Resource library

Have your say and help shape the future of aged care.

The aged care system is changing, and we want to hear from you.

People who enter residential care can pay for their accommodation costs with:

• a refundable deposit
• a daily payment
• a combination of a refundable deposit and a daily payment.

When a person transfers to another service, permanently leaves care or passes away, you need to refund their refundable deposit. 

Watch our video series answering the most common questions we have received about the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

In this second episode, Lisa Peterson PSM, Assistant Commissioner for the Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy, discusses Strengthened Standards Pilot Project, what it involved and what the aged care sector can expect once it's completed. 

You can use refundable deposits to generate income and to fund investments and permitted expenses. The primary purpose of using refundable deposits must be to provide residential and flexible aged care.

This fact sheet explains how the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) works with and supports aged care workers.

This fact sheet explains what you can do if you have been overcharged a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) or daily accommodation payment (DAP) by your provider.

The Prudential Standards contained in the Aged Care Act 1997 (Act) and the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2) detail your responsibilities for the use and management of your residents' refundable accommodation deposits (RADs).

Section 52G-3 of the Act states that the Minister for Aged Care may set a maximum amount of accommodation deposit. Currently, this maximum amount is $550,000 as a RAD (or the equivalent Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)).

 

This fact sheet explains the benefits, processes and outcomes of home care pricing audits.

Read our tips for being in a consumer advisory body.

This fact sheet includes suggested questions you can ask your provider about how prepared they are for an infectious disease outbreak (including COVID-19). It also includes links to a range of resources to help you feel safe, informed and connected.

The Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 were amended to strengthen the governance arrangements of approved providers. These introduce specific changes aimed at improving leadership and culture and increasing transparency and accountability.  

This regulatory bulletin discusses the strengthened provider governance responsibilities for approved providers concerning their governing body. It also explains how we will regulate these responsibilities. 

In this short video, Tara Pamula, Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy Division, discusses when the strengthened Aged Care Standards will be implemented and the role of the Commission.

The Good Spirit Good Life (GSGL) assessment package is a resource available to support aged care providers in the delivery of culturally safe aged care for First Nations Peoples. Developed by the University of Western Australia, the resource has been developed and validated for use with older Aboriginal Australians, aged 45 years and over, who live in urban or regional areas.

The GSGL package is a resource that providers might want to consider. It comprises an assessment tool, framework, training guide, and recommendations informed by Aboriginal Elders. 

These colouring resources have been designed specifically for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission with the intention of providing a multifaceted creative experience for older Australians living in residential or home aged care settings, and for the people who care for them.

Letter from Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM and Complaints Commissioner Louise Macleod to approved providers of residential and home services on the Commission’s new report on Complaints about Aged Care Services – Insights for providers released on 20 November 2023.

This report uses data, case studies and guided questions to identify learnings about good complaint handling that can be applied by residential and home services aged care providers in their services. The report also includes questions for boards and senior leadership to help guide complaints handling.

A new learning resource for providers, featuring case study insights from unexplained absence from care incidents reported to the Commission is now available. 

This resource provides discussion notes to improve the food, nutrition, and dining experience in aged care settings. It includes reflective questions for corporate teams and care staff, focusing on governance, resident choice, oral health, and support for those with swallowing difficulties. The resource promotes continuous improvement and quality care through group discussions. This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 July 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards. 

This training PowerPoint is a presentation that trainers/managers can download, customise and use to promote discussion and educate their staff to support and improve the food, nutrition and dining experience of consumers in their care.

The training resource supports an exploration of food, nutrition and dining in aged care, specifically: