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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 20 of 69 result(s)
/quality-standards/meaningful-lifestyle-activities

Meaningful lifestyle activities

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource discusses the importance of engagement in meaningful lifestyle activities for people living in aged care. It includes information about understanding meaningful lifestyle activities and links to a collection of resources collated by ARIIA that are relevant to this theme.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 7.1: Daily living
Meaningful lifestyle activities
/quality-standards/national-strategic-framework-rural-and-remote-health

National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health

Guidance
Last Updated

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. 

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Information management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management
National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health
/quality-standards/bedrooms-and-privacy

Bedrooms and privacy

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource offers guidance on maintaining personal identity for people with dementia by fostering respect, independence, and communication. It suggests environmental and social modifications to enhance dignity, such as personalising spaces, supporting mobility, and addressing unmet needs.

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
Dignity, respect and privacy, Environment, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 4: The Environment, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.2: Dignity, respect and privacy, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 7.1: Daily living
Bedrooms and privacy
/quality-standards/digital-health

Digital Health

Guidance

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.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Information management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management
Digital Health
/quality-standards/informed-consent-health-direct

Informed consent - Health Direct

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains the legal requirements and processes for obtaining informed consent for medical treatments, procedures, and care. It is relevant to aged care by ensuring that people understand their healthcare options, risks, and benefits, supporting their ability to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 7.2: Transitions
Informed consent
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-medical-records-residential-aged-care-facilities

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Medical records at residential aged care facilities

Guidance
Last Updated

This guide covers managing medical records in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). It describes different practitioner models (solo, practice-based, aged care-specific) and provides standards for record-keeping, sharing notes, and maintaining clinical governance. The guide suggests methods for transferring medical information to RACF staff, including printing, electronic sharing, and handover notes.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Information management system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
2: The Organisation, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 5.1: Clinical governance
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Medical records at residential aged care facilities
/quality-standards/care-coordination

Care Coordination

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 7.2: Transitions
Care Coordination
/quality-standards/racgp-aged-care-clinical-guide-silver-book-part-b-collaboration-and-multidisciplinary-team-based-care

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Collaboration and multidisciplinary team-based care

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
5.4: Comprehensive care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 7.2: Transitions
/quality-standards/physical-activity-guidelines-older-people

Physical activity guidelines for older people

Guidance

This resource provides physical activity guidelines for older people, highlighting the benefits of staying active. It recommends 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity daily, including strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular exercises. The document also provides tips for safely starting and maintaining an exercise routine to support healthy ageing.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.1: Daily living
Physical activity guidelines for older people
/quality-standards/conformant-clinical-software-products

Conformant clinical software products

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Information management system, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
2: The Organisation, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
2.7: Information management, 5.1: Clinical governance
Conformant clinical software products
/quality-standards/informed-consent

Informed consent

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on ensuring informed consent in healthcare settings. It outlines legal, ethical, and professional requirements for obtaining consent, supports person-centred care, and ensures compliance with Australian healthcare standards. It highlights the importance of providing accurate information about interventions and alternatives, ensuring people have sufficient knowledge of potential risks and benefits. 

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Assessment and planning, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 7.2: Transitions
Informed consent
/quality-standards/aged-care-data-and-digital-strategy-2024-2029

Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029

Guidance
Published date

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Information management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management
Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029
/quality-standards/what-dignity-risk-consumer-resources

What is dignity of risk? consumer resources

Guidance, Guides, Poster
Published date

The Commission has developed a number of resources to help aged care consumers understand what dignity of risk is and what actions you should expect from your provider. The dignity of risk is another way of saying you have the right to live the life you choose.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 7.1: Daily living
3 circles(purple an elderly lady with a thinking bubble which says make sure you understand the risks to you and others, orange circle with 2 ladies with speech bubbles wit the words work with you to manage those risks, yellow green circle with a speech bubble one of them has a heart and the other is a blank speech bubble and has the words respect your decision) with on a teal background .
/quality-standards/colouring-conversation-creativity-and-care

Colouring, conversation, creativity and care

Guidance, Poster
Published date

These colouring resources have been designed specifically for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission with the intention of providing a multifaceted creative experience for older Australians living in residential or home aged care settings, and for the people who care for them.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.1: Daily living
creative activities thumbnail image
/quality-standards/how-navigate-transitions-care

How to navigate transitions in care

Guidance, Video

This resource offers tools and strategies for navigating care transitions for people living with dementia. It provides support to hospital, aged care staff, and family carers, ensuring that the unique needs of those with dementia are met during transitions, such as moving from hospital to aged care or home.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.2: Transitions
How to navigate transitions in care
/quality-standards/my-food-and-dining-preferences-form

My food and dining preferences - form

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

This fact sheet helps aged care residents communicate their food and dining preferences. It includes sections for meal choices, dining preferences, assistance needs, health considerations, cultural or religious customs, and contact information for allied health professionals. It also advises staff to monitor changes in weight and contact a dietitian if needed. 

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
Food and nutrition, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 3.1 Assessment and planning, 7.1: Daily living
Image of Food and dining preferences fact sheet
/quality-standards/about-health-data-australia

About health data in Australia

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Information management system
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.7: Information management
About health data in Australia
/quality-standards/aged-care-volunteer-visitors-scheme-acvvs

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource explains the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), which connects volunteers with older people to provide companionship and reduce social isolation. It details how to become a volunteer, request a visitor, and outlines the scheme's benefits for both recipients and volunteers 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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
7.1: Daily living
Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)
/quality-standards/digital-transformation-aged-care-sector

Digital transformation for the aged care sector

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the digital transformation agenda for the aged care sector in Australia, focusing on creating a consolidated, sustainable, and modern IT network. It includes strategies for improving connections between clients, providers, and the government, offering webinars and resources to support this transition. 

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
Information management system
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance, 2.7: Information management
Digital transformation for the aged care sector
/quality-standards/dignity-risk

Dignity of Risk

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on the concept of dignity of risk. It includes information about how to reframe thinking and ways you can support dignity of risk. The resource highlights the importance of choice and independence, and supporting someone to do what they want safely.

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
Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 7.1: Daily living
Dignity of Risk