Amendment timeline
Aged Care Act 1997
Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) → Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth)
About this Act
The Aged Care Act 1997 was Australia's primary aged-care legislation for 28 years until repealed by the Aged Care Act 2024, which commenced 1 November 2025. This entry tracks both: the 1997 Act's key amendments (Aged Care Quality Standards 2019, Royal Commission response 2021, Code of Conduct 2022) and the wholesale replacement by the new rights-based 2024 Act.
- Original Royal Assent
- 26 June 1997
- Original commencement
- 1 October 1997
- Administered by
- AGED-CARE-QUALITY
Amendment timeline
Chronological list, oldest to newest. Each entry cites the legislation.gov.au compilation or as-made source and, where available, regulator guidance.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018
Royal Assent
10 December 2018
Commencement
1 Jan 2019; merged complaints + quality functions 1 Jan 2020
What changed
Established the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission by merging the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner and the Department's compliance functions. Introduced the single quality standards. Strengthened complaints handling and provider compliance powers. Set the foundation for the post-Royal-Commission expansion.
Who's affected
All approved providers of residential, home care and flexible care services.
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Act 2022
Royal Assent
26 August 2022
Commencement
Various — Star Ratings from Dec 2022; Code of Conduct from 1 Dec 2022
What changed
First wave of post-Royal Commission reforms. Introduced the Aged Care Code of Conduct binding on approved providers, governing persons and aged-care workers. Created the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for home care services (residential SIRS commenced 1 April 2021). Mandated Star Ratings publication for residential aged care services on My Aged Care. Reformed reporting and governance obligations.
Who's affected
All approved providers, governing persons (board members, executives), and aged care workers.
Read more
Aged Care Act 2024
Aged Care Act 2024 + Aged Care Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (transitional)
Royal Assent
2 December 2024
Commencement
1 Nov 2025 (most provisions; originally scheduled 1 Jul 2025, deferred)
What changed
Full repeal and replacement of the Aged Care Act 1997. The new Act is rights-based, with a Statement of Rights for older people accessing aged care and a Statement of Principles for the system. Introduces a new single funding model, single entry point through Services Australia, strengthened quality standards (eight new Quality Standards), elevated provider obligations, increased civil penalties (up to 60,000 penalty units), tightened registration categories, and a new regulatory framework with the Commission gaining enhanced enforcement powers.
Who's affected
All registered providers, governing persons, aged-care workers and older people accessing aged-care services. Major build for providers — entirely new compliance framework.
What's coming next
Aged Care Rules 2025 are progressively being made under the new Act (most registered late 2025; some late-cycle rules still in consultation through Q2 2026). Higher Everyday Living Fee and co-contribution settings are subject to ongoing Departmental review and may be amended via Determination. The single-Quality-Standards transition continues — the Commission has signalled an 'educative posture' through the first 12 months but full enforcement from 1 November 2026.
Why this matters now
The new Act is a from-the-ground-up replacement — every provider's compliance framework had to be rebuilt by 1 November 2025. Star Ratings are now a live consumer-facing comparison tool. The new $33M-scale civil penalties (60,000 PU x $550) put aged care enforcement in the same league as ASIC and AUSTRAC. Governing persons (board members and senior executives) face personal accountability under the new Act.
Frequently asked
Did the Aged Care Act 1997 just get repealed?
Yes — repealed by the Aged Care Act 2024, which commenced 1 November 2025. The 1997 Act and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 were both replaced by the consolidated new framework. Transitional rules preserve some 1997 Act concepts during the transition period.
What are the new Quality Standards?
Eight Standards: 1. The Person; 2. Provider Governance; 3. Care and Services; 4. Environment; 5. Clinical Care; 6. Food and Nutrition; 7. Residential Community; 8. Older Person's Rights. Aligned to the Statement of Rights. Providers must apply them across all service settings (in-home, residential, flexible).
Are there new penalties?
Yes — civil penalty maximums under the 2024 Act go up to 60,000 penalty units for providers ($33M+) for serious breaches of obligations relating to care, safety and rights. Individual liability for governing persons attaches where they are involved in serious obligation breaches. Strict liability offences for failing to notify required information.
Is the home care funding model changing?
Yes — the previous Home Care Packages system has been replaced under the 2024 Act with the Support at Home program. Older people receive a budget supporting a service-list of approved supports, with a co-contribution depending on means. Transition arrangements preserve existing Level 1-4 package recipients during phase-in.
When does enforcement go from educative to active?
The Commission has indicated educative posture through the first 12 months (to 1 November 2026) for new obligations introduced under the 2024 Act. Pre-existing obligations carried forward (e.g. SIRS, Code of Conduct) continue to be actively enforced. Star Ratings and complaints intake function as before.
Other amendment timelines
Rules Mate summarises and links to legislation.gov.au and regulator guidance. We do not republish statutory text. Every date in this timeline has been verified against the Federal Register of Legislation as at 6 June 2026. Always verify against the live source before acting. Compliance tools, not legal advice. Consult a qualified professional.