health professionals and communities.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Assessment and planning, Clinical safety
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing
/quality-standards/abbey-pain-scale

Abbey Pain Scale

Forms
Published date

This resource introduces the Abbey Pain Scale, a non-verbal pain assessment tool designed for identifying pain in people living with dementia. It aids healthcare professionals in recognising pain behaviours in those unable to communicate their needs effectively, supporting timely and appropriate pain management interventions.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services
/quality-standards/racgp-guidelines-preventive-activities-general-practice-miscellaneous

RACGP Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - Miscellaneous

Guidance

This resource provides guidelines for preventive activities in general practice, covering frailty, hearing, sleep disorders, oral health, urinary incontinence, and vision.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 3.1 Assessment and planning
RACGP Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - Miscellaneous
/quality-standards/nutrition

Nutrition

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on nutrition for people in palliative care. It highlights the importance of prioritising comfort and quality of life over nutritional intake. It discusses oral intake, artificial hydration, and medically assisted nutrition, emphasising communication with families and cultural considerations when managing nutrition and hydration at the end of life.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Nutrition
/quality-standards/qi-program-quick-reference-guide-unplanned-weight-loss

QI Program quick reference guide – Unplanned weight loss

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides a quick reference guide for approved aged care providers on collecting and reporting data related to unplanned weight loss as part of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program. It outlines reporting requirements for significant and consecutive unplanned weight loss and offers guidance on how to track and submit data quarterly. 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
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
QI Program quick reference guide – Unplanned weight loss
/quality-standards/electronic-prescribing

Electronic prescribing

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the framework for electronic prescribing, offering an alternative to paper prescriptions for healthcare providers and consumers. It explains the benefits of electronic prescriptions, such as reducing errors, improving efficiency, and supporting medication safety. The resource also covers technical and legislative requirements for implementing electronic prescriptions in various 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Medication management, Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.1: Clinical governance
Electronic prescribing
/quality-standards/electronic-prescriptions

Electronic prescriptions

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of electronic prescriptions, which offer a digital alternative to paper prescriptions. It explains how electronic prescriptions can be issued by healthcare providers and stored on digital devices for convenience. The resource also details the benefits of the Active Script List (ASL) for managing multiple prescriptions, enhancing efficiency and medicine safety.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Medication management, Information management system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.1: Clinical governance
Electronic prescriptions
/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
Key Theme
Clinical safety, Assessment and planning
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