New Aged Care Quality Standards are in law

The new Aged Care Quality Standards have been developed through significant consultation and co-design with the aged care sector. The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP has announced this important reform.

The new Standards have now been made in law and will take effect from 1 July 2019.

The new Standards apply to all aged care services including:

• residential care
• home care
• flexible care
• services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

The new Standards focus on quality outcomes for consumers. 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 the new Standards is available on the department’s website. As previously notified, the transition to the new Standards began in July 2018. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency 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.

This Press Release is by the Department of Health. ACW have included below some of the key points pages for our readers’ convenience. You can get more information on the Australian Government’s Department of Health Website.