About the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are designed to improve outcomes for older people and set clear expectations for providers in delivering quality aged care.

About the Quality Standards

The Aged Care Quality Standards ensure older people have access to safe and quality aged care services.

They set the standard for the level of care older people can expect to receive.

Why we are strengthening the Quality Standards

In 2021, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended an urgent review of the Quality Standards and to amend them where appropriate. The recommendations included:

  • Recommendation 18: using the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s expertise in clinical and standards development 
  • Recommendation 19: calling for an urgent review to include specific areas of focus
  • Recommendation 20: relating to periodic reviews of the Quality Standards on an ongoing basis
  • Recommendation 21: identifying priority issues for review.

The Royal Commission found areas of the Quality Standards that could be improved, including:

  • dementia
  • diversity
  • governance
  • food and nutrition 
  • clinical care.

We led the urgent review, working closely with the:

Read about the consultation to strengthen the Quality Standards.

Final draft strengthened Quality Standards

We used the feedback we heard during public consultation and through the ACQSC’s pilot to develop the final draft strengthened Quality Standards. 

The final draft strengthened Quality Standards are:

  • Standard 1: The person 
  • Standard 2: The organisation 
  • Standard 3: The care and services 
  • Standard 4: The environment 
  • Standard 5: Clinical care (ACSQHC set the clinical care components)
  • Standard 6: Food and nutrition 
  • Standard 7: The Residential community.

Read more about the final draft strengthened Quality Standards

The strengthened Quality Standards are more measurable, detailed and comprehensive than the Quality Standards. 

Read more about those differences

What it means for providers

Government-funded aged care providers must meet the strengthened Quality Standards obligations aligned to the service type they deliver

Timing

The strengthened Quality Standards will come into effect when the new Aged Care Act and the new aged care regulatory model start. 

Related information

Read more about: 

Contact

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) protects and enhances the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of people receiving aged care.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) works in partnership with patients, consumers, clinicians, managers, policy makers and healthcare organisations to achieve a sustainable, safe and high-quality health system.
General enquiries
Quality Use of Medicines Program

Aged Care Quality Standards contact

Email us for more information about the Aged Care Quality Standards.
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