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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 1 to 10 of 10 result(s)
/quality-standards/informed-consent

Informed consent

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on ensuring informed consent in healthcare settings. It outlines legal, ethical, and professional requirements for obtaining consent, supports person-centred care, and ensures compliance with Australian healthcare standards. It highlights the importance of providing accurate information about interventions and alternatives, ensuring people have sufficient knowledge of potential risks and benefits. 

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 7.2: Transitions
Informed consent
/quality-standards/action-133-welcoming-environments

Action 1.33: Welcoming environments

Guidance

This resource provides guidance on creating welcoming environments in healthcare services, including aged care, to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel safe, respected, and supported. It outlines strategies for cultural safety, collaboration with communities, and improving access to care through inclusive design, training, and environmental changes. 

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment
Standard
1: The Individual, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home
Action 1.33: Welcoming environments
/quality-standards/person-centred-care-case-studies

Person-centred care case studies

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides case studies on person-centred care approaches used by Australian and international healthcare organisations. It highlights strategies for engaging and partnering with consumers, offering guidance to organisations aiming to implement person-centred practices. Providers can be explored and consider aspects applicable in the aged care setting. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Person-centred care
Standard
1: The Individual
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care
Person-centred care case studies
/quality-standards/essential-element-2-identifying-goals-care

Essential element 2: Identifying goals of care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource guides providers in identifying and setting goals of care with patients through shared decision-making. It fosters collaboration between patients, family, and healthcare teams to clarify expectations and establish personalised clinical and personal care objectives.

This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. 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
Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care
Essential element 2: Identifying goals of care
/quality-standards/person-centred-care-practice-webinar-series

Person-centred care in practice webinar series

Webinar
Published date

This resource offers a series of webinars on person-centred care, providing practical examples from Australian healthcare settings. It is designed for health service managers, clinicians, and consumer engagement staff, promoting strategies and tools to enhance person-centred practices. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting. 

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
Person-centred care
Standard
1: The Individual
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care
Person-centred care in practice webinar series
/quality-standards/nsqhs-standards-user-guide-health-care-people-intellectual-disability

NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides guidance for the health care of people with intellectual disability. The user guide is part of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The resource was developed in response to significant evidence of poor health outcomes for people with intellectual disability in Australia’s health system. 

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
Person-centred care, Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
NSQHS Standards User Guide for the Health Care of People with Intellectual Disability
/quality-standards/case-study-safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-residential-aged-care

Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - Residential Aged Care

Guidance
Published date

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - Residential Aged Care
/quality-standards/case-study-safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-home-aged-care

Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - In-home Aged Care

Guidance
Published date

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Case study - Safe and Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medicines - In-home Aged Care
/quality-standards/safe-and-appropriate-use-psychotropic-medicines-aged-care-fact-sheet

Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet

Fact sheet
Published date

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Medication management
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Safe and appropriate use of psychotropic medicines for aged care - Fact sheet
/quality-standards/nsqhs-standards-user-guide-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health

NSQHS Standards User guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Guidance
Published date
Last Updated

The resource provides a guide for health service organisations to improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, focusing on 6 specific actions. It highlights strategies to build partnerships, enhance cultural competency, and ensure equitable, safe, and high-quality 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
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
NSQHS Standards User guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health