When you will be audited
Every provider of government funded aged care is registered in one or more of six categories. The Commission does an audit when a provider applies:
- to register in category 4, 5 or 6 (registration audit)
- to renew registration in category 4, 5 or 6 (renewal of registration audit)
- to add a category 4, 5 or 6 service (variation of registration audit).
Registration usually lasts 3 years, and the Commission can send your renewal invitation up to 18 months before it expires. Audits are announced, and the Commission charges audit fees on a cost recovery basis. Categories 1, 2 and 3 are not audited against the Quality Standards, but still have other obligations under the Act, such as the Code of Conduct and incident management.
Which Standards apply to your category
The Commission applies the Standards by category:
| Category | Standards that apply |
|---|---|
| 4: personal care and care support in the home or community (including respite) | Standards 1 to 4. Outcome 5.1 clinical governance also applies if you provide care management or restorative care management. |
| 5: nursing and transition care | Standards 1 to 5 |
| 6: residential care (including respite) | All 7 Standards |
The Commission's guidance tool filters the outcomes by category and shows what each one expects.
How the audit works
The audit process has three stages:
- Initiation. You receive an email asking you to complete the Audit Evidence Collection Tool (AECT) with key documents, and to nominate governing body and senior management representatives. An initiation meeting follows. Without a completed AECT there is no audit, and a missed deadline can see your application withdrawn.
- Delivery. The provider audit reviews your policies and evidence and meets your governing body and senior management. Renewal audits add a care delivery audit: every category 6 home and a sample of category 4 and 5 locations, each with a Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool (CDECT), an opening meeting, interviews, observation, file reviews and a closing meeting with preliminary ratings.
- Reporting. You get a preliminary report and can respond with evidence by the deadline. The final report gives reasons for each rating and informs the registration decision.
What the Commission looks at
Audits focus on your governance, your systems and processes for delivering care, the experience and outcomes for older people, and whether practice is safe across all your services. They also look forward: can your systems keep you conformant and keep improving? The Commission weighs the findings alongside notifications, complaints and your compliance history.
Evidence checklist by Standard
- Standard 1, the individual: care plans that reflect each person's history, culture and preferences; records of choices, including risks they choose to take; clear agreements and fee information.
- Standard 2, the organisation: governing body minutes showing oversight of quality and risk; risk register; incident management system and open disclosure records; complaints and feedback register; workforce strategy, rosters, screening, training and supervision records; emergency and disaster plans.
- Standard 3, care and services: assessments and care and services plans developed with the person, offered advance care planning, and reviewed when needs change; handover and communication records; coordination with other providers.
- Standard 4, the environment: environmental risk checks for home services; clean, safe settings and equipment maintenance; infection prevention and control program and training.
- Standard 5, clinical care: clinical governance framework, antimicrobial stewardship, medication management and reviews, high impact risk management, cognitive impairment and palliative care records.
- Standards 6 and 7, residential only: nutrition assessments, menu and dining feedback, daily living and lifestyle records, and transition plans.
Free download: audit readiness evidence checklist
A printable PDF for NDIS and aged care providers: the evidence auditors ask for, area by area, with tick boxes and space for where it is kept. Enter your details and we will email it to you.
We use your details to send the download and, only if you tick the box, occasional updates. See our privacy policy.Interviews with older people and staff
Care delivery audits include interviews with older people and their representatives, staff interviews and observation. The Commission's pre-audit readiness checklist suggests telling older people and their supporters about the audit, their rights under the Statement of Rights, that they may be invited to give feedback, and how to give feedback to you and the Commission. In residential care, encourage residents to talk to the consumer advisory body.
For staff, aim for confidence rather than scripts. Workers should be able to explain, in their own words, how they report an incident, raise a concern, follow a care plan and respect a person's choices. Brief governing body members and managers on the standard meeting agendas the Commission publishes.
Ratings and common gaps
Each outcome is rated conformance, minor non-conformance or major non-conformance. A minor non-conformance is a gap that is not organisation wide and is unlikely to present high risk; a major one means systems cannot be shown to work, or gaps are organisation wide or likely to present high risk. Category 6 providers renewing registration can be considered for an exceeding rating. Where there is non-conformance, the Commission works more closely with you until the issue is fixed in a lasting way, and audit ratings affect Star Ratings and appear on Find a provider.
Gaps tend to sit where systems exist on paper but are not embedded: care plans not updated after a change in condition, incident records without follow up or open disclosure, governing bodies that receive reports but cannot show what they did with them, and training records that miss part of the workforce.
A preparation plan
Now: confirm your categories and the outcomes that apply, read the audit guides and evidence collection tools, and self-assess against each outcome.
Before the AECT is due: update policies, procedures and registers, collect your key documents, and prepare governing body and senior management for their meetings.
Before site visits: sample care files, trace an incident and a complaint end to end, refresh staff on the Standards, and inform older people and their supporters.
After the preliminary report: respond with evidence by the deadline and turn any finding into an improvement plan with owners and dates.
Get help or train your team
Our aged care courses cover the Act, the Code of Conduct and each strengthened Standard in plain language for workers and leaders:
90 minPreparing for Your Aged Care Audit
A practical guide for aged care managers, clinical leads and quality leads preparing for an audit by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission under the Aged Care Act 2024. You will learn how registration, renewal and variation audits and monitoring activities work, which strengthened Quality Standards apply to each registration category, and how auditors collect and weigh evidence. The course covers the evidence collection tools, tracing evidence from policy to practice, interviews with older people, supporters and staff, observation and file review, every audit meeting and how to run the onsite days. It then explains audit ratings, responding to a preliminary report and building a continuous improvement plan that works. Case studies follow a residential home and a home care provider. This course builds knowledge only. Duration: 90 minutes.
50 minNavigating the New Aged Care Act and Quality Standards
The Aged Care Act 2024 commenced on 1 November 2025 and changed the way aged care works in Australia. It puts the rights of older people at the centre. This course explains the rights based approach, the Statement of Rights and the Statement of Principles, and the seven strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. It also covers registered supporters, the Support at Home program, the new Complaints Commissioner and the whistleblower protections for workers, older people and families. Most importantly, it explains what these changes mean for you on every shift, in residential care and in people's own homes. Three case studies show the Act in action. Duration: 50 minutes.
45 minAged Care Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct for Aged Care sets out how every aged care worker, provider and responsible person is expected to behave towards the older people we support. This course walks through all eight elements of the Code in plain language, with examples from residential care and care in people's own homes. You will learn who the Code applies to, how to raise concerns early, how whistleblower protections under the Aged Care Act 2024 keep you safe when you speak up, and what the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can do when the Code is breached, including banning orders. Two case studies, one in a residential home and one in home care, show how the Code guides everyday decisions. The course finishes with a final assessment. Duration: 45 minutes.
50 minStandard 1: The Individual
Standard 1 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards sets the foundation for how we treat every older person we support. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission now names it The individual, and it applies to home, community and residential services. This course explains the four outcomes in plain language: person centred care, dignity, respect and privacy, choice, independence and quality of life, and transparency and agreements. You will see what each outcome looks like on an ordinary shift, and learn when to speak up and tell your team leader. Three case studies follow a resident settling into care, a man travelling home for a funeral, and a client confused by a new agreement. Duration: 50 minutes.
50 minStandard 2: The Organisation
Standard 2 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards is about how an aged care organisation is run. It makes the governing body responsible for safe, quality care, but every worker helps the systems work. This course explains the ten outcomes in plain language, grouped into what they mean for you: partnering with older people, a culture of quality and safety, managing risk and incidents, welcoming feedback and complaints, handling information properly, having a skilled workforce, and being ready for emergencies. You will learn practical examples, such as reporting a near miss, writing clear notes and knowing your part in an emergency plan. Three case studies follow a fall in residential care, feedback from a client at home and a storm warning in the community. Duration: 50 minutes.
45 minStandard 3: The Care and Services
Standard 3 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards is about how care and services are planned, delivered, communicated and coordinated for each older person. It applies to home, community and residential services. This course explains its four outcomes in plain language: assessment and planning, delivery of care and services, communicating for safety and quality, and coordination of care and services. You will learn how to follow and contribute to a care plan, notice and report changes, hand over clearly between shifts, check a person's identity, and work with other services such as doctors, allied health and family. Three case studies follow a client whose needs are changing, a rushed handover and a recommendation that almost got lost. Duration: 45 minutes.
50 minStandard 4: The Environment
Standard 4 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards makes sure older people receive care in a physical environment that is safe, supportive and meets their needs, and that infections are prevented and controlled. It applies to home, community and residential services. This course explains its two outcomes in plain language: environment and equipment, and infection prevention and control. You will learn how to spot and report hazards in a client's home, what a clean, safe and comfortable service environment looks like, how to check equipment before use, and the everyday infection control practices that protect everyone. Three case studies show these skills in action at home and in residential care. Duration: 50 minutes.
50 minStandard 5: Clinical Care
Standard 5 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards sets out what safe, quality clinical care looks like for older people. It applies to nursing, transition and residential care, and its clinical governance outcome also applies to care management in the home. This course explains the seven outcomes in plain language and shows what each one means for a care worker, from reporting concerns clearly to responding after a fall. Three case studies, at home and in residential care, show how to escalate a changing wound, a fall and pain at the end of life to the registered nurse. This course builds knowledge only and does not qualify you to perform clinical tasks. Duration: 50 minutes.
50 minStandard 6: Food and Nutrition
Standard 6 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards recognises how much food, drink and mealtimes matter in an older person's life. It applies to residential care, including residential respite. This course explains its four outcomes in plain language: partnering with older people on food and nutrition, assessing nutritional needs and preferences, providing food and drink, and the dining experience. You will learn how to find out what people like, follow texture and fluid requirements safely, record intake, notice and report signs of poor nutrition or swallowing problems, and offer real choice. Three case studies show how to respond to weight loss, balance choice with safety, and improve the dining experience. Duration: 50 minutes.
50 minStandard 7: The Residential Community
Standard 7 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards recognises that when an older person moves into a residential care home, that home and its people become the centre of their life. It applies to residential care, including residential respite. This course explains its two outcomes in plain language: daily living, and transitions. You will learn how to help residents feel at home, safe and included, support activities and relationships that matter to them, keep them connected with family, friends and community, and make moves into, within and out of the home as smooth and stress free as possible. Three case studies, covering a new resident settling in, conflict between neighbours and a respite stay, show how Standard 7 works in everyday practice. Duration: 50 minutes.
55 minIntroduction to the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
The Serious Incident Response Scheme, known as SIRS, helps prevent and reduce abuse and neglect of older people receiving aged care. This course introduces how SIRS works under the Aged Care Act 2024, which started on 1 November 2025. You will learn the eight types of reportable incident, how to decide whether an incident is Priority 1 or Priority 2, and the timeframes for notifying the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: within 24 hours for Priority 1 and within 30 days for Priority 2. The course also explains your role as an aged care worker, when police must be told, the protections for people who speak up, and how incident management helps us learn and prevent harm. Two case studies show how it works in practice. Duration: 55 minutes.
If you want a second set of eyes, Provider Compliance's consultants run mock audits against the strengthened Standards and support remediation after an audit. See our aged care consultant services.
Frequently asked questions
Which aged care providers are audited against the Quality Standards?
Providers applying to register, renew or vary their registration in categories 4, 5 or 6. Categories 1, 2 and 3 are not audited against the strengthened Quality Standards but have other obligations under the Aged Care Act.
Which Quality Standards apply to a category 4 home care provider?
Standards 1 to 4. Outcome 5.1 clinical governance also applies if you provide care management or restorative care management services.
What is the Audit Evidence Collection Tool?
The AECT is the form the Commission asks you to complete, with supporting documents, at the start of an audit. There are versions for registration, renewal and variation. The Commission cannot do the audit without it.
What are the stages of an aged care audit?
Initiation, where you complete the AECT; delivery, with the provider audit and, for renewals, care delivery or residential care home audits; and reporting, with a preliminary report you can respond to and a final report.
What ratings can an aged care audit give?
Conformance, minor non-conformance or major non-conformance for each outcome and standard. Category 6 providers renewing registration can also be considered for an exceeding rating.
Who pays for an aged care audit?
The Commission charges audit fees for applications to register, renew or vary categories 4, 5 or 6, on a cost recovery basis proportionate to the services you deliver.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Checked 11/11/2026. Provider Compliance is not affiliated with the Victorian Government.