Thank you for visiting us at the National Aged Care Provider Conference 2025

Fulfil your obligations under the new Aged Care Act through free, practical education and training that supports dignity, choice, and rights in aged care.

Who we are

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is a national network of independent advocacy organisations. We support older people to understand their aged care rights and resolve issues – always based on their decisions and direction.

We also work alongside aged care providers to promote rights-based, person-centred care. Through free education, training, and resources, we help services strengthen dignity, choice, and inclusion – so that together, we can improve outcomes and uphold the rights of older people.

Education and training for aged care providers

From 1 November 2025, aged care providers will play a central role in upholding the rights of older people under the new Aged Care Act. OPAN offers free, practical education and training to support your team to embed dignity, choice, and rights into everyday care. Programs are tailored for quality managers, care staff, health professionals, and anyone involved in service planning or delivery

Who's missing?

PLANNING FOR DIVERSITY

Meet your reporting requirements under the new Aged Care Act. Free training for Australian aged care providers to better plan, deliver and report on what you have implemented to support a diverse and inclusive environment for older people and your aged care workers.

Who is this training for?

This workshop series is tailored for

— Quality managers
— The person responsible for quality improvement, compliance or service planning

Why should you attend?

Understand and plan for all 13 diversity groups

Get access to practical tools

— Training workbooks
— Diversity data dashboards
— Planning templates
— Real-world inclusion strategies

Aligned with

— Aged Care Act 2024
— Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
— Statement of rights
— Aged Care Worker Code of Conduct

What providers are saying after attending the training

95% felt more competent in planning for diversity
97.6% felt more equipped to identify access barriers

These workshops acted as a catalyst for a significant cultural and mindset shift within our team. They played an essential role in facilitating the integration of diversity plans and change into our processes and services

Workshop participant

Self-paced free eLearning

OPAN’s online training programs cover key topics such as abuse prevention, advocacy, and older people’s rights. Designed for aged care workers and health professionals, these self-paced modules support a rights-based approach to care and can contribute to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). A certificate of completion is provided to support individual and organisational training records.

Talk to us first

This short, self-paced training module covers the rights of older people seeking or receiving government-funded aged care services and the role advocates play in resolving issues and concerns.

Abuse of the Older Person

This course equips health and aged care professionals to recognise, prevent, and respond to abuse. Learn to identify warning signs, navigate complex dynamics, and support older people.

Responding to and preventing sexual assault in Residential Aged Care

This online facilitator course has been developed as part of the #ReadyToListen project. It is aimed at aged care educators and supports the training of residential aged care workers in understanding the risk and indicators of sexual assault and believing those who disclose.

Book free education and information sessions

OPAN provides free education and information sessions about aged care advocacy, aged care rights and protecting yourself from harm.

To enquire about an education or information session, complete the form or call 1800 700 600. You will be contacted by the network member organisation in your state or territory.

Statement of Rights

The new Act introduces a Statement of Rights*, which outlines the rights of older people when seeking or accessing government-funded aged care services. It includes rights like independence and autonomy, respect for privacy, safe and quality care, and the right to raise issues without fear of reprisal.  Aged care service providers are legally obliged to deliver services to older people in line with the Statement of Rights.

View our webinar on Statement of Rights.

*The Statement of Rights replaces the Charter of Aged Care Rights, which was a voluntary agreement.