About the program
Quality indicators measure important aspects of aged care. This helps to improve the quality of aged care services provided to older people.
The residential aged care QI Program includes 14 quality indicators.
We are also developing quality indicators to apply to registered providers delivering services under the Support at Home program.
We consulted extensively with the sector and aged care experts to develop the quality indicators.
Why it’s important
Reporting on the quality of care helps:
- registered providers measure, monitor, compare and improve the quality of their services
- older people find information about the quality of aged care services when making choices about their care
- government monitor the quality of aged care provided to residents, and make evidence-based policy decisions.
The QI Program addresses recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Quality indicators for residential aged care
Registered providers of residential aged care homes must report on the following 14 quality indicators for each resident every 3 months:
- pressure injuries
- restrictive practices
- unplanned weight loss
- falls and major injury
- medication management
- activities of daily living
- incontinence care
- hospitalisation
- workforce
- consumer experience
- quality of life
- enrolled nursing
- allied health
- lifestyle officers.
For the 3 staffing QIs, 4 of the 5 data points come from information reported by providers in their Quarterly Financial Report. Providers collect data for the ‘recommended allied health services received’ quality indicator.
New quality indicators for Support at Home
We completed consultation and a 12-week pilot on suitable quality indicators for the Support at Home Program in 2024. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Results from the pilot will inform final recommendations for the QI Program for Support at Home.
Reporting
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publishes QI data at national, state and territory levels, and by geographical remoteness for each quarter of reporting.
Legislation
The QI Program is governed by the:
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