Features of the new model
As a registered provider, you will need to meet registration requirements based on the type of services you deliver. These requirements make providers accountable for the safety and quality of care they provide.
Registration requirements are intended to be proportionate to the environment a provider operates in, the services they deliver and any risks of harm that may be present.
The Provider Register managed by ACQSC, will publish information on registered providers such as:
- registration categories
- service types
- registration period.
ACQSC will monitor providers to make sure they are meeting their requirements. Read the Aged Care Rules 2025.
Oversight of the new regulatory model
The ACQSC is the aged care regulator. It monitors providers delivering government-funded aged care.
Under the new regulatory model, ACQSC will have strengthened powers, which enable it to:
- have clear information on all providers operating in the sector and the government-funded aged care services they are delivering
- respond to emerging risks in the sector.
We will continue to monitor implementation of the new model and adjust policy and regulatory settings where necessary.
- protects older people from harm
- ensure a rights-based approach to aged care delivery
- ensure the model is reasonable and proportionate in its impact on aged care providers.
Watch a video about provider registration and the new regulatory model.
New ‘universal’ provider registration
The new model will introduce universal provider registration – a single registration for each provider across all aged care programs.
If you currently deliver multiple programs (such as home care and residential aged care), you will only be registered once under the new regulatory model. You may be registered in multiple registration categories to cover all the services you offer.
This will:
- improve transparency of how providers operate in the aged care sector
- require one set of consolidated requirements specific to each registered provider
- reduce unnecessary administrative burden related to the current accreditation process
- improve regulatory oversight.
Watch a video about provider registration and the new regulatory model.
Registration categories
You can register into one or more of the 6 categories relevant to the type of services you provide or services required by your current funding agreement. Find more information on Support at Home and Residential Care service lists. You are not required to deliver all services in the categories you are registered in, but you should deliver at least one service. You must notify ACQSC of the service types you intend to deliver.
The new ACT and the Aged Care Rules 2025, explain the registration categories, service types and provider requirements relevant to your registration categories.
Use the Aged Care Provider Requirements Search tool to find requirements relevant to your registration categories.
Find out more about provider requirements.
The 6 registration categories are:
| Provider registration category | Description | Service types | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Home and community services |
| |
| Category 2 | Assistive technology and home modifications |
| |
| Category 3 | Advisory and support services |
| |
| Category 4 | Personal and care support in the home or community |
| |
| Category 5 | Nursing and transition care |
| |
| Category 6 | Residential care |
|
The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will apply to registration categories 4, 5 and 6, based on the services being delivered or specified in a funding agreement. The standards only apply to services in those registration categories and not other services which the provider may deliver.
ACQSC will audit prospective providers seeking to deliver residential aged care and complex home care services, against the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. This forms part of the registration process.
Registration process
The ACQSC will continue to register, vary and renew registration, and regulate providers.
The registration process will apply to all providers delivering government-funded aged care when the new Act starts, including:
- residential aged care services
- Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
- Transition Care Program (TCP)
- Multi-Purpose Services program(MPSP)
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFAC).
Find out more about the ACQSC processes for provider registration, variation of services and registration renewal, including:
- Becoming a registered provider and renewing your registration video
- Changing, suspending and revoking provider registration video.
Email the ACQSC on info@agedcarequality.gov.au
A separate process – called deeming – will ensure current providers are transitioned to be a registered provider automatically when the new Aged Care Act starts.
For providers of multiple service types
If you deliver services across multiple registration categories, you will have a consolidated set of requirements. Requirements may be different based on the registration category.
For providers wishing to expand or vary service types
To register in an additional registration category, you will need to submit a form to the ACQSC to vary your registration.
If you operate under a funding agreement and want to provide services not listed in your current agreement, you will need to coordinate this with your account manager.
For sole traders and non-corporations
Sole traders and partnerships will be able to deliver government-funded aged care services under the new Aged Care Act.
This opens the market to more organisations and offers more choice to older people.
To register to deliver services you will need to:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- demonstrate the ability to deliver aged care services in your proposed registration category.
Sole traders and partnerships should consider the requirements of delivering their proposed services before deciding to apply. For example, until at least June 2027 a single provider model will operate for the Support at Home program which means that providers will need to be able to deliver all of the services their care recipients need.
For associated providers
Associated provider is a new concept being introduced in the new Act. It describes an entity that delivers services on behalf of a registered provider, like a subcontractor.
An associated provider may:
- be a registered provider who provides specific services on behalf of another registered provider
- operate in the aged care system solely as a subcontractor and remain unregistered.
Once the new Act starts, subcontractors who are currently providing services on behalf of an approved provider will be known as associated providers.
Registered providers can subcontract out service delivery, but they cannot contract out their legal responsibilities.
The registered provider will be responsible for ensuring their associated providers comply with relevant requirements, regardless of whether the associated provider delivering those services is registered or not.
ACQSC remains responsible for managing non-compliance for all registered providers.
Workers of an associated provider may be considered aged care workers and will be screened to make sure they are suitable to work in an aged care setting.
Associated providers may decide to apply to become a registered provider and will need to follow the application process managed by ACQSC to become registered under the correct registration category.
Providers will be responsible for providing the ACQSC with a full list of associated providers delivering aged care services on their behalf, both at registration and renewal.
Watch a video about associated providers.
For state and territory governments
The registration process for state and territory government providers will be slightly different.
A government entity can be registered. As defined in the new Act, government entity means a:
- Commonwealth entity (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013)
- State or Territory
- body established for a public purpose by or under a law of a State or Territory (other than a local government authority).
These providers will be known as government entities under the new Act.
ACQSC will regulate these providers.
Renewal of provider registration
Providers will be deemed upon commencement of the new Act. In early November providers will receive a deeming notification that includes their registration end date. After deeming has occurred, decisions regarding registration and renewal, including renewal dates will be advised by the ACQSC.
Prior to expiry of the registration period, the ACQSC will invite the provider to initiate the registration renewal process and advise the provider of the timeframe to commence a Registration Renewal Application Form.
Registration will be for a defined period. Each provider’s ongoing suitability to deliver aged care services will be reviewed regularly, providing greater assurance that the services on offer are of high quality.
The standard registration period for providers will be 3 years. The ACQSC may specify a shorter or longer period, depending on certain factors. For example:
- longer periods may be given for those providers who consistently meet their obligations and deliver high quality care
- shorter periods may apply to providers who are new to the sector or have a record of non-compliance.
Information is available on the ACQSC website.
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