Step 1. Become a registered provider
You must be a registered provider with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) before you can get government funding. If you intend to deliver residential services, you must be also registered in category 6.
The application process will test your suitability, capacity, capability and commitment to deliver residential aged care services in line with registration requirements.
Subject to ACQSC discretion, the registration period is usually 3 years.
Step 2. Approval of residential care home
You must seek approval of your residential care home/s with the ACQSC:
- as part of the initial registration process
- at any time during your registration period (i.e. if adding a new home).
To be approved, your residential care home must meet all approval requirements, such as building codes, standards and laws.
If you do not own the building/s, the owner(s) needs to agree for it to be used as a residential care home.
You will need to vary your registration in certain circumstances, such as transferring ownership and increasing bed numbers.
Step 3. Total number of beds
When a residential care home is approved, the ACQSC decides the total number of beds to be covered by your approval. You must not go over this maximum occupancy.
You must report to us when operational beds change between:
- occupied (in use)
- offline (temporarily unavailable).
You will need to vary your registration with the ACQSC to change the total number of available beds when:
- increasing the number of beds
- reducing the number of beds (i.e., taking beds offline for more than 2 years).
Step 4. Register to Government Provider Management System
You will need to set up access to the Government Provider Management System. There, you will:
- view and maintain information about your organisation and workforce
- access and submit mandatory reporting and data collection
- view information about your performance.
Step 5: Register with My Aged Care
You will need to set up your account in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
There, you will:
- create a profile
- publish your room prices
- manage service referrals.
Older people will then be able to find your service when they search for a provider.
Watch our video on how to set up your profile as a residential aged care provider.
Step 6. Register to claim the subsidy
You will need to set up your account for the Aged Care Provider Portal with Services Australia to do online claiming for residential aged care services.
You will get a monthly subsidy payment, including:
- the AN-ACC basic daily subsidy for each resident in permanent care
- supplements on behalf of your eligible residents
- the residential respite subsidy for each person in residential respite care.
Learn more about funding for residential aged care.
Step 7. Understand your responsibilities
Certain conditions will apply to your registration. You must understand and demonstrate your responsibilities under the Aged Care Act 2024. This includes:
- claiming subsidies and supplements
- delivering quality care and services
- charging and managing fees and accommodation costs
- meet 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes requirements
- comply with reporting and notification of change requirements.
Learn more about responsibilities of residential aged care providers.
Step 8. Set your room prices
You can set your room prices for different kinds of rooms up to a maximum accommodation payment amount.
You must apply to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority to:
- set a price higher than the maximum
- to renew your approval.
Approval lasts 4 years from the approval date.
Step 9. Publish room prices
You are required to publish information on My Aged Care about your room prices and keep it updated to allow older people to make an informed decision about their accommodation.
You may also wish to publish this information:
- on your own website, if you have one
- in any printed materials given to potential residents.
Step 10. Accept new residents
Once ready to accept residents, you will meet with older people with a government-funded residential care place to discuss:
- their goals, preferences and care needs
- the services you offer
- the costs you charge.
If they choose your aged care home and an operational be is available, you will:
- accept their referral in the My Aged Care Provider Portal
- enter into a service agreement and accommodation agreement before providing services
- notify Services Australia within 28 days of them entering your care.
If needed, apply for eligible supplements or palliative care funding on the resident’s behalf to meet their additional needs.
In the case of emergency entry, submit an Application for Emergency Residential Care or Residential Respite Care Form within 5 days to a local assessment organisation.