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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 109 of 109 result(s)
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-stand-discussion-notes

Food, nutrition and dining stand-up discussion notes

Presentations
Published date
Last Updated

This resource provides discussion notes to improve the food, nutrition, and dining experience in aged care settings. It includes reflective questions for corporate teams and care staff, focusing on governance, resident choice, oral health, and support for those with swallowing difficulties. The resource promotes continuous improvement and quality care through group discussions. 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. 

Stand-up discussion notes  (DOCX  6.68 MB)
Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
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
thumbnail image fnd stand-up discussion notes
/quality-standards/know-look-act-oral-pain-aged-care-staff-poster

KNOW, LOOK, ACT - Oral Pain aged care staff poster

Poster
Published date

This poster serves as a resource for aged care staff to recognise and respond to signs of oral pain in residents. It provides guidance on identifying mouth and tooth pain and taking appropriate action to address these issues. The poster is available for download and use in residential aged care 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
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
thumbnail - know look act oral pain poster
/quality-standards/ensuring-first-aid-capabilities-manage-choking-risk-residential-aged-care

Ensuring first aid capabilities to manage choking risk in residential aged care

Guidance

This page provides guidance for residential aged care services on managing choking risks. It advises 24/7 first aid capabilities, staff training on choking incidents, the use of suction devices, and understanding that advance care directives do not prevent the administering of first aid. The alert also recommends collaborating with speech pathologists, documenting discussions, and managing choking events through incident review and support. 

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
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
Ensuring first aid capabilities to manage choking risk in residential aged care
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-hotline-stakeholder-communications-kit

Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline - Stakeholder Communications Kit

Tool
Last Updated

This resource provides a communications kit to help promote the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Hotline. It includes social media posts, fact sheets, and videos to support providers in raising awareness of the hotline, which offers advice, information, and assistance on food, nutrition, and dining-related matters 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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks
Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline - Stakeholder Communications Kit
/quality-standards/dementia-friendly-environments-dining-areas-kitchens-and-eating

Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidelines for creating dementia-friendly dining and kitchen spaces, emphasising sensory engagement, personalised meal experiences, and a home-like environment. It includes practical adjustments for lighting, noise, seating, and social interaction to enhance dining enjoyment.

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, Food and nutrition
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-information-providers

Food, nutrition & dining - information for providers

Guidance

This resource provides information and support for aged care providers to improve food, nutrition, and dining services. It includes guidance on meeting nutritional standards, promoting resident choice, and ensuring a positive dining experience. The resource also offers tools for monitoring food quality, addressing dietary needs, and enhancing overall meal service delivery. 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
Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
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
Food, nutrition & dining - information for providers
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-dining-information-workers

Food, nutrition & dining - information for workers

Guidance

This resource provides guidance for aged care workers on improving food, nutrition, and dining experiences for residents. It covers meal preparation, resident engagement in food choices, safe food handling, and the importance of nutrition in promoting wellbeing. The resource offers practical tips for ensuring meals meet individual dietary needs and preferences. 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
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
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
Food, nutrition & dining - information for workers
/quality-standards/eat-health-healthy-eating-when-youre-older

Eat for health: Healthy eating when you're older

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on healthy eating for older adults, emphasising nutrient-dense foods while limiting energy-dense options. It highlights the importance of consuming a variety of foods from the 5 food groups, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, and managing dietary needs for chronic conditions. It also includes tips for food safety and preventing malnutrition.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Eat for health: Healthy eating when you're older
/quality-standards/food-nutrition-and-dining-reflection-practice

Food, nutrition and dining: a reflection on practice

Guides, Presentations
Published date
Last Updated

This training PowerPoint is a presentation that trainers/managers can download, customise and use to promote discussion and educate their staff to support and improve the food, nutrition and dining experience of consumers in their care.

The resource is designed to support reflective discussions about what ‘best practice’ looks like and a reflection on how it applies in practice.  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, Clinical safety
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 5: Clinical Care
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
PowerPoint thumbnail image FND training