Context and drivers
Aged Care Reforms
The Aged Care sector is undergoing major reforms to deliver person-centred care for older people. Further information about the reforms is available from:
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2024) Aged Care reforms – A guide for providers and the sector. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/aged-care-reforms-a-guide-for-providers-and-the-sector?language=en
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2025) Navigating the reforms. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-reforms/navigating-the-reforms
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. (2021) Further information and reports are available from: https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care/final-report
Department of Health (DH) (2021a) Australian Government Response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-government-response-to-the-final-report-of-the-royal-commission-into-aged-care-quality-and-safety
Aged Care Legislation
Commonwealth of Australia (2024) Aged Care Act 2024 No. 104, 2024. Available from: https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00104/latest/text
Further information about the Aged Care Act 2024 is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing at: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act. This includes links to a range of resources around the New Act designed for older people, providers, workers and other key stakeholders. Of particular interest may be:
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (2025) Working in aged care – A guide for workers about the new Aged Care Act. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/working-in-aged-care-a-guide-for-workers-about-the-new-aged-care-act
OPAN’s new Aged Care Act webpage includes links to resources and fact sheets to help you better navigate and understand the upcoming changes. Available from: https://opan.org.au/new-aged-care-act/
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Aged Care consumer rights. Available from: https://www.accc.gov.au/update/aged-care
For information about Aged Care legislation and associated policies, go to:
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) Legislation and policies. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-policies
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoDHA) Aged care laws in Australia. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/aged-care/about-aged-care/aged-care-laws-in-australia
Statement of Rights
The Statement of Rights is a key component of the new Aged Act. It outlines the rights older people have when accessing aged care services. It is designed to ensure that older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system.
The Statement of Rights is available from: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation%2Fbills%2Fr7238_first-reps%2F0003;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbills%2Fr7238_first-reps%2F0000%22;rec=0
Key resources for service providers include:
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (2025) Statement of Rights. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/workers/reform-changes-workers/statement-rights
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2025) A new Aged Care Act for the rights of older people https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/a-new-aged-care-act-for-the-rights-of-older-people
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (2025) Statement of Rights and Code of Conduct under the new Aged Care Act (video) https://www.health.gov.au/aged-care-statement-of-rights-video?language=en
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (2025) self-service resources for educators (customisable PowerPoint presentations and discussion guides to support organisations deliver education to their workforce). Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/education-training/self-service-resources-educators
OPAN’s New Aged Care Act page includes further information about the Statement of Rights including a poster and webinar. Available from: https://opan.org.au/new-aged-care-act/
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Aged Care consumer rights. Available from: https://www.accc.gov.au/update/aged-care
Code of Conduct for Aged Care
There are no changes to the Code of Conduct for Aged Care (the Code) under the new Aged Care Act. Only the language has been updated about who the Code applies to. The Code describes how aged care providers, responsible persons and workers (including volunteers) must behave and treat people receiving aged care.
Further information is available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/workers/reform-changes-workers/code-conduct-aged-care
Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards set out the requirements that relevant aged care providers need to meet when delivering services. Delivery of safe and inclusive services to people with diverse needs and life experiences is built into and woven throughout the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, guidance materials and associated resources are available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/quality-standards/strengthened-quality-standards
Other key resources include:
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (2025) Strengthened Standards Provider Readiness Checklist. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/provider-readiness-checklist
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2025) How the new aged care regulatory model will work. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/new-model-for-regulating-aged-care/how-it-works
The Aged Care Diversity Framework
The Department of Health, Disablity and Ageing (DoDHA) have published a collection of resources to support diversity planning. These include:
- Aged Care Diversity Framework. (2017) Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/aged-care-diversity-framework
- Aged Care Diversity Framework aged care provider action plans. (2019) The collection includes action plans to address the needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, senior Australians from CALD backgrounds and LGBTI elders. It also includes a government action plan and a shared action plan which outlines actions to support all diverse groups. The action plans are available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/aged-care-diversity-framework-action-plans.
- Sample provider Diversity plan (2019) Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/sample-provider-diversity-plan
Specialisation Verification Framework
Specialisation Verification helps older people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences access more reliable information when choosing aged care providers. Further information is available from:
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2023) Specialisation Verification for aged care services. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/providing-aged-care-services/reporting/specialisation-verification-framework
- SSD Connect & The Eastern Sector Development Team (ESDT) (2024) Towards Specialisation (series of webinars). Available from: https://www.ssdconnect.org.au/towards-specialisation
Supported decision-making
The New Aged Care Act explicitly supports the right for older people to make decisions about their own lives and care. Further information about the changes related to support roles and supported decision making are available from:
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) (2025) Supported Decision Making under the new Aged Care Act. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about/supported-decision-making-under-the-new-aged-care-act
- OPAN (2025) Supported Decision Making (Webinar). Available from: https://opan.org.au/video/decision-making/
- My Aged Care (2025) Upcoming changes to support roles and relationships. Available from: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/arranging-someone-support-you/upcoming-changes-support-roles-and-relationships
Provider Governance
Under the new Act, registered providers will need to meet certain governance obligations. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) have published a number of resources to understand and embed these responsibilities. These include:
- Provider Governance Policy. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/provider-governance-policy
- Provider Governance Responsibilities. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/provider-governance/provider-governance-responsibilities
- Regulatory Bulletin RB 2023-23 Provider governance obligations. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/regulatory-bulletin-rb-2023-23-provider-governance-obligations
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (2023) Strengthening Provider Governance Responsibilities (video). Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/strengthening-provider-governance
- The Governing for Reform in Aged Care Program supports agencies strengthen their governance capabilities. It includes flexible learning pathways and a set of governance activities and resources. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/for-providers/provider-governance/governing-reform-aged-care-program
Single Assessment System
The Single Assessment System workforce has brought together and replaced the Regional Assessment Service, Aged Care Assessment Teams and independent Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment organisations.
Further information about the Single Assessment system is available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/single-assessment-system
From the 1st of July 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Assessment organisations will be introduced to provide culturally safe assessments for First Nations people. Further information is available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/single-assessment-system/needs/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-aged-care-assessment-organisation
Support at Home
The Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 November 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will transition to the new program no earlier than 1 July 2027. For further information about Support at Home, go to: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home
Quality improvement planning resources (including diversity planning)
Safer Care- Quality Improvement Toolkit (2024). Available here: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/best-practice-improvement/quality-improvement/toolkit
Australian Government (2025) Aged Care Rules 2025.- Continuous improvement. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/assessment-processes/continuous-improvement
- Regulatory Bulletin: Plan for continuous improvement requirements (2021) Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resources/rb-2021-15-plan-continuous-improvement-requirements
- Guidance and resources for providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resources/guidance-and-resources-providers-support-aged-care-quality-standards
- Self assessment (The self assessment tool guidance and template) are available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/assessment-processes/self-assessment
- Quality improvement guidance for aged care providers (focus on Residential aged care). Available from:: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/star-ratings-for-residential-aged-care/quality-improvement-guidance-for-aged-care-providers
General resource
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2025) Setting the foundation for quality management in home and community-based long-term care. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2025-12064-51836-79440
Other planning guides/resources
While each of these guides have been developed with a different audience or focus area, they all support a best practice approach to planning. If your organisation doesn’t already have an established inclusive planning framework, or you’d like to review your current process, systems or tools, these resources may be especially helpful.
Centre for Cultural Diversity and Ageing (CCDA) have developed a range of resources to support aged care providers understand, plan for and deliver culturally inclusive services. Key resources include:
- Inclusive Service Standards to assist aged care providers in the development and the delivery of inclusive services to all consumers. They provide a framework for services to adapt and improve their services and organisational practices so they are welcoming, safe and accessible. The resources include an online portal, tip sheets and templates, online training modules, videos with discussion guides and an organisational audit and planning tool. Further information is available from: https://www.culturaldiversity.com.au/inclusive-service-standards
Embrace multicultural mental health – Mental Health Australia, in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) have created The Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. The framework covers all aspects of service delivery, including planning, management, outcomes monitoring and evaluation, with a primary focus on cultural competence. While the framework was designed for mental health service providers, feedback from users has suggested it can be a valuable tool to support planning across a range of service types. It provides lots of resources, tools and examples. The framework and further information is available from: https://www.embracementalhealth.org.au/service-providers
Val’s LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care has developed The LGBTI-Inclusive Practice Review Tool for services supporting or caring for older people (The Val’s Review Tool) to assist service providers become culturally safe and inclusive for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people. Using the Rainbow Tick Standards as the framework, the Val’s Review Tool will assist with the identification of current practice, including gaps and areas for improvement and action in the provision of LGBTI-safe and inclusive care and support. Services can also use their results to demonstrate actions and requirements for Aged Care Quality Standards (ACQS) review processes. The tool and supporting resources are available from: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/health-and-wellbeing/lgbti-ageing-and-aged-care/resources-reports-and-training
Program evaluation resources
Department of Finance (2021) Evaluation in the Commonwealth (RMG 130). While developed for the public sector, this guidance provides useful information about effective evaluation concepts and approaches. It also includes a range of valuable tools and templates to guide evaluation practice. Available from: https://www.finance.gov.au/government/managing-commonwealth-resources/planning-and-reporting/commonwealth-performance-framework/evaluation-commonwealth-rmg-130
KeepAble (2021) Measuring Client Outcomes. Available from: https://keepable.com.au/for-homecare-providers/plans-guides-and-roadmaps/measuring-client-outcomes/
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA / Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) Continuous improvement. Available from: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/assessment-processes/continuous-improvement
- Langley, G., Moen, R., Nolan, K., Nolan, T., Norman, C. & Provost L. (2009) The Improvement Guide: A Practical Approach to Enhancing Organizational Performance (2nd edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) How to improve. Available from: https://www.ihi.org/resources/how-to-improve
- Safer Care Victoria. Step by step guide to using the Model for Improvement. Available from: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/improvement/step-by-step-guide-to-using-the-model-for-improvement
Examples of organisational diversity strategies & plans
- Bolton Clarke. Bolton Clarke Diversity Framework 2017 – 2025: Diversity at work. Available from: https://www.boltonclarke.com.au/about-us/diversity-at-work/
Uniting. Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2020-2026. Available from: https://www.uniting.org/content/dam/uniting/documents/community-impact/cultural-diversity/uniting-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2020-2026.pdf
- North Western Melbourne Public Health Network (NWMPHN) Access and Equity Framework 2021 – 2024.
