Before you apply to become a registered provider, make sure that you are eligible to apply and understand what is expected of a registered provider. This guidance material and the following resources will help you:

• Provider Registration Policy
• Provider Handbook: information about the Commission’s Registration Model, provider obligations, how the Commission enforces obligations and more
• Register and audit providers
• Types of aged care services: information about the different types of aged care services and programs that providers can deliver
• Provider governance responsibilities: information about the governance responsibilities of a registered provider.

The Commission’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) 2025–26 will outline any application fees to be paid when applying for registration. Where a fee applies, the Commission does not have to accept the application for registration if that fee has not been paid. 

You must complete and submit your application for registration using the approved form available on the Commission’s website. If you do not use the approved form, your application for registration will not be accepted. 

You will not be able to make changes to the application form once it is submitted. If you need to change any information given in your application form, send an email to registrar.applications@agedcarequality.gov.au explaining the circumstances. Include your contact details in the email.

You may withdraw your application for registration at any time before the Commission makes a decision on it. To withdraw your application, send an email to registrar.applications@agedcarequality.gov.au. Include your contact details in the email.

Check that you have completed all fields and answered all questions that are relevant to you. The Commission will not accept an application form that has not been completed properly. 

Ensure your responses:

• are clear and contain detailed information
• demonstrate an understanding of the aged care services you intend to deliver
• detail your relevant experience and suitability to deliver aged care services based on your chosen service types (e.g., your understanding of the Statement of Rights and how to act compatibly with it)
• provide information that is specific to you or your organisation
• do not rely on artificial intelligence or prefabricated responses
• demonstrate how you or your organisation will deliver aged care services within your operating context
• demonstrate you have understood this guidance material and applied it to your own circumstances.

During the application process you will be assessed on whether you meet the registration requirements. This includes:

• general registration requirements
• registration requirements specific to each category you are applying to be registered in.

To become a registered provider, you must demonstrate that you meet all the registration requirements that apply to you. You will not be registered as a new provider if you are unable to do this. 

If you are applying for registration in categories 4, 5, and/or 6, the Commission will conduct an audit against the Aged Care Quality Standards. However, an audit will not be conducted if you have not met the general registration requirements or if you qualify for an exemption. More information on the audit process can be found here.

If more details are needed to assess your application, the Commission may request further information from you before making a decision on your application.

If a refusal of your application for registration is being considered (e.g., due to unmet registration requirements), the Commission will issue you with a Notice of Possible Refusal. This will give you an opportunity to address the concerns outlined in that notice. If necessary, more than one Notice of Possible Refusal may be issued to you for different matters before the Commission makes a decision on your application.

Once a decision is made on your application for registration, the outcome will be notified to you via a Notice of Decision within 14 days.

If the decision was to register you as a registered provider, certain details about your registration will be included on the Provider Register. Some of this information will be published on the Commission’s website.

Certain kinds of decisions about your application for registration are reviewable decisions. These are decisions that you can request to have the Commission reconsider. More information about the reconsideration process can be found here.