As a provider of aged care services, you can request, in writing, for your registration to be suspended. This can be done by completing the Request for registration suspension form (request form).

If your registration is suspended, you will not receive Commonwealth funding for the duration of the suspension period. However, you still need to comply with your obligations during the suspension period, including your financial and prudential obligations.

If you wish to have your registration revoked, do not complete this form. You should instead complete the Request for registration revocation form.

If you wish to continue providing funded aged care services, and only wish to make changes to your registration, you should not complete this request form. You should instead complete the Application for variation of registration form if you want to:

• register in a new provider registration category
• remove a category from your registration
• vary or revoke a Commission imposed condition of variation
• have the Commission impose a new condition.

If you are registered in Category 6: Residential care, you can also:

• add an approved residential care home to your registration (this can include applying to have a new residential care home approved) 

• remove an approved residential care home from your registration

• vary the total number of beds covered by the approval of a residential care home

• revoke the approval of a residential care home.

This guidance material will help you to complete a request form. It includes:

• information regarding the registration suspension 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 request 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 request (this is in addition to the guidance given in the request form for some questions).

Before you make a request

Before you request a suspension of your registration, make sure that you understand what is expected of you. 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.

Making a request using the request form

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

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

Completing the request 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 a strong understanding of the requirements for a decision to suspend a registration
• demonstrate your commitment to continuity of care (outline the impact that the suspension will have on the older people you provide services to)
• detail your understanding of the Statement of Rights and how to act compatibly with it if your registration is suspended
• provide information that is specific to you or your organisation
• do not rely on artificial intelligence or prefabricated responses
• demonstrate you have understood this guidance material and applied it to your own circumstances.

During the request process

During the request process, we will assess whether you have appropriate arrangements in place to ensure the continuity of care for any affected older people that you are delivering funded aged care services to. Your request to suspend your registration will only be approved if you can demonstrate that you have appropriate arrangements.

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

If a refusal of your request to suspend your registration is being considered (e.g., due to any continuity of care arrangements not being appropriate), the Commission will inform you. This will give you an opportunity to address the concerns with your request outlined in that communication. If necessary, the Commission may contact you more than once for different matters before a decision is made on your request.

Registration decision

Once a decision is made on your request to suspend your registration, the outcome will be notified to you via a Notice of Decision. This includes the period of the suspension.

If your request is approved, the Provider Register will be updated. This may include the Provider Register data published on the Commission’s website.

If your request is not approved, you can request to have the Commission reconsider it. More information about the reconsideration process can be found here.