Final Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – August 2025
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – August 2025
This document provides the final strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards which took effect on 1 November 2025, with the start of the Aged Care Act 2024.
Quality Standards – Communication toolkit for older people
Quality Standards – Communication toolkit for older people
This toolkit helps aged care providers and community groups explain the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards to older people, their families and carers. These changes start on 1 November 2025.
Videos for older people
The Aged Care Quality Standards have been strengthened to provide older people more rights and protections to place them at the centre of their aged care. Find out more in the following videos.
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05:25I am the centre of my Aged Care – Aged Care Quality Standards
This video explains how the standards provide protections and rights for older people, empowers them to make their own choices and decisions and makes them feel safe and comfortable, where they live. -
02:19My choice and my decisions – Aged Care Quality Standards
This video explains how older people are empowered to make their own decisions, and if they want to, seek guidance from registered supporters, OPAN and others. It also highlights how aged care providers must listen to their needs and concerns.
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02:38My dignity and diversity – Aged Care Quality Standards
This video explains how aged care providers must consider the individual needs of older people such as their culture, beliefs, sexual orientation and privacy. -
01:23My protections – Aged Care Quality Standards
This video explains how older people make decisions about their care plans, have their preferences respected, and should feel safe and comfortable where they live.
Videos for providers
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8:10New Aged Care Act – New regulatory model and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
Watch this video to learn how all Australian Government-funded aged care providers will be registered through a new provider registration and renewal process and need to meet strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
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1:35New Aged Care Act – New regulatory model – Registration categories
Learn about the 6 registration categories under the new regulatory model. All Australian Government-funded aged care providers must be registered through the new provider registration and renewal process.
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1:06New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 1: The individual
Learn about Quality Standard 1, the individual, which is the basis for all care and service delivery. It puts older people at the centre of their aged care. Providers in registration 4, 5 and 6 are required to meet Quality Standard 1.
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1:16New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 2: The organisation
Learn about Quality Standard 2, the organisation, which requires the governing body of registered aged care providers to be responsible for delivering quality care and services. Providers in registration categories 4, 5, and 6 must meet Quality Standard 2.
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1:32New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 3: The care and services
Learn about Quality Standard 3, the care and services, which explains the way registered aged care providers need to deliver care and services. This standard applies to providers in registration categories 4, 5 and 6.
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1:24New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 4: The environment
Learn about Quality Standard 4, the environment, which is about making sure the environment and equipment are safe, supportive, and meet older people's needs. Quality Standard 4 applies to providers in registration categories 4, 5 and 6.
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1:13New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 5: The clinical care
Learn about Quality Standard 5, the clinical care, which is about delivering safe and quality clinical care. This standard applies to providers in registration categories 5 and 6.
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1:08New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 6: The food and nutrition
Learn about Quality Standard 6, the food and nutrition, which requires registered aged care providers to partner with older people and understand their food and drink preferences. This standard only applies to providers in registration category 6 that provide residential care.
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0:52New Aged Care Act – strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Standard 7: The residential community
Learn about Quality Standard 7, the residential community, which requires registered aged care providers to deliver services that improve the quality of life of older people. This standard only applies to providers in registration category 6.
Previous drafts and resources used for consultation
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – February 2025 – Revised final draft
This document was the revised draft of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. It reflected wording changes for the subordinate legislation drafting process under the new Aged Care Act 2024.
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Final draft (November 2023)
This was the final draft of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards which informed legislative drafting into the new Aged Care Act 2024.
Consultation Summary Report – Aged Care Quality Standards (May 2023)
This consultation summary report outlines what we heard and how we responded to the feedback from the public consultation of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards held 17 October to 25 November 2022.
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Pilot Program (March 2023)
This version of the strengthened Quality Standards was piloted by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission from April to October 2023.
Revised Aged Care Quality Standards – summary draft for public consultation (October 2022)
We are consulting on draft strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards as part of the urgent review currently underway. This document provides a summary of the strengthened Quality Standards we are seeking your feedback on.
Revised Aged Care Quality Standards – detailed draft for public consultation – October 2025
This early draft of the strengthened Quality Standards was used for public consultation from October to November 2022. . It helped inform the development of the final strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – August 2025.
Independent evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards – Summary (January 2022)
An overview of the independent evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards report by KPMG in January 2022.
Evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards – Evaluation report (January 2022)
This evaluation report was completed by KPMG as a first step in the urgent review of the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Previous webinars
Draft new Aged Care Act consultation – Q&A panel discussion (January 2024)
This webinar, held on 18 January 2024, was an interactive discussion about the final draft of the new Aged Care Act which was available for consultation until 8 March 2024.
Supporting sector readiness for the new strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (February 2024)
An Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission webinar, held in February 2024, to inform the aged care sector about the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, the new draft guidance resources, and details on providing feedback.
Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program (June 2023)
An Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission webinar, held in June 2023, about the rollout of the strengthened Quality Standards.
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