Quality Standards and the Regulatory Model under the new Aged Care Act
Each strengthened Aged Care Quality Standard has one or more outcome statements. The outcome statements are enforceable and have been included in the subordinate legislation, the Aged Care Rules (Rules) under the new Act. Providers are 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 requires 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 4 who deliver care management or restorative care management services must also meet outcome 5.1 (Clinical governance) 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 the strengthened expectations.
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.
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Contact
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)