Navigating the New Aged Care Act and Quality Standards

This lesson introduces the Aged Care Act 2024, which passed Parliament on 25 November 2024 and commenced on 1 November 2025. Key points: the Act takes a rights based approach, meaning the system is built around the older person rather than around funding or providers. The Statement of Rights replaced the Charter of Aged Care Rights and covers rights such as independence and choice, safe and culturally safe care, freedom from abuse and neglect, privacy, communication in a preferred language and the right to raise complaints without reprisal. The Statement of Principles sets out the ideas that guide how the aged care system should work.

This lesson explains practical changes introduced with the Aged Care Act 2024. Key points: registered supporters replaced representatives and help older people make their own decisions without deciding for them. Providers now have a single registration with registration categories. Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and Short Term Restorative Care from 1 November 2025. A new Complaints Commissioner sits within the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Whistleblower protections cover older people, families and workers, and providers must have a whistleblower system and policy. Providers and responsible persons also have statutory duties, and the Code of Conduct continues.

This lesson introduces the seven strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which apply from 1 November 2025 and replaced the previous eight standards. Key points: Standard 1 The Individual, Standard 2 The Organisation, Standard 3 The Care and Services, Standard 4 The Environment, Standard 5 Clinical Care, Standard 6 Food and Nutrition and Standard 7 The Residential Community. Standard 1 sits at the heart of all the others. You will see a short everyday example of what each standard looks like in practice, and how the standards connect to the Statement of Rights and the work you do on every shift.

This final lesson brings the course together by looking at what the new Act and Quality Standards mean for your daily work. Key points: put the person's rights and choices first, including their right to take risks. Speak directly with the older person and involve registered supporters as helpers, not decision makers. Follow the Code of Conduct for Aged Care, which continues under the new Act. Report incidents and concerns to your team leader immediately so serious incidents can be reported to the Commission on time. Know that you can raise concerns safely, with whistleblower protections. It also sets out the ways you can raise a concern.

This case study follows Mrs Beatriz Santos, who lives in a residential care home and wants to keep walking to her local cafe each morning. Her daughter, who is her registered supporter, is worried about falls and asks staff to stop her. The lesson shows how the team respects Mrs Santos's right to make choices that carry some risk, while working with her to reduce that risk. Key points: speak with the older person first, registered supporters help but do not decide, plan for safety together, and record the person's choices in the care plan.

This case study follows Mr Joseph Adeyemi, who has started Support at Home services after a stay in hospital. He has questions about what he pays and is unhappy that two visits were missed without a call. The lesson shows how his support worker, Hana, answers what she can, passes on questions outside her role, and treats his concern as a complaint he has every right to make. Key points: listen and thank him, do not guess about funding, record and pass on complaints, and make sure he knows he can also go to the Commission.

This case study follows Farida, a care worker in a residential care home, who notices that repositioning charts are being filled in for care that did not happen, and that one resident has a new pressure injury. When her team leader tells her to leave it, she has to decide what to do next. The lesson shows how whistleblower protections under the Aged Care Act 2024 support workers who speak up. Key points: you can raise concerns inside or outside our organisation, your identity is protected, and nobody may punish you for a qualifying disclosure.