Regulation and governance of aged care aims to:
- protect older people from harm
- promote positive health and wellbeing outcomes
- ensure aged care providers deliver safe, high quality care to older people.
Regulation of aged care
The new aged care regulatory model ensures regulation will:
- be proportionate to risk
- support continuous improvement in the sector.
Read more about how we are changing the way the sector operates and improving outcomes for older people.
We work with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) to:
- empower older people to understand and exercise their rights
- improve sector capability and sustainability
- build public trust and confidence in aged care
- support training and development of aged care workers.
We also:
- develop laws and policies
- ensure the aged care sector meets community expectations, especially older people accessing aged care, their families and carers.
The ACQSC:
- works with providers to make sure quality care is delivered
- makes sure laws governing aged care are followed
- registers providers to deliver aged care services
- monitors and assesses providers in line with requirements, including the Code of Conduct for Aged Care, the Aged Care Quality Standards
- administers the Serious Incident Response Scheme
- encourages reduced use of restrictive practices
- resolves, reports and manages complaints
- supports continuous improvement and, when necessary, takes enforcement action.
The Statement of Expectations to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission sets out the role and responsibilities for the ACQSC.
Requirements for CHSP and NATSIFACP
The new Act includes the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) as regulated programs. The ACQSC registers and regulates providers delivering services funded under CHSP and NATSIFAC.
The new regulatory model – Guidance for CHSP providers
Specialist Aged Care Programs
The following programs are referred to as Specialist Aged Care Programs:
- Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
- Multi-Purpose Services program (MPSP)
- Transition Care Program (TCP)
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP).
Specialist Aged Care Programs are government-funded programs where there is an agreement or arrangement, such as a grant, in place to deliver aged care services.
These programs provide additional funding and support for older people who meet the program criteria based on a needs assessment.
To deliver services under Specialist Aged Care Programs, providers need to:
- be registered under the new regulatory model process
- meet some extra requirements, such as having an agreement with government to provide those services.
CHSP will transition to the Support at Home program no earlier than 1 July 2027. It will be a Specialist Aged Care Program in the interim.
Governance roles
Aged care governance is applied in the Aged Care Act 2024 and describe in the Aged Care Rules 2025.
Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, System Governor
Our Secretary will manage the operation and oversight of the aged care system, including:
- facilitating equitable access to funded aged care services for older people
- supporting the continuity of funded aged care services
- providing stewardship of the aged care system
- protecting and upholding the integrity of the aged care system
- monitoring and encouraging the training and development of aged care workers
- reviewing the Australian Government’s administration of the aged care system.
We also ensure component parts of the aged care system work together effectively.
A requirement under the new Act is for the System Governor to maintain a public register of state and territory coroners’ reports to the department that include a recommendation related to the death of an individual accessing aged care services.
Inspector-General of Aged Care
The Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care is an independent statutory agency led by the Inspector-General.
The Inspector-General monitors the aged care system, including administration, regulations and funding, and reports to the Minister and Parliament.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner
The Commissioner regulates aged care quality, safety and financial matters, and manages provider registration and renewal.
The Commissioner also ensures aged care providers:
- comply with their requirements under the Act
- work in an open and ethical way to support older people.
The Complaints Commissioner is appointed by the Minister, and is an independent role located with the ACQSC.
The role handles complaints about aged care services, promoting improved complaints management and transparency of complaints handling.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Advisory Council
Council members provide advice to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner and Minister about the performance of the Commission’s functions.