Quality Standards Resource Centre

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This resource provides guidance on recognising, assessing, and managing abuse of older people in various settings, including residential aged care. It covers types of abuse (financial, emotional, physical, sexual, neglect), risk factors, barriers to disclosure, and steps for prevention. The document also includes recommendations for safety planning, intervention strategies, and resources for support across Australian states and territories.

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.

This resource outlines the principles for safe and high-quality transitions of care, emphasising person-centred care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and effective communication. It highlights the need for secure documentation, continuity of care, and coordination among healthcare teams to make sure smooth transitions and minimise risks during transfers between care providers. 

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.

In this short video, we provide an overview of the benefits of effective incident management in residential aged care settings under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), which commenced on 1 April 2021.

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.

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.

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.

This resource provides guidance on workplace emergencies. It includes information about what to do if there's an emergency at your workplace, types of emergencies, evacuation procedures and more. It highlights the importance of being aware of people's needs in an emergency situation and considering vulnerable people when developing an evacuation plan.

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.

This resource outlines support available for aged care providers in flood-affected regions. It includes guidance on emergency management, workforce arrangements, access to medical supplies, and disaster relief funding. The document also provides state-specific emergency contacts and resources to help maintain service continuity during and after floods. 

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.

This resource provides a summer clinical alert for aged care providers, focusing on safeguarding older people during extreme heat. It includes guidance on identifying vulnerable people, creating action plans, monitoring hydration, and recognising heat-related illnesses. It helps providers prepare for heatwaves and protect those in 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.

This resource provides Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) insights reports, offering case study examples and data to help aged care providers improve incident management practices. The reports feature learnings from incidents such as unexplained absences and unreasonable use of force, helping providers assess their own practices and enhance care quality​. 

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.

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.

This resource outlines the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), which helps reduce abuse and neglect of older people in aged care services. It mandates that Commonwealth-subsidised aged care providers implement systems to manage and prevent serious incidents. Providers must report incidents such as abuse, neglect, and unlawful contact, ensuring older people’s safety and wellbeing. 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.

This resource provides information on how aged care providers should respond to serious incidents, ensuring the safety, health, and wellbeing of people in care. It outlines mandatory reporting requirements for incidents such as abuse, neglect, or financial coercion under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), aiming to promote transparency and accountability in aged care 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.

This resource provides an introduction to the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), outlining its role in managing and reporting serious incidents in aged care. It includes guidance on incident management systems, the responsibilities of managers and workers, and reporting requirements for residential and home services​. 

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.