Australia’s aged care system has undergone a major overhaul. As of 1 November 2025, under the Aged Care Act 2024, all government-funded aged care providers must comply with a new set of quality and safety rules. This means stronger protections, clearer standards and more accountability for both home care and residential services.

Below we explain what the new requirements mean, who they affect, what they guarantee for people receiving care, and what providers must do to meet them.

What Changed Under the Aged Care Act 2024 and Why

The previous quality standards (from the old system) have been replaced by a new, strengthened version.
The updates are a direct response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, aimed at improving safety, transparency, dignity and consistency across aged care.
Now, under the new Act, providers must register with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC). This registration must be renewed every three years.

When you choose or use an aged care service, the provider is legally required to meet these standards. And the ACQSC has greater authority to audit, assess and act where standards aren't met.

What Are The 7 Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards?

Overview of the Seven Strengthened Quality Standards

There are seven core standards that define what ‘good care’ now looks like.

How the Quality Standards Are Structured

Each standard includes several components:

• Intent: what the standard aims to ensure
• Expectation statement: what people receiving care should expect from their provider
• Outcomes and actions: what providers must do to meet the standard, and how compliance will be measured.

The new Standards are more detailed and measurable than before, giving clearer benchmarks for care quality.

Who Must Comply? Aged Care Providers, Residential Care And Home Care

• All providers delivering government-funded aged care services, whether in-home support, community care, or residential aged care, must be registered with the ACQSC and comply with the new Act and Quality Standards.
• Registration isn’t a one-off: providers must renew registration every three years.
• Providers also must meet other obligations under the Act, including worker screening, financial and prudential requirements, Code of Conduct, statutory duties of care, and compliance with the Statement of Rights.
• For some multi-purpose or integrated health/ageing-care services, there is a specific module called the Integrated Health and Aged Care Services Module (IHACS) which replaces previous modules for accreditation under the new system. This helps ensure health-service providers that also offer aged care meet both health-service and aged-care standards.

Whether it’s home help, nursing, allied health, residential care or a mixed service, providers must meet these standards or risk losing their registration.

What the Quality Standards Mean for Older Australians and Families

For someone receiving care, or helping a loved one choose care, the strengthened standards bring some important benefits:

• Clarity and transparency: You can expect clearer care plans, better information, and a stronger guarantee that providers meet minimum standards.
• Focus on dignity, choice and respect: Care must be tailored to the person, their background, preferences, culture and needs, not one-size-fits-all.
• Better clinical safety: Clinical care, medication management, infection control, nutrition, and safety protocols are now more explicitly regulated under law.
• Holistic support: Physical, social, emotional and clinical needs are all addressed, whether at home or in residential care.
• Right to raise concerns and expect action: Providers must have complaints/feedback systems; the regulator can audit, intervene, and enforce standards.

You don’t need to memorise all seven standards, but when choosing a provider, you can ask: “How do you meet the Quality Standards?” If they can’t answer clearly, that’s a red flag.

What Aged Care Providers Must Do to Meet Accreditation Requirements

Meeting the new standards is not optional, it’s a legal requirement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring governance, policies and staffing meet the obligations under Standard 2 (Organisation)
• Delivering care in ways that meet all relevant standards, person-centred planning (Standard 3), clinical safety (Standard 5), nutrition (Standard 6), environment and accessibility (Standard 4), dignity and rights (Standard 1)
• For residential services: providing inclusive, culturally safe, community-oriented environments (Standard 7)
• For health-service providers with aged-care responsibilities: ensuring compliance with both health-service and aged-care accreditation under the IHACS module if relevant
• Ensuring staff are screened, qualified, trained and aware of the new Code of Conduct, Statement of Rights and statutory duties under the Act.

Providers should also expect audits. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will monitor compliance and has powers to enforce standards, including by revoking registration or sanctioning providers if they fail.

What’s Still Transitioning: Audits, Assessments and What to Watch For

Because the strengthened Standards only came into effect on 1 November 2025, many audits and assessments under the new system have not yet occurred. Residential care homes and home-care services may still be listed under their previous audit results until their next review.

The regulator and government are still rolling out guidance, factsheets, training and support materials for providers under the new system.

For integrated services (health and aged care), accreditation under new arrangements (like IHACS) is still being adopted by some providers. If your service is one of these, check they’ve completed the transition.

This means there may be some lag before all services reflect full compliance under the new Standards. As a family or consumer, you’re entitled to ask whether a provider has been audited under the new Standards and what their results were.

Key Takeaways on Aged Care Quality Standards in Australia

• From 1 November 2025, all government-funded aged care in Australia must meet the new, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards under the Aged Care Act 2024.
• There are seven Quality Standards covering individual rights, governance, care and services, environment, clinical care, food and nutrition and residential community.
• Providers must register with the regulator, renew registration every three years, meet a range of obligations (Code of Conduct, financial/prudential standards, worker screening, statutory duties), and prepare for audits.
• For older people and families, the changes offer stronger safeguards: care must be safe, person-centred, transparent, respectful, and providers must deliver what they promise.
• Because the reforms are new, some audits and compliance checks are still pending. It’s fair to ask providers: “Have you been audited under the new Standards yet and what were the results?”.

How do I know if I’m eligible for government-funded aged care in Australia?

In Australia, My Aged Care is the main entry point for Australian Government-subsidised aged care. Eligibility is based on your age and your care needs (how much help you need with everyday tasks). An aged care assessment is what formally confirms eligibility and the type/level of support you can access.

Basic eligibility (starting point)

You generally qualify to request an aged care assessment if you have care needs and are:

• 65 years or older, or
• 50 years or older and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or
• 50 years or older and homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Aged Care Eligibility

 1. Check the age and needs requirements:

If you need help with daily tasks (personal care, mobility, meals, housework, safety, memory etc.), you may be eligible to be assessed.

2. Apply for an aged care assessment (free)

You can apply:

• Online (usually takes 10–15 minutes), or
• By phone via My Aged Care, or
• In person with an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at Services Australia (appointment-based).
   

3. Wait for the assessment organisation to contact you

After you apply, an assessment organisation will call to confirm details and book the assessment. (My Aged Care notes contact is typically within 2–6 weeks.)

How MyCareSpace Helps You Navigate Aged Care Changes

At MyCareSpace, we believe older Australians and families deserve clarity and choice, especially during a time of big system changes. That’s why we help you:

• ask the right questions when choosing a provider
• understand whether a provider meets the new Standards
• find support workers and services committed to dignity, safety and respect, and
• navigate care planning under the new regulatory framework.

If you want help assessing a provider, comparing options, or understanding your rights under the new Standards, we’re here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

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