Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards: What Changed Under the Aged Care Act 2024

Background and commencement

The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are a key component of the Aged Care Act 2024 plain English. These Standards were developed in response to recommendations made by the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The new Standards replaced the previous Aged Care Quality Standards, which were in effect from 1 July 2019 to 31 October 2025. They will apply from 1 November 2025, coinciding with the commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024.

To ensure continued relevance, the government will undertake a review of the strengthened Standards every 5 years, ensuring they remain aligned with evolving best practice.

What's new in the strengthened Standards

The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards represent a significant shift from previous iterations. They are more detailed and measurable, with a focus on achieving clearer outcomes for older people receiving care. This increased clarity aims to provide a more robust framework for assessing and improving service delivery.

A key feature of the revised Standards is a stronger emphasis on several core principles. These include upholding the dignity of older people, respecting their identity, ensuring culturally safe care, and supporting individual choice in all aspects of care.

Furthermore, the new Standards introduce a new focus on clinical care quality and clinical governance, alongside higher expectations regarding workforce capability, training, and supervision. Residential aged care providers will also find clearer service-environment requirements outlined within the updated Standards.

How providers must demonstrate compliance

Providers are required to apply the Standards to all aged care services they deliver. Compliance is demonstrated through a combination of ongoing processes and external assessment. Self-assessment forms a key component of continuous quality improvement, allowing providers to regularly evaluate their performance against the Standards.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission conducts evidence-based assessments against each Standard to determine compliance. Auditing and accreditation processes also continue as part of this strengthened framework.

Providers identified as higher risk will be subject to more frequent monitoring and may experience short-notice site visits to verify adherence to the Standards.

Implications for older people and families

The Aged Care Act 2024 introduces changes that directly impact older people and their families. Registered providers now have a stronger statutory duty of care, meaning they are legally accountable for the care they provide. This aims to improve the quality and safety of care received by older Australians.

Families and representatives will find clearer pathways to raise concerns with the Commission regarding provider conduct. The Act also strengthens protections against restrictive practices, offering greater reassurance about individual rights and autonomy.

A greater emphasis is placed on partnership, ensuring older people, families, and representatives are more involved in decisions about care. Workforce conduct rules, applying to all aged care workers from 1 November 2025, will further contribute to a safer and more respectful environment for older people.