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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 101 to 120 of 144 result(s)
/quality-standards/clinical-pathways-suspected-utis-forms

Clinical pathways for suspected UTIs forms

Tool
Published date
Last Updated

These clinical forms are part of the 'Clinical Pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs)'.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Form with multiple tables and boxes
/quality-standards/provider-governance-policy

Provider Governance Policy

Guidance, Policy
Published date

Under the new Act, registered providers will need to meet certain governance obligations.

Our Provider Governance Policy outlines our expectations of providers and guiding principles of good governance. It includes:

  • definitions and principles of good governance
  • provider governance obligations
  • how we collect provider governance information  
  • how we respond to provider governance risks.
Provider Governance Policy  (PDF  2.07 MB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Provider governance policy
/quality-standards/joint-letter-cmo-and-commissioner-board-chairs-winter-preparedness-2025

Joint letter from CMO and Commissioner to Board Chairs on winter preparedness 2025

Guidance, Letters
Published date

Joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Anthony Lawler and Commissioner Liz Hefren-Webb to Board Chairs, Residential Aged Care Providers on winter preparedness in residential aged care.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Joint letter from CMO and Commissioner to Board Chairs on winter preparedness 2025
/quality-standards/your-questions-answered-compliance

Your questions answered – Compliance

Video
Published date
Last Updated

In this video, Peter Edwards, Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement Group, answers your questions about how we will manage non-compliance from 1 November 2025. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system, Risk management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.4: Risk management
Your questions answered – Compliance
/quality-standards/infection-prevention-and-control-aged-care

Infection prevention and control in aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource is a collection of resources on infection prevention and control (IPC) for aged care service providers and staff. It includes guidelines, IPC posters and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) fact sheets.

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Infection prevention and control in aged care
/quality-standards/what-open-disclosure-video

What is open disclosure? - video

Video
Published date
Last Updated

This video explains open disclosure and what older people can expect from their registered provider during the process. It highlights key aspects such as communication, transparency, and how concerns will be addressed. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Open disclosure - video
/quality-standards/fact-sheet-improving-antimicrobial-prescribing-through-selective-reporting-antimicrobials

Fact sheet - Improving antimicrobial prescribing through selective reporting of antimicrobials

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

This fact sheet provides guidance on improving antimicrobial prescribing through selective reporting of antimicrobials for health service organisations and primary care providers. It includes information on diagnostic stewardship, definitions and the importance of selective reporting and other relevant information to support organisations and providers. 

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
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Fact sheet - Improving antimicrobial prescribing through selective reporting of antimicrobials
/quality-standards/infection-prevention-control-resources

Infection prevention & control resources

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on infection prevention and control for aged care providers, outlining responsibilities to make sure safety and minimise infection risks. It covers the development of infection control programs, training requirements, governance, and compliance with national standards, supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality care in residential aged care settings. 

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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services, 4.2: Infection prevention and control
Infection prevention & control
/quality-standards/effective-incident-management-education-pack

Effective incident management education pack

Guidance, Presentations
Published date

The Effective incident management education pack is designed for providers to deliver to their own staff. It can be delivered in full or delivered as a series of shorter sessions where you can focus on the sections that are most relevant to your setting or the time you have available. 

This pack will support your staff to understand the role they play in effectively managing incidents at your aged care service and help them understand what an incident management system is and its key elements. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.5: Incident management, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals
Effective incident management education pack
/quality-standards/cultural-respect-framework-2016-2026-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health

Cultural Respect Framework 2016-2026 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Guidance
Published date

This resource outlines a national approach to building a culturally respectful health system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It focuses on 6 domains, including communication, workforce development, and data evaluation, to ensure culturally safe, accessible care. It is applicable to aged care, helping providers meet cultural safety standards and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Accountability and quality system, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.2b: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support individuals, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Cultural Respect Framework 2016-2026 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
/quality-standards/quality-improvement-guidance-aged-care-providers

Quality improvement guidance for aged care providers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource offers guidance for aged care providers on implementing continuous quality improvement processes. It explains the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ model to monitor and enhance care quality, using data and feedback to address issues. It also provides practical examples and tools to support providers in improving care and meeting regulatory requirements. 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
Accountability and quality system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.2b: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support individuals, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Quality improvement guidance for aged care providers
/quality-standards/open-disclosure-resources-consumers

Open Disclosure resources for consumers

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on open disclosure in healthcare, explaining what people should expect if harm occurs during care. It includes fact sheets in various languages and outlines how to prepare for open disclosure discussions. The resource aims to support transparent communication and improve care safety across healthcare settings, including 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
Feedback and complaints management system, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Open Disclosure resources for consumers
/quality-standards/self-care-matters-aged-care

Self-Care Matters Aged Care

Guidance

This resource supports aged care workers in managing stress and maintaining mental and physical wellbeing. It includes videos and tools focused on self-care strategies, such as mindfulness, relaxation, and personalised self-care planning. The resource is designed to help prevent burnout and promote resilience in delivering high-quality care in aged care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.8: Workforce planning
Self-Care Matters Aged Care
/quality-standards/financial-and-prudential-monitoring-compliance-and-intervention-framework

Financial and Prudential Monitoring, Compliance and Intervention Framework

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the Financial and Prudential Monitoring, Compliance and Intervention Framework for aged care providers. It aims to enhance financial transparency, requiring stricter reporting, oversight, and adherence to prudential standards. The framework helps ensure financial stability, protects refundable accommodation deposits, and supports the continuity of care in residential aged care. It includes phased implementation and future regulatory changes.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Financial and Prudential Monitoring, Compliance and Intervention Framework
/quality-standards/government-provider-management-system-resources

Government Provider Management System resources

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides user guides, quick reference materials, and videos to support aged care providers in using the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). It covers essential tasks such as managing user details, financial reporting, and service information. The GPMS ensures accurate and efficient data management for regulatory compliance and operational oversight in aged care services. 

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
Information management system, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Government Provider Management System resources
/quality-standards/government-provider-management-system-gpms

Government Provider Management System (GPMS)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides an overview of the Government Provider Management System (GPMS), designed to simplify access to and reporting of information by aged care providers to the government. It includes user guides, fact sheets, and troubleshooting support for managing organisational details, notifications, and financial reporting in compliance with aged care requirements. 

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
Information management system, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Government Provider Management System (GPMS)
/quality-standards/quarterly-financial-report-resources

Quarterly Financial Report resources

Guidance, Report
Last Updated

This resource provides information and templates for the Quarterly Financial Report (QFR), required for approved aged care providers. It includes data definitions, templates, frequently asked questions, and guidance for reporting on finances, labour costs, and other operational data. 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
Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures
Quarterly Financial Report resources
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-infection-and-sepsis

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Infection and sepsis

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide provides information on preventing and managing infections and sepsis in aged care settings. It includes recommendations on vaccination, antibiotic stewardship, recognising symptoms, and managing conditions such as respiratory, urinary tract, skin, and gastrointestinal infections. It also covers risk assessment, treatment considerations, and the role of general practitioners in infection control.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Infection and sepsis
/quality-standards/aseptic-technique

Aseptic technique

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information on aseptic techniques to support service provides adapt practices to protect patients from healthcare-associated infections and healthcare workers from contact with blood, body fluid and body tissue. It provides guides for implementation, principles of aseptic technique and safe use of chlorhexidine. 

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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
Aseptic technique
/quality-standards/amr-antimicrobial-resistance

AMR - Antimicrobial resistance

Guidance

The AMR provides information on antimicrobial resistance and it's threats to human and animal health. It contains information on how to reduce it's spread, news, AMR resources and other resources on antimicrobial resistance.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
AMR - Antimicrobial resistance