Resource library

What are psychotropic medications? 

Psychotropic medications are ‘any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behaviour'

The three main classes of psychotropics prescribed are antidepressants, anxiolytic/hypnotics (mostly benzodiazepines to manage anxiety and insomnia) and antipsychotics. Other psychotropic classes include anticonvulsants and stimulants. 

This resource was designed to support aged care providers to partner and engage with consumers to drive the delivery of consumer-centred care.

This literature review examines published peer-reviewed articles and a broader set of literature to gain an understanding of existing models of co-design that have been successfully applied in a range of sectors both in Australia and internationally, which could be applied in the Australian aged care sector.

To inform this piece of work, we have undertaken a literature review of co-design and consumer engagement.

This report describes the key themes and findings from online surveys of aged care consumers and aged care providers, regarding best practice models for engagement between consumers and providers.

Under the Aged Care Quality Standards, the organisation’s governing body is accountable for the delivery of safe and quality care and services. This includes consideration of leadership, organisational culture, consumer engagement, organisation wide governance, risk management and clinical governance.

This webinar will help you to understand your regulatory and legislative obligations.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is helping providers to understand issues and their responsibilities around minimising the use of chemical and physical restraint. This includes ensuring that providers are appropriately documenting each instance of use.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s role is to protect and enhance the safety, health, well-being and quality of life of consumers receiving Australian Government funded aged care. Functions of Quality Assessors and Authorised Complaints Officers are set out by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 (the Quality and Safety Commission Act) and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 (the Rules).

An activity to raise awareness of the importance of identity culture and diversity

These scenarios cover a range of examples to help providers understand issues around the use of restrictive practices. They are intended to be illustrative only, and should not be relied upon as authority.

A short video for aged care consumers, their families and representatives, explaining what the Aged Care Quality Standards mean in practice.

The video has been translated in 25 languages including Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Please note: these videos are not available for download or hard copy order.

Our Aged Care Quality Standards Consumer Outcomes A3 poster has been translated to 25 languages: Arabic, Armenian, Croatian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Please note: This poster is not available for order.

The ‘A little yarn goes a long way’ fact sheet has been developed to inform older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and their friends and family, about the support available to help them resolve concerns about aged care services, and why it’s important to raise these concerns.

Information is also available in 7 different languages including: English, Alyawarra, Arrernte, Luritja, Pitjantjatjarra, Torres Strait Creole and Warlpiri.

RB 2019-06 This Regulatory Bulletin outlines the principles and practices that form the Commission’s framework for making decisions relating to its regulatory functions. It outlines how the Commission will ensure high quality and consistent decision-making under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has worked with a range of stakeholders to develop resources that help aged care providers understand the key concepts of clinical governance and how they can be applied in their service.

A practical guide developed by the Working Group on Influenza Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities on behalf of the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia. The purpose of the document is to assist residential care services and carers by providing best practice information for the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks in residential care facilities.

To assist aged care providers, the Commission has identified some of the very useful information and resources produced by Commonwealth and State Departments of Health.

Open disclosure is the open discussion that an aged care provider has with people receiving aged care services when something goes wrong that has harmed or had the potential to cause harm to a person receiving aged care service. With more than 1.3 million people receiving care in Australia, this is a crucial activity for providers to support continuous improvement within their service.

This provider template is for recording information for consumers receiving psychotropic medications.

RB 2019-04 (Rescinded)- This Regulatory Bulletin outlines how the Commission will respond to and manage non-compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards.

Download the English Aged Care Quality Standards Consumer Outcomes A2 poster. This resource is not available to order.