Aged Care Quality Standards Now Law

The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, has announced the passage of the Aged Care (Single Quality Framework) Reform Bill 2018.

The new Standards will take effect from 1 July 2019 and will apply to all aged care services including residential care, home care, flexible care and services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

The new Standards focus on quality outcomes for consumers rather than provider processes. This will make it easier for consumers, their families, carers and representatives to understand what they can expect from a service.

The new Standards will also make regulation simpler for providers working across multiple aged care services, and encourage innovation, excellence and continuous improvement.

A copy of the new Standards is available on the department's website.

Transition to the new Standards began in July 2018. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has developed resources and will continue to conduct activities to assist consumers and providers to understand the new arrangements. More information about these activities is available on the Quality Agency's website.