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.
Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Kitchen
This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about kitchens in care environments. It includes principles to create enabling spaces and information about how to design the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Dementia enabling environments - Care environments: Dining areas
This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about dining areas in care environments. It includes principles to create enabling spaces and information about how to design the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Dementia enabling environments - Adapt a home: Dining room
This resource, developed by Alzheimer's WA, is a Dementia Enabling Environments illustration information sheet about adapting a home, focusing on the dining room. It includes principles to integrate enabling design and make changes within the physical environment to maximise enablement and wellbeing for people living with dementia.
This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.
Familiar Places Webinar 2 – Bedrooms and Dining Areas
This webpage provides a video webinar focused on familiar places, such as bedrooms and dining areas, for dementia care environments. It offers insights into how these spaces can be designed to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia, with a particular emphasis on creating comfortable and familiar settings.
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.
Participating with consumers
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.
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.
Care Coordination
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.
Why meals matter
This resource highlights the importance of meals in aged care settings, focusing on nutritional needs, dining experience, and personal preferences. It addresses issues like malnutrition, dehydration, and food choice, linking them to resident wellbeing, autonomy, and satisfaction. It also suggests strategies such as person-centred dining, meal service innovations, and improved environmental factors to enhance mealtime experiences in residential aged care.
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.
RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) - Part B - Families and carers
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.
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.
Fact sheet - Principles of safe and high-quality transitions of care
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.
Analysis of a survey of food and dining experiences in residential aged care services - Final report
This resource provides insights into food, dining, and nutrition in residential aged care services. It is based on a survey conducted to understand residents’ dining experiences, preferences, and the quality of food and service provided. The findings highlight the importance of fresh, familiar meals, flexible mealtimes, and a homelike dining environment to enhance the quality of life for older people. 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.
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.
Communicating for Safety
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.
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.