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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 20 of 41 result(s)
/quality-standards/my-5-moments-hand-hygiene-focus-caring-patient-urinary-catheter

My 5 moments for hand hygiene: focus on caring for a patient with a urinary catheter

Poster
Published date

This resource outlines the ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’ with specific considerations for patients with urinary catheters, aiming to minimise infection risks. It provides steps for appropriate hand hygiene before and after touching the patient, performing aseptic procedures, and handling catheter equipment.

This resource was developed internationally and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

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
My 5 moments for hand hygiene: focus on caring for a patient with a urinary catheter
/quality-standards/global-strategy-infection-prevention-and-control

Global strategy on infection prevention and control

Guidance

This resource provides a global framework for infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare settings, aiming to reduce healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. It offers strategic directions for achieving measurable improvements by 2030, supporting patient safety, healthcare worker protection, and sustainable health outcomes worldwide.

This resource was developed internationally and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

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
Global strategy on infection prevention and control
/quality-standards/isbar-identify-situation-background-assessment-and-recommendation

ISBAR - Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation

Guidance

This resource describes the ISBAR communication tool—Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation—used to improve safety during handovers in clinical settings. It includes adaptable resources like fact sheets and lanyard cards to support consistent, structured information transfer.

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
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care
ISBAR - Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation
/quality-standards/infection-control-guidelines

Infection Control Guidelines

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides infection control guidelines for managing infectious diseases in care settings, covering protocols for exposure to blood and body fluids, managing respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, and handling high-risk infections. It includes standard precautions, waste disposal, and cleaning procedures to maintain safety and reduce transmission.

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
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 Control Guidelines
/quality-standards/participating-consumers

Participating with consumers

Fact sheet
Last Updated

This resource provides information sheets for residents, families, and carers to support decision-making in residential aged care. Covering topics such as pain management, falls, and medicines, it promotes health literacy, enabling consumers to engage in discussions and report care issues effectively.

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
Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions, Medication management, Clinical safety, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Palliative and end of life care
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.3: Safe and quality use of medicines, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Participating with consumers
/quality-standards/my-healthy-home-home-health-factsheet-series

My healthy home: home health factsheet series

Fact sheet
Published date

This resource offers accessible health information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on preventing illness in the home. It includes room-based fact sheets with actions to improve environmental health, available as individual sheets or a workbook. This resource includes state-specific information and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment, Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 4.2: Infection prevention and control, 5.2: Preventing and controlling infections in delivering clinical care services
My healthy home: home health factsheet series
/quality-standards/informed-consent-health-direct

Informed consent - Health Direct

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains the legal requirements and processes for obtaining informed consent for medical treatments, procedures, and care. It is relevant to aged care by ensuring that people understand their healthcare options, risks, and benefits, supporting their ability to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Author
External resource
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/care-coordination

Care Coordination

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource offers practical guidance on effective care coordination, focusing on communication within multidisciplinary teams, continuity of care, and transition management. It provides tools for involving families in care planning and supports strategies for optimising palliative care and improving outcomes for people in aged care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 7.2: Transitions
Care Coordination
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-collaboration-and-multidisciplinary-team-based-care

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Collaboration and multidisciplinary team-based care

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide focuses on collaboration and multidisciplinary care for older adults, particularly in residential aged care. It outlines the benefits of team-based care, effective team structures, shared goals, defined roles, building trust, communication, and measurable processes to improve health outcomes. It provides practical tips for effective teamwork and highlights the importance of coordinating care among various healthcare professionals.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 7.2: Transitions
/quality-standards/covid-19-resource-kit

COVID-19 resource kit

Fact sheet, Guidance
Last Updated

This resource kit provides downloadable tools for businesses, including aged care, to manage COVID-19 risks. It includes checklists, posters, and infographics covering hygiene, physical distancing, cleaning, and response actions if a worker contracts COVID-19. These materials help workplaces implement safe practices and reduce the spread of the virus.

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
COVID-19 resource kit
/quality-standards/healthcare-provider-directory-hpd

Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD)

Tool
Last Updated

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.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD)
/quality-standards/covid-19-information-workplaces-aged-care

COVID-19 Information for workplaces - Aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides work health and safety (WHS) guidance for the aged care industry during COVID-19. It includes information on employer responsibilities, safe workplace practices, and compliance with public health directions. It supports aged care providers in managing COVID-19 risks across various settings, including residential, respite, and in-home care services.

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
COVID-19 Information for workplaces - Aged care
/quality-standards/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common and highly contagious virus that affects the airways and lungs. It outlines symptoms, prevention, and potential complications, especially for young children and older adults. It also provides information on diagnosis, treatment, and recently approved vaccines for at-risk groups.

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
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
/quality-standards/covid-19-information-workplaces-general

COVID-19 Information for workplaces - General

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on minimising the spread of COVID-19, including aged care settings. It outlines vaccine information, risk assessments, physical distancing, hygiene and rapid antigen testing in the workplace. It also contains key resources such as signage, posters and translated information.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment, Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 4.2: Infection prevention and control
COVID-19 Information for workplaces - General
/quality-standards/goals-care-document

Goals of care document

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains the purpose of a goals of care document, which outlines a person’s medical treatment goals and end of life care preferences. It describes how healthcare providers create and upload these documents to health records, supporting informed decision-making and access to care preferences.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care
Goals of care document
/quality-standards/how-clean-and-disinfect-your-workplace-covid-19

How to clean and disinfect your workplace - COVID-19

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides detailed guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting workplaces, including aged care settings, to minimise the spread of COVID-19. It outlines cleaning procedures for different surfaces and items, the proper use of disinfectants, and disposal of materials. It supports workplace hygiene by ensuring routine and post-exposure cleaning protocols.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment, Infection prevention and control
Standard
4: The Environment
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 4.2: Infection prevention and control
How to clean and disinfect your workplace - COVID-19
/quality-standards/national-antimicrobial-prescribing-survey-naps

National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS)

Tool

This survey resource provides a framework for assessing antimicrobial prescribing practices in aged care and other health settings. It supports health facilities in evaluating the appropriateness of antimicrobial use through audit tools and data collection, contributing to antimicrobial stewardship and improved patient care quality.

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
National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS)
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-families-and-carers

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Families and carers

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide focuses on the role of families and carers in supporting older adults, covering topics like consent, communication, self-care, and bereavement support. It includes practical advice on involving carers in healthcare planning, respecting patient confidentiality, and resources for additional support, ensuring comprehensive care for both patients and carers.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Families and carers
/quality-standards/how-navigate-transitions-care

How to navigate transitions in care

Guidance, Video

This resource offers tools and strategies for navigating care transitions for people living with dementia. It provides support to hospital, aged care staff, and family carers, ensuring that the unique needs of those with dementia are met during transitions, such as moving from hospital to aged care or home.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
How to navigate transitions in care
/quality-standards/transitioning-residential-aged-care-loss-and-grief

Transitioning to Residential Aged Care: Loss and Grief

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explores the emotional impact of transitioning into residential aged care, focusing on loss and grief experienced by older people and their families. It highlights the common emotional challenges, such as fear, loss of independence, and guilt, and provides strategies to support emotional well-being during this difficult transition. 

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
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
Transitioning to Residential Aged Care: Loss and Grief