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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 17 of 17 result(s)
/quality-standards/dementia-and-communication-resources

Dementia and communication - Resources

Guidance

This resource discusses how dementia impacts communication abilities, including memory and language challenges. It offers practical strategies for enhancing conversations and maintaining connections, emphasising the role of speech pathologists in supporting communication. The resource provides guidance for family, friends, and caregivers to create dementia-friendly environments.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Dementia and communication - Resources
/quality-standards/tailored-model-palliative-care-people-intellectual-disability

Tailored model of palliative care for people with intellectual disability

Guidance
Published date

This model provides a framework for delivering tailored palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities, aiming for equitable access across various care settings. Supporting toolkits offer resources for health professionals and families to enhance communication and collaborative care.

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, Palliative and end of life care
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Tailored model of palliative care for people with intellectual disability
/quality-standards/improving-palliative-care-toolkit-health-professionals

Improving palliative care - Toolkit for health professionals

Guidance
Published date

This toolkit supports health professionals in delivering palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities by providing resources, guidance on communication, and tailored care strategies. It aims to enhance service quality through understanding specific needs and collaborative care planning.

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, Palliative and end of life care
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Improving palliative care - Toolkit for health professionals
/quality-standards/standardised-care-processes

Standardised care processes

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource offers evidence-based standardised care processes for aged care providers, covering high-risk clinical areas such as falls, pain, incontinence, and dehydration. It provides structured guidelines to support best practices, ensuring consistent and safe care for older people in residential settings.

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
Medication management, Clinical safety, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Palliative and end of life care, Food and nutrition
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
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, 6.2: Assessment of nutritional needs and preferences, 6.3: Provision of food and drinks
Standardised care processes
/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/translating-and-interpreting-service-tis-national

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

Guidance, Tool

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provides interpreting support for people with limited English proficiency and agencies requiring assistance to communicate with non-English-speaking clients. Services include telephone, on-site, and video interpreting, with options for both government and fee-paying clients across Australia.

Author
External resource
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, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
/quality-standards/how-talk-about-dementia

How to talk about dementia

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on using accurate, respectful, and non-stigmatising language when discussing dementia. It emphasises avoiding negative terms, promoting dignity, and listening to individuals' preferences. It includes suggestions for talking about dementia symptoms, behaviour, and the impacts of dementia on individuals and their families, promoting understanding and reducing discrimination.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
/quality-standards/communication-clinical-handover

Communication at clinical handover

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource focuses on structured clinical handover processes to improve communication during patient care transitions. It highlights the importance of standardising handover procedures to make sure relevant information is effectively communicated, reducing errors and enhancing patient safety, especially during care transfers in healthcare settings, including 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communication at clinical handover
/quality-standards/communicating-safety

Communicating for Safety

Guidance

This resource provides tools and guidance on improving clinical communication to enhance patient safety. It focuses on key communication touchpoints, such as handovers, decision-making, and care transitions. Designed to support healthcare providers, it offers practical strategies to reduce errors and improve outcomes in aged care and other 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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communicating for Safety
/quality-standards/different-languages-same-aged-care

Different languages, same aged care

Guidance

This resource provides information on a free translation service for government-subsidised aged care providers, enabling communication in languages other than English. It helps aged care providers reach diverse communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, First Nations people, and those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, supporting culturally inclusive 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
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Different languages, same aged care
/quality-standards/free-aged-care-translation-service

Free aged care translation service

Brochure
Published date

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Free aged care translation service
/quality-standards/incident-management-systems

Incident Management Systems

Guidance

This resource explains Incident Management Systems (IMS) used in aged care to record, manage, and respond to incidents. It provides guidance on building a safety culture, recording and analysing incidents, and implementing steps to prevent reoccurrences, supporting continuous improvement in care delivery. 

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
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Incident management system, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
2.5: Incident management, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Incident Management Systems
/quality-standards/supporting-better-communication-care

Supporting Better Communication & Care

Guidance

This webpage provides resources to help improve communication, care and support for people who are deaf, Deaf, hard of hearing, or who experience hearing loss. It includes 3 tools: Everyday Communication, Inclusive Healthcare, and Building Competency. There are also links to other relevant resources.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Clinical safety
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services
Supporting Better Communication & Care
/quality-standards/tips-careworkers-culturally-responsive-care-communication

Tips for Careworkers: Culturally Responsive Care - Communication

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides practice tip sheets for care workers, focusing on culturally responsive care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It outlines communication strategies, emphasising person-centred care, cultural sensitivity, and effective interaction with patients and families, especially at the end of life.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Person-centred care
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 1: The Individual
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 1.1: Person-centred care
Tips for Careworkers: Culturally Responsive Care - Communication
/quality-standards/palliative-care-knowledge-network-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-care

Palliative care knowledge network - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides culturally safe and responsive palliative care information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It includes guidance for health professionals on culturally appropriate care, patient and family journeys, and relevant research and practices to support respectful and effective healthcare for Indigenous communities.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Palliative and end of life care
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, 5.7: Palliative care and end-of-life care
Palliative care knowledge network - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care
/quality-standards/tips-careworkers-first-australians-communication

Tips for Careworkers: First Australians – Communication

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource offers guidance on culturally appropriate communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in aged care. It highlights the importance of respecting cultural identity, involving family, and providing person-centred care. The resource provides practical tips for careworkers to ensure culturally sensitive and respectful communication.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Person-centred care
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 1.1: Person-centred care
Tips for Careworkers: First Australians – Communication
/quality-standards/residential-aged-care-supporting-residential-aged-care-residents-and-their-healthcare-teams

Residential aged care - Supporting residential aged care residents and their healthcare teams

Guidance
Published date

This resource provides information on digital health tools available for residential aged care providers. It covers how these tools, including My Health Record, support care coordination, improve health outcomes, and enable secure information sharing between healthcare providers to enhance the quality of aged care services.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Workforce and human resources management
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance, 2.7: Information management, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Residential aged care - Supporting residential aged care residents and their healthcare teams