As an aged care worker, it’s important you are aware of your obligations under the new Aged Care Act.
The new Act will support a better-regulated system where you can focus on providing safe, high-quality care to older people.
There are 5 changes that affect workers under the new Act:
- the Statement of Rights and Statement of Principles
- worker screening
- strengthened quality standards
- complaints
- whistleblower protections.
Learn more about your obligations under the new Aged Care Act using our resources for aged care workers.
Statement of Rights and Statement of Principles
The Statement of Rights and Statement of Principles recognise the valuable role workers play in aged care. The Statement of Rights emphasises the right of older people to make their own decisions about their lives and be supported to make those decisions. Under the Statement of Rights, you must have the appropriate qualifications, skills and experience to provide services to older people in a way that respects these decisions. This is their right.
Under the Statement of Principles, the aged care system will support you to:
- be innovative
- continuously improve
- deliver high-quality care
- participate in governance and accountability requirements.
The new Act will expand the existing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) system of screening workers and volunteers in aged care. These worker screening checks are to make sure you are suitable. The new screening process will not commence before 2026.
Under the new Act, your expertise and feedback on quality aged care delivery will be recognised. The strengthened Quality Standards will create an expectation that your employer listens to your views.
You will have the power to provide feedback or make complaints without fear or retribution. For example, you can make a complaint if you:
- think someone has broken the law
- worry about the quality of care your employer delivers.
Worker screening
Worker screening is part of a national worker registration scheme that we are progressively rolling out for the sector. The new Act will introduce more robust worker screening checks to make sure you are suitable to work in aged care.
Changes to worker screening will begin from 1 July 2025 in line with the new Act. These changes will mostly impact people working for Commonwealth Home Support Package (CHSP) providers. This will pave the way for broader changes to aged care worker screening in 2026.
From 1 July 2025, there will continue to be two screening options for people working in aged care. You will still need either:
- a police certificate (not older than three years) that does not record certain offences
- a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) worker check.
If your police certificate expires after 1 July 2025, but before the new aged care worker screening process starts in 2026, you will need to provide your employer with a new police certificate. Your employer will check your police certificate for certain convictions that would preclude you from working in aged care.
Together with states and territories, we are working towards the introduction of requirements for aged care worker screening to align with the NDIS. This new national worker screening system will mean more robust screening checks for the aged care sector.
An aged care worker screening check will be recognised in the NDIS sector and vice versa. Final arrangements are subject to agreement with the states and territories and will not begin before 2026. We will provide further information on the new arrangements as they become available.
Find out more about screening requirements for aged care workers.
Strengthened Quality Standards
The strengthened Quality Standards will create an expectation your employer creates a culture of quality, safety and inclusion. This means they must proactively engage, listen and consult you on the aged care needs of older people based on your expertise. You should feel confident to raise feedback without fear or retribution.
Under the new regulatory model:
- some strengthened Quality Standards will apply to providers registered in registration categories 4 to 6
- obligations will apply to all registration categories, and there will be some specific obligations providers will need to meet in relevant categories.
Find out more from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Complaints
You must support the people in your care to:
- understand how you manage and resolve complaints
- feel welcome to share feedback, raise concerns or make a complaint.
Feedback is an important way to understand what is working well in your service and to identify areas that can be improved.
Whistleblower protections
You can make a report if you think someone hasn’t followed aged care laws. You will be protected from punishment or unfair treatment.