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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 While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations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 55 result(s)
/quality-standards/dementia-and-communication-resources

Dementia and communication - Resources

Guidance

This resource discusses how dementia impacts communication abilities, including memory and language challenges. It offers practical strategies for enhancing conversations and maintaining connections, emphasising the role of speech pathologists in supporting communication. The resource provides guidance for family, friends, and caregivers to create dementia-friendly environments.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Dementia and communication - Resources
/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/translating-and-interpreting-service-tis-national

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

Guidance, Tool

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provides interpreting support for people with limited English proficiency and agencies requiring assistance to communicate with non-English-speaking clients. Services include telephone, on-site, and video interpreting, with options for both government and fee-paying clients across Australia.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
/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/healthcare-provider-directory-hpd

Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD)

Tool
Last Updated

This resource explains the Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD), a service listing registered health care providers and organisations in the Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service. It enables health professionals to access contact and specialty information for secure messaging, referrals, and discharge summaries.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD)
/quality-standards/how-talk-about-dementia

How to talk about dementia

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance on using accurate, respectful, and non-stigmatising language when discussing dementia. It emphasises avoiding negative terms, promoting dignity, and listening to individuals' preferences. It includes suggestions for talking about dementia symptoms, behaviour, and the impacts of dementia on individuals and their families, promoting understanding and reducing discrimination.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
/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/communication-clinical-handover

Communication at clinical handover

Guidance
Last Updated

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communication at clinical handover
/quality-standards/communicating-safety

Communicating for Safety

Guidance

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.

Author
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Care coordination and transitions, Assessment and planning
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 3.4: Planning and coordination of funded aged care services, 5.4: Comprehensive care, 7.2: Transitions
Communicating for Safety
/quality-standards/different-languages-same-aged-care

Different languages, same aged care

Guidance

This resource provides information on a free translation service for government-subsidised aged care providers, enabling communication in languages other than English. It helps aged care providers reach diverse communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, First Nations people, and those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, supporting culturally inclusive 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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Different languages, same aged care
/quality-standards/digital-transformation-aged-care-sector-resources

Digital transformation for the aged care sector resources

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides access to various materials related to digital transformation in the aged care sector, including videos, presentations, and meeting summaries. It offers insights into building a modern, connected aged care IT network and shares updates from sector partner meetings on digital transformation initiatives. 

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 resources
/quality-standards/free-aged-care-translation-service

Free aged care translation service

Brochure
Published date

This resource provides information on a free translation and interpreting service funded by the government for aged care providers. It supports effective communication with older people from diverse backgrounds, offering language translation, sign language, and captioning services to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in 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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Corporate and clinical governance, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 2.1: Partnering with individuals, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Free aged care translation service
/quality-standards/healthcare-identifiers-and-healthcare-identifier-service

Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service

Guidance
Last Updated

This document explains the Healthcare Identifier Service, a national system for assigning unique healthcare identifiers to individuals, providers, and healthcare organisations. The service aims to improve patient safety, ensure accurate records, and facilitate secure data sharing across health, aged care, and allied health services. It includes privacy measures and public consultation outcomes for potential legislative improvements. 

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
Corporate and clinical governance, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Care coordination and transitions
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
Healthcare Identifiers and the Healthcare Identifier Service
/quality-standards/incident-management-systems

Incident Management Systems

Guidance

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.

Author
Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
Key Theme
Incident management system, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
2: The Organisation, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
2.5: Incident management, 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Incident Management Systems
/quality-standards/set-access-my-aged-care

Set up access to My Aged Care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidance for aged care assessors and service providers on accessing and using the My Aged Care portals. It outlines steps for setting up secure access through authentication methods, managing organisation information, and creating staff accounts, supporting efficient service delivery and assessment processes. 

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
Set up access to My Aged Care
/quality-standards/introduction-aged-care-videos-and-facilitator-guides

Introduction to Aged Care – Videos and facilitator guides

Video
Published date

This resource provides videos and facilitator guides to support the training and induction of aged care workers. It covers various key concepts, including duty of care, infection control, wellness, reablement, and safe practices. The aim is to enhance the understanding and quality of aged care 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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Workforce and human resources management
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 2: The Organisation
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance, 2.9: Human resource management
Introduction to Aged Care – Videos and facilitator guides
/quality-standards/monthly-care-statements-residential-aged-care

Monthly Care Statements for residential aged care

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides information about Monthly Care Statements, including why they are important, who can give them, and the benefits for residents and 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.

Author
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Key Theme
Agreements, fees, pricing, invoicing and statements
Standard
3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
3.3: Communicating for safety and quality
Monthly Care Statements for residential aged care
/quality-standards/national-safety-and-quality-health-service-standards-second-edition

National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition)

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource outlines the second edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. It aims to protect people from harm and improve healthcare quality. The 8 standards cover areas like clinical governance, infection control, and medication safety, supporting aged care providers in meeting safety and quality expectations. 

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
Australian Commission On Safety And Quality In Health Care
Key Theme
Care coordination and transitions, Corporate and clinical governance
Standard
5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
5.1: Clinical governance
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition)
/quality-standards/food-and-dining-your-choices-matter

Food and dining - your choices matter

Fact sheet
Published date
Last Updated

This fact sheet informs aged care residents of their rights to safe, enjoyable, and respectful dining experiences. It outlines steps for raising concerns with providers about food and dining, offers a preference form for residents to communicate their dietary needs, and provides contact information for support services if issues remain unresolved. 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, Choice, independence and quality of life, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Feedback and complaints management system
Standard
1: The Individual, 2: The Organisation, 6: Food and Nutrition, 7: The Residential Community
Outcomes
1.3: Choice, independence and quality of life, 2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 6.1: Partnering with individuals on food and drinks, 7.1: Daily living
First page of the Food and dining – your choices matter fact sheet
/quality-standards/governing-reform-aged-care-program

Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program

Guidance

This resource outlines the Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program, designed to strengthen corporate and clinical governance capabilities for aged care leaders. It provides tools, online learning modules, webinars, and podcasts to support governance improvement and help leaders engage in reform efforts. 

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
Corporate and clinical governance, Accountability and quality system, Risk management system, Incident management system, Feedback and complaints management system, Information management system, Workforce and human resources management, Emergency and disaster management
Standard
2: The Organisation
Outcomes
2.1: Partnering with individuals, 2.2a: Quality, safety and inclusion culture to support aged care workers to deliver quality care, 2.3: Accountability, quality system and policies and procedures, 2.4: Risk management, 2.5: Incident management, 2.6a: Complaints and feedback management for aged care workers, 2.6b: Complaints and feedback management for individuals, 2.7: Information management, 2.8: Workforce planning, 2.9: Human resource management, 2.10: Emergency and disaster management
Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program