About the final draft strengthened Quality Standards
The Aged Care Quality Standards are changing from 8 to 7 strengthened Quality Standards. They have enhanced and clarified requirements for:
- clinical care, with a new dedicated Standard (Standard 5)
- person-centred care and diversity
- provider governance and partnership with older people
- food and nutrition, with a new dedicated Standard (Standard 6)
- dementia care.
Read more about what’s different in the strengthened Quality Standards.
Standard 1: The person
This Quality Standard defines the way providers and workers should treat older people, reflect the new Statement of Rights and is relevant to all Quality Standards.
It defines:
- dignity and respect
- individuality and diversity
- independence
- choice and control
- culturally safe care
- dignity of risk – meaning older people have the right to live how they choose, even if their choices involve some risk.
These foster a sense of safety, autonomy, inclusion and quality of life for older people.
Standard 2: The organisation
This Quality Standard sets the expectations about the quality care and services that a provider's governing body must meet.
The governing body directs the organisation’s strategic priorities and promotes a culture of safety and quality.
Governance systems and workforce are critical for safe, quality care.
Standard 3: The care and services
This Quality Standard describes how providers must deliver care and services for all service types. This includes how to support the workforce to ensure effective assessment, planning, communication and coordination.
Standard 4: The environment
This Quality Standard ensures older people receive care and services in a physical environment that is safe and supportive and meets their needs.
Standard 5: Clinical care
This Quality Standard describes provider responsibilities to deliver safe and quality clinical care to older people.
Standard 6: Food and nutrition
This Quality Standard outlines the food and nutrition obligations for residential aged care providers.
Access to nutritionally adequate food is a human right. Food, drink, and the dining experience have an enormous impact on a person’s quality of life.
Standard 7: The residential community
This Quality Standard directs residential aged care providers to ensure community is central to the lives of aged care residents.
Older people must feel safe, have opportunities to do meaningful things and keep connections with people while living in a residential community.
Regular review
Once introduced as part of the new Aged Care Act, the strengthened Quality Standards will be reviewed every 5 years so that they continue to improve with best practice.
Learn more
Read the final draft of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standard to:
- understand the strengthened expectations
- prepare for the change.