Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

When did it start?

The Royal Commission started on 8 October 2018.

What is the commission doing?

The Royal Commission is looking at:

• the quality and safety of residential and in-home aged care for older people
• the quality and safety of care for young people with disabilities living in aged care homes, including:
  • the extent to which these services meet peoples’ needs
  • the extent of substandard care, including mistreatment and all forms of abuse
  • the causes of any systemic failures
  • actions that should be taken in response
• how to best deliver aged care services to:
  • people with disabilities living in aged care homes (including younger people) 
  • people living with dementia 
• how to give people more control and choice in relation to their care, and improving engagement with families and carers
• what the government, aged care sector, families and community can do to ensure quality and safety in aged care
• how to best deliver aged care services in a sustainable way through:
  • innovative models of care
  • use of technology
  • investment in the aged care workforce and capital infrastructure 
• the future challenges and opportunities for delivering accessible, affordable and high quality aged care services in Australia, including in: 
  • the context of changing demographics and preferences, i.e. people's wish to stay in their own home as they age 
  • remote, rural and regional Australia
• the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in aged care, and what can be learned from this experience for responding to future pandemics, infectious disease outbreaks or other emergencies.

The Royal Commission will provide:

• an interim report by 31 October 2019
• a final report by 26 February 2021.

The Royal Commission has delivered a special report on COVID-19 in aged care, tabled in the Australian Parliament on 1 October 2020, ahead of its final report.

Find out more

Visit the Royal Commission website to find out about:

• the terms of reference
• hearings
• community forums
• the Commissioners.

If you have an urgent matter, please contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Media releases

• 16 September 2018 – Prime Minister announces the Royal Commission
• 9 October 2018 – Prime Minister announces the terms of reference
• 25 November 2019 – Prime Minister announces response to interim report 
• 8 July 2020 – Prime Minister announces extension to reporting timeframe
• 1 October 2020 – Minister Colbeck's statement about the Royal Commission's COVID-19 report.