ACQSC
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Aged care provider regulation under the new Aged Care Act (in force from 1 November 2025). Standards, complaints, and serious incident response.
8
Obligations enforced
8
Enforcement actions tracked
3
Scope topics
Obligations enforced by ACQSC (8)
- criticalCWLTHAN-ACC funding classification compliance (residential)
Residential aged care funding driven by AN-ACC classification of each resident.
- criticalCWLTHComply with Aged Care Code of Conduct
All providers + workers must comply with the federal Aged Care Code of Conduct.
- criticalCWLTHComply with Aged Care Quality Standards (Aged Care Act 2024)
From 1 November 2025, providers must comply with the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
- criticalCWLTHComply with restrictive practices rules + behaviour support plans
Use of restrictive practices in aged care must be a last resort and meet strict conditions.
- criticalCWLTHComply with Serious Incident Response Scheme (aged care)
Residential and home-care providers must notify Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission of priority 1 incidents within 24 hours.
- criticalCWLTHKey personnel obligations under Aged Care Act 2024
Aged care key personnel — board + senior — owe statutory duties + face personal sanctions.
- criticalCWLTHRegistered nurse on duty 24/7 in residential aged care
Residential aged care providers must have a registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day.
- highCWLTHCharter of Aged Care Rights — disclose + uphold
Approved providers must give consumers the Charter + uphold rights described.
Recent ACQSC enforcement
- enforcement focus2025ACQSC + Department actions — Aged Care Act 2024 transition
Aged Care Act 2024 commenced 1 July 2025. New rights-based framework + stronger Statement of Rights enforcement + Code of Conduct extended to non-residential care.
- sanctions2025ACQSC sanction — small + regional aged care
ACQSC sanctioned multiple small + regional aged care providers in 2024-2025 — staffing shortfalls + non-compliance with revised standards.
- transparency2024Aged Care Star Ratings transparency outcomes 2024
Star Ratings published quarterly + drove consumer + financial outcomes; 1-2 star facilities face market consequences.
- compliance2024ACQSC restrictive practices compliance 2024
ACQSC reviewed restrictive practices use across residential aged care; identified providers exceeding chemical restraint thresholds.
- sanctions2024ACQSC sanctions — multiple aged care providers (RN 24/7)
Multiple residential aged care providers sanctioned for sustained RN 24/7 non-compliance and care minutes shortfalls.
- sanctions2024ACQSC Bupa Aged Care sanctions
Multiple Bupa facilities sanctioned across 2023-2024 for non-compliance with quality standards + SIRS notification failures.
- class action2024Bupa Aged Care class action — care standards
Class action by Bupa residents + families alleging substandard care + breach of contract.
- sanctions2024Aged Care Quality Commission sanctions — multiple providers (2023-24)
ACQSC imposed sanctions on multiple providers for failures including RN 24/7 non-compliance, care minutes shortfalls, and SIRS notification failures.
Scope topics
Parent legislation
Source: regulator's own website. Rules Mate links and summarises — we don't republish full statutory text.