Aged care provides support for older people to help them with everyday living and other needs. Quality in aged care is a right. Under the Charter of Aged Care Rights, older people are entitled to safe and high-quality care and services.
Regulatory framework
Reforms to the regulatory framework and to aged care’s digital and data strategy are changing aged care. The Aged Care Act 2024 provides the legal basis for a Statement of Rights for older people. It also outlines the funding responsibilities for aged care, the Support at Home program, Aged Care Quality Standards and the powers of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is the national regulator of funded aged care services. It is responsible monitoring and assessing providers’ compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards.
The Aged Care Quality Standards
The Aged Care Quality Standards define what good care looks like. The care and services a provider deliver need to be safe, high quality, and meet the needs and preferences of the people under their care. All providers delivering Australian Government-funded aged care services need to be registered. Depending on their category of registration, providers need to consider and address the strengthened aged care standards.
There are 7 strengthened Quality Standards that will start on 1 July 2024. They are:
- The person
- The organisation
- Care and services
- The environment
- Clinical care
- Food and nutrition
- The residential community.
Standard 5 looks at clinical care. This standard seeks to ensure that the older person receives the right care and that staff and services the clinical needs of the person they are caring for. Outcome 5.7 specifically addresses palliative care and end-of-life care. Providers have responsibilities in discussing and planning for care, delivering responsive and appropriate care, and managing care in the last days of life.
Page updated 07 February 2025