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.
Better Together: A practical guide to effective engagement with older people
This resource offers practical guidance on effective engagement with older people, highlighting diverse communication methods, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive strategies to capture meaningful input. It supports collaborative relationships and respectful dialogue with older people in decision-making processes.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Emergency plans and procedures
This resource outlines the requirement for all workplaces, including aged care facilities, to have an emergency plan under the model WHS laws. The plan must inform workers and visitors about what to do in emergencies, be easily accessible, and be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure effectiveness.
Guidance and requirements may differ across states and territories. Users are responsible for considering their individual circumstances and specific state-based regulations and legislation.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Medical records at residential aged care facilities
This guide covers managing medical records in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). It describes different practitioner models (solo, practice-based, aged care-specific) and provides standards for record-keeping, sharing notes, and maintaining clinical governance. The guide suggests methods for transferring medical information to RACF staff, including printing, electronic sharing, and handover notes.
Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD)
This resource explains the Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD), a service listing registered health care providers and organisations in the Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service. It enables health professionals to access contact and specialty information for secure messaging, referrals, and discharge summaries.
Emergency Resilience in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
This resource provides insight into the resilience of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in the face of emergencies and disasters. It explores key challenges and opportunities for enhancing resilience, such as the impact of migration, social capital, and communication barriers. It aims to equip stakeholders with actionable strategies to support resilience within these communities during crises.
Are you alert and ready? Safeguarding against infectious illness in aged care settings
Older Australians, particularly those that reside in residential aged care settings or in multigenerational households, are vulnerable to the ongoing risk of contracting and becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and other highly infectious illnesses such as influenza and gastroenteritis.
Tips for engaging with Elders
This resource provides tips for engaging with Elders from Aboriginal communities. It includes practical advice for communicating and engaging in a respectful way, with a focus on awareness and understanding of the person and their community.
Caring for older people in heatwaves – Home Care and CHSP
This resource provides a checklist for home care and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers to help them prepare for and manage the care of older people during heatwaves. It outlines steps to take before, during, and after heatwaves, ensuring the health and safety of those under their 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.
Free aged care translation service
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.
Fire, Security and Workplace Emergencies
This resource provides guidance on workplace emergencies. It includes information about what to do if there's an emergency at your workplace, types of emergencies, evacuation procedures and more. It highlights the importance of being aware of people's needs in an emergency situation and considering vulnerable people when developing an evacuation plan.
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.
Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service
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.
Summer clinical alert: Caring for older people in hot weather
This resource provides a summer clinical alert for aged care providers, focusing on safeguarding older people during extreme heat. It includes guidance on identifying vulnerable people, creating action plans, monitoring hydration, and recognising heat-related illnesses. It helps providers prepare for heatwaves and protect those in 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.
Keeping residents safe this summer
This resource offers guidance to aged care providers on keeping older people safe during summer. It includes strategies for managing heat exposure, hydration, and sun protection. It helps providers monitor vulnerable people, recognise signs of overheating, and implement preventative measures to ensure safety during hot weather.
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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
This resource provides information on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. The program funds flexible and culturally appropriate aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, mainly in rural and remote areas. It covers service provider requirements, funding processes, and adaptations to ongoing aged care reforms.
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 Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition)
This resource outlines the second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. It aims to protect people from harm and improve healthcare quality. The 8 standards cover areas like clinical governance, infection control, and medication safety, supporting aged care providers in meeting safety and quality expectations.
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 Model Clinical Governance Framework
This framework provides a consistent national approach to clinical governance in healthcare, focusing on governance structures, leadership, culture, safety and quality improvement systems, clinical performance, care environment, and consumer partnerships. It supports healthcare organisations in developing systems to ensure accountability, safety, quality of care, and continuous improvement, following the NSQHS 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.
Clinical governance for allied health practitioners
This fact sheet identifies the clinical governance and roles and responsibilities of allied health practitioners. It provides information on the National Model Clinical Governance Framework and lists the roles and responsibilities across Governance, leadership and culture, patient safety and quality systems, clinical performance and effectiveness and safe environment for the delivery 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.
Knowledge and Implementation Hub - Clinical governance
This resource discusses clinical governance in aged care, highlighting its importance in delivering safe, high-quality care. It includes evidence-based resources, themes on governance like leadership, culture, consumer partnerships, and workforce strategies, and provides access to research projects, reviews, and practical guidance to support care quality improvements.
Half the story: A guide to meaningful consultation with people living with dementia, families and carers
This resource is a guide for meaningful consultation with people living with dementia, their families, and carers. It covers planning, ethical considerations, communication methods, and ways to improve accessibility. The guide offers strategies to ensure the voices of those living with dementia are respected, valued, and effectively integrated into decision-making processes.
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing - Resources
This page offers a wide range of resources aimed at helping aged care providers deliver culturally inclusive services. It includes multilingual communication cards, cultural care plans, and practice guides that help address the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual needs of people in care. The resources make sure aged care services are accessible, safe, and appropriate for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.