The Quality Standards Resource Centre helps extend understanding of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which took effect from 1 November 2025. You can search for resources by using keywords, or filtering by standard, outcome and audience. Before using the Resource Centre, please read the terms of use.
Dementia Australia
This resource is the Dementia Australia website. The website contains information about the types of dementia, testing, diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia. It includes information about living with dementia, such as behaviour changes, nutrition, staying connected and care options. It also contains information for professionals supporting people living with dementia, including research, tools and other resources.
National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health
This framework addresses health service challenges in rural and remote areas, aiming to improve access, workforce sustainability, and care models through coordinated strategies. It guides policymakers and providers on adapting health services for rural contexts, fostering collaboration, and enhancing infrastructure, with a focus on equitable and culturally relevant care.
This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care.
International Dysphagia Diet Initiative - Patient Handouts
This resource provides handouts tailored for people with feeding, chewing, or swallowing difficulties and their carers. It explains the IDDSI framework, describing food texture levels and appropriate testing methods. Separate versions are available for adults and children, each detailing recommended food textures to support safe swallowing practices.
This resource was developed internationally and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
International Dysphagia Diet Initiative - Framework Documents
This resource provides the IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) framework, including testing methods, detailed level definitions, audit tools, and implementation guides across language regions. It supports consistent application and understanding of diet textures for people with dysphagia, aiding caregivers in managing dietary needs safely and effectively.
This resource was developed internationally and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Adult diet specifications
This resource provides specifications for adult diets tailored to inpatient use in NSW hospitals, including allergy-specific and therapeutic requirements. Although intended for inpatients, it can serve as general guidance for dietitians and food service providers in creating meal plans for diverse health needs. This resource applies to healthcare contexts outside of aged care.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care Homes - Swallowing and food textures
This resource provides guidelines on managing swallowing difficulties in aged care by using texture-modified diets and thickened fluids. It explains various food texture levels and fluid consistencies for safe swallowing, offers practical meal preparation tips, and highlights the importance of regular reassessment by a speech pathologist
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Best Practice Food and Nutrition Manual for Aged Care
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.
Nutrition for older people
This resource provides nutrition guidelines and support for older people to prevent malnutrition, reduce falls risk, and promote independence. It includes meal planning, dietary tips, and training for service providers, especially those supporting home care.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Standardised care processes
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.
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.
Digital Health
This resource outlines how digital health technologies, including telehealth, electronic medication management, and My Health Record, can improve healthcare delivery. It focuses on enhancing communication, reducing readmissions, and providing better access to care, especially in remote areas.
Conformant clinical software products
This resource provides a register of conformant clinical software products that meet national digital health requirements, enabling functions like My Health Record access, health summary uploads, and prescription management. Organisations using the register should verify entries’ currency and accuracy as updates depend on software developers.
Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029
The Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029 outlines a framework for leveraging data and digital innovation to improve aged care services. It focuses on enhancing care delivery, reducing administrative burdens, and empowering older people through better access to information and services. The strategy supports collaboration across the aged care sector and promotes continual improvement through digital transformation.
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.
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.
About health data in Australia
This resource explains the collection, use, and regulation of health data in Australia. It highlights the importance of health data in improving healthcare, policy-making, and research. The document details various data sources, including the National Health Data Hub, ensuring data privacy and security while maximising the benefits of health information for research and service improvement. 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.
Residential aged care food services discussion paper
This paper presents a high-level overview of contemporary evidence regarding food services in residential aged care settings.
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.
Food for thought - positive stories
This resource shares positive stories about food, nutrition, and dining improvements in aged care facilities. It highlights initiatives that enhance the dining experience, including resident involvement in meal planning, use of fresh and seasonal ingredients, and creating more social and enjoyable mealtime environments. These stories demonstrate best practices and innovative approaches to improve resident satisfaction and wellbeing.
Food, nutrition & dining: resources for workers
This resource provides aged care workers with tools to enhance food, nutrition, and dining experiences for people in their care. It includes practical guides on offering choice, managing swallowing difficulties, promoting oral health, and creating an enjoyable dining environment, all while ensuring adherence to aged care standards.
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.