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.
Cultural safety in health care for Indigenous Australians: monitoring framework
This resource uses available data to measure progress in achieving cultural safety in the health system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The monitoring framework covers 3 modules: Module 1 – Culturally respectful health care services; Module 2 – Patient experience of health care; and Module 3 – Access to health care services.
ISBAR - Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation
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.
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.
Not-for-Profit Governance Principles
This resource outlines the Not-for-Profit Governance Principles, a framework designed to help not-for-profit organisations, including aged care providers, achieve good governance. It covers key areas such as board roles, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and organisational culture. The principles provide practical guidance to improve governance practices, ensuring accountability and sustainability in the sector.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Collaboration and multidisciplinary team-based care
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.
Assessment & monitoring
This resource provides an overview of the assessment and monitoring processes for aged care providers. It explains quality reviews, site audits, and the use of quality indicators to help improve services. It also covers continuous improvement plans and the importance of self-assessment to ensure compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Goals of care document
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.
Trauma-informed Care and Practice Organisational Toolkit
This toolkit provides guidance for organisations on implementing trauma-informed care practices, aiming to improve safety, trust, and empowerment in care settings. It outlines strategies to adapt policies, environments, and staff approaches to better support people with trauma histories in various care environments.
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.
Communication after stroke
This resource provides information on communication difficulties an person may encounter after experiencing a stroke. It discusses how strokes can affect communication, treatment to assist with communication, information on recovery, communication tips for family and friends and help resources for individuals.
Provider governance quick reference poster
A quick reference A3 poster informing providers about their new provider governance responsibilities.
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.
Aged Care Financial Report
This resource outlines the mandatory Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) for approved aged care providers. It details reporting requirements for residential care, home care, multi-purpose services, and short-term restorative care. Providers must submit financial data on income, expenses, and compliance statements to receive government funding. 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.
Aged care service requirements
This resource provides information on aged care service requirements, helping providers understand their obligations for delivering various types of care, including residential, home, and flexible care. It outlines the essential responsibilities for ensuring quality care and compliance with aged care standards, supporting independent living and tailored care approaches.
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.
Comprehensive Care - Clinical assessment and diagnosis - Key actions for health service organisations
This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans.
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.
Comprehensive Care - Clinical assessment and diagnosis - Key actions for clinicians
This resource provides actions for health service organisations to support clinical assessment and diagnosis, promoting a person-centred approach and comprehensive care planning. It highlights training, clear communication of roles, and systems for documenting diagnoses and care plans.
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.
Essential element 2: Identifying goals of care
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.
Comprehensive Care - Review and improve comprehensive care delivery - Key actions for health service organisations
This resource outlines actions for health service organisations to review and improve comprehensive care delivery, focusing on aligning care with patients' needs and care plans. It emphasises regular assessment, multidisciplinary collaboration, and quality improvement to maintain responsive, person-centred care across services.
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.
Communication at clinical handover
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.