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.
Partnerships in Care Agreement – Sample
This resource is a sample of what a partner agreement might look like. It can be used as a template. This document has been created to support aged care providers and individuals where all parties would like to put an agreement in place.
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.
Outbreak Management Plan - key features
Outbreak management planning is a key part of infection prevention and control. This document supports both the development of a new outbreak management plan (OMP) and the quality assurance of existing plans. It details common OMP sections to get you started as you tailor your OMP to your service.
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 Immunisation Program Schedule
This resource provides the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule, outlining the recommended immunisations for people at specific stages of life, from birth through to adulthood. It includes information about free vaccines under the NIP and guidance for catch-up immunisations, ensuring the best possible protection through timely vaccinations.
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 Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
This resource provides an overview of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which tracks over 70 diseases that pose a risk to public health in Australia. It helps identify disease trends, supports outbreak responses, and informs public health policies. The system collects de-identified data from states and territories to ensure coordinated disease 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.
Optimising ventilation for infection prevention and control in healthcare settings
This resource provides guidance on optimising ventilation in healthcare settings to prevent and control infections. It outlines actions that organisations can take to improve ventilation systems, reduce infection transmission risks, and enhance the safety of both patients and staff. It should be used alongside relevant health authority notices.
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.
5 Moments for Hand Hygiene
This resource explains the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene, a framework designed to minimise the risk of infection transmission in healthcare. It outlines key moments when hand hygiene should be performed, including before and after patient contact or procedures, and after touching a patient’s surroundings.
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.
User guide to the Clinical Pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections
This user guide relates to the 'Clinical Pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs)'.
Clinical pathways for suspected UTIs forms
These clinical forms are part of the 'Clinical Pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs)'.
Joint letter from CMO and Commissioner to Board Chairs on winter preparedness 2025
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.
Infection prevention and control in aged care
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.
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - Residential Aged Care
This resource is a fictional scenario that follows an older person’s care pathway with a residential aged care provider. The resource focuses on the systems and processes to support high-quality care of older people living with cognitive impairment. It includes 4 key priority areas: person-centred care, medication management, managing changed behaviours and transitions of 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.
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - In-home Aged Care
This resource is a fictional scenario that follows an older person’s care pathway with an in-home aged care provider. The resource focuses on the systems and processes to support high-quality care of older people living with dementia. It includes 4 key priority areas: person-centred care, medication management, managing changed behaviours and transitions of 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.
Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet
This fact sheet is informed by the Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard (CCS), developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The CCS describes the safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for people with cognitive disability or impairment, in a way that upholds their rights, dignity, health and 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.
Clinical governance and quality improvement to support medication management
This resource outlines clinical governance and quality improvement systems to support safe medication management. It requires health service organisations to implement systems for procuring, prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring 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.
Fact sheet - Improving antimicrobial prescribing through selective reporting of antimicrobials
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.
Infection prevention & control resources
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.
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.
Electronic prescribing
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.
Electronic prescriptions
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.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part A - Infection and sepsis
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.