Preparing for the new Aged Care Act
The final strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are now available. It reflects the final draft of the& new Aged Care Rules (the Rules) released on 31 July 2025. This document contains minor changes from February 2025 following the public consultation on the Rules and the legislative drafting process.
Each strengthened Quality Standard has one or more outcome statements. The outcome statements are enforceable and have been included in the subordinate legislation (the Rules) under the new Act. Providers will be required to comply with the outcome statements and demonstrate their conformance with them during audit.
The new Aged Care Act will be supported by the new aged care regulatory model. This model will require all providers to be registered into a registration category depending on the services they deliver.
Under the aged care regulatory model, providers registered in registration categories 4 to 6 must meet the relevant strengthened Quality Standards based on the services they deliver.
- Providers in registration category 4 must meet strengthened Quality Standards 1, 2, 3 and 4
- Providers in registration category four who deliver care management or restorative care management services must also meet outcome 5.1 (Clinical Care) from strengthened Quality Standard 5.
- Providers in registration category 5 must meet strengthened Quality Standards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- Providers in registration category 6 must meet all 7 strengthened Quality Standards.
Providers will need to meet obligations associated with their registration category. These obligations will help providers to deliver safe, quality and accessible care for older people.
Read the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards to:
- understand expectations of the strengthened Quality Standards
- prepare for the change.
Provider and worker support and guidance
We are working with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC), the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and the aged care sector to prepare and manage the implementation of the strengthened Quality Standards.
The ACQSC has published guidance resources to help aged care providers and workers prepare for the strengthened Quality Standards.
We’re also supporting the ACQSC’s development of guidance material to help providers understand:
- their responsibilities
- how to conform to the strengthened Quality Standards.
You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter for regular updates and information on webinars and events.
Contact
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)