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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 15 of 15 result(s)
/quality-standards/dementia-enabling-environments-care-environments-kitchen

Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Kitchen

Fact sheet

This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about kitchens in care environments. It includes principles to create enabling spaces and information about how to design the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

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, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Kitchen
/quality-standards/dementia-enabling-environments-care-environments-dining-areas

Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Dining areas

Fact sheet

This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about dining areas in care environments. It includes principles to create enabling spaces and information about how to design the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

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, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Dining areas
/quality-standards/dementia-enabling-environments-adapt-home-dining-room

Dementia enabling environments - Adapt a home: Dining room

Fact sheet

This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about adapting a home, focusing on the dining room. It includes principles to integrate enabling design and make changes within the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

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, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia enabling environments - Adapt a home: Dining room
/quality-standards/familiar-places-webinar-2-bedrooms-and-dining-areas

Familiar Places Webinar 2 – Bedrooms and Dining Areas

Webinar
Published date

This webpage provides a video webinar focused on familiar places, such as bedrooms and dining areas, for dementia care environments. It offers insights into how these spaces can be designed to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia, with a particular emphasis on creating comfortable and familiar settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition, 4: The Environment
Outcomes
6.4: Dining experience, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home
Familiar Places Webinar 2 – Bedrooms and Dining Areas
/quality-standards/best-practice-food-and-nutrition-manual-aged-care

Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care

Guidance
Published date

This manual offers practical guidelines on food and nutrition best practices in aged care homes, covering menu planning, meal enjoyment, hydration, and malnutrition prevention. It includes checklists, screening tools, and dietary considerations tailored to the needs of older people.

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
Clinical safety, Food and nutrition
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks, 6.4: Dining experience
Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care
/quality-standards/work-related-psychological-health-and-safety-systematic-approach-meeting-your-duties

Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide offers a systematic approach to managing work-related psychological health and safety, particularly under work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation laws. It provides businesses with a structured methodology for preventing psychological harm, intervening early when signs of stress appear, and supporting workers' recovery and return to work. Though the guide is an archived document, it can still offer useful background on managing psychosocial hazards but does not reflect recent changes in regulations.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties
/quality-standards/mental-health-tips-aged-care-workers-and-managers

Mental health tips for aged care workers and managers

Guidance

This resource provides mental health tips for aged care workers and managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and overall mental wellbeing. The resource offers evidence-based advice on recognising when extra support is needed and how to maintain mental health, helping aged care staff navigate challenging times effectively.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Mental health tips for aged care workers and managers
/quality-standards/workforce-planning-aged-care

Workforce planning in aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance about workforce planning in aged care. It includes information about workforce composition, current requirements and why it's important. It highlights the importance of the care experience, including continuity 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
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Workforce planning in aged care
/quality-standards/care-and-support-mental-health-resources

Care and Support Mental Health Resources

Guidance

This resource offers mental health and trauma-informed care materials to support aged care, home care, and disability support workers. Developed with industry consultation, it provides strategies to improve worker wellbeing, manage workplace stress, and integrate trauma-informed practices, addressing common challenges like burnout and occupational stress.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.8: Workforce planning
Care and Support Mental Health Resources
/quality-standards/allied-health-regulation

Allied health regulation

Guidance

This resource provides information about the regulation of allied health professions in Australia. It includes those registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) and self-regulating professions managed by professional peak bodies. It also provides links to further information about allied health professions currently registered with AHPRA and information for overseas-qualified practitioners.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 2.8: Workforce planning, 2.9: Human resource management
Allied health regulation
/quality-standards/food-and-nutrition-practice-guide

Food and nutrition - Practice guide

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource focuses on culturally inclusive food and nutrition practices in aged care settings. It outlines the importance of considering cultural, religious, and personal food preferences when preparing meals. The guide suggests involving people in menu planning, conducting regular dietary assessments, and providing culturally appropriate meals and utensils. The resource also highlights the value of celebrating cultural events and ensuring meals meet both nutritional needs and cultural expectations.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Food and nutrition
Standard
6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
6.4: Dining experience, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences
Food and nutrition - Practice guide
/quality-standards/self-care-matters-aged-care

Self-Care Matters Aged Care

Guidance

This resource supports aged care workers in managing stress and maintaining mental and physical wellbeing. It includes videos and tools focused on self-care strategies, such as mindfulness, relaxation, and personalised self-care planning. The resource is designed to help prevent burnout and promote resilience in delivering high-quality care in aged care settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management, Accountability and quality system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.8: Workforce planning
Self-Care Matters Aged Care
/quality-standards/code-conduct

Code of conduct

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides the National Boards' Code of Conduct, outlining the expected professional behaviour and ethical standards for registered health practitioners. It serves as a regulatory framework to ensure safe, ethical care, helping practitioners understand their responsibilities. The document is important for all registered practitioners to ensure they comply with these standards across healthcare settings.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.9: Human resource management, 2.8: Workforce planning
Code of conduct
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-older-people-rural-and-remote-communities

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Older people in rural and remote communities

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide discusses providing aged care in rural and remote communities, focusing on the unique needs of older residents, the role of GPs in care coordination, and overcoming challenges like limited services and workforce shortages. It covers building telehealth connections, establishing collaborative care models, and offers a checklist for newly arrived GPs to support quality care for older adults.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
4: The Environment, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 2.8: Workforce planning, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Older people in rural and remote communities
/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