Under the Aged Care Act 2024, funded aged care services can only be delivered by a registered provider.

A provider must apply to renew their registration to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) to continue to deliver funded aged care services in one or more provider registration categories by submitting an Application for renewal of registration as a provider of aged care services form (application form).

If you intend to continue delivering funded aged care services, you must renew your registration before it expires. The Commission would have given you:

• an invitation to renew your registration

• a timeframe for submitting your registration renewal application form.

If you do not submit your application before the end of that timeframe, your registration as a registered provider will expire at the end of your registration period.

This guidance material will help you complete an application form to renew your registration. It includes:

• information regarding the registration renewal application process
• references to specific provisions in the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025 (these references are for guidance only and a question in the application form may relate to other provisions or laws)
• explanatory notes to help you understand the intent of a question so that you can provide an accurate and relevant response
• guidance on the evidence expected to support you to complete your application (this is in addition to the guidance given in the application form for some questions).

Refer to the Commission’s glossary for definitions of key terms used throughout this guidance material. 

Before you apply

Before you apply to renew your registration, make sure that you are eligible to apply and understand what is expected to be successful. 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.

Application fees

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

Apply using the approved form

You must complete and submit your application for renewal of registration. We will email you a link to download the form after you confirm that you plan to renew your registration. If you do not use the approved form, your application 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 renewal 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.

Completing the application form

Check that you have completed all fields and answered all questions that are relevant to you. Ensure your responses:

• are clear and contain detailed information 

• demonstrate an understanding of the aged care services you deliver

• detail your relevant experience and ongoing 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 continue to 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

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

• general registration requirements

• registration requirements specific to each category you are applying to renew your registration in or add to your registration.

For your registration to be renewed, you must demonstrate that you meet all the registration requirements that apply to you. Your registration will not be renewed if you are unable to do this. 

If you are applying to renew your registration in categories 4, 5, and/or 6, the outcome of your audit against the Aged Care Quality Standards (if applicable) will also be considered by the Commission. 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 renewal 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.

Registration renewal decision

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

If the decision is to renew your registration, certain details about your registration will be updated 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 renewal 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.