Strengthened
Standards
Strengthened Standards
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (‘the Strengthened Standards’) are part of Australia’s broader aged care reform under the new Aged Care Act (‘the Act’), which came into effect on 1 November 2025.
The Act intends to improve Australia's aged care system by focusing on empowering older people, increasing protections and offering more choice across care and services.
The Strengthened Standards are a set of requirements that define what good care looks like and reflect the quality of care older Australians should expect to receive.
The Strengthened Standards have been implemented at our Care Communities and are closely aligned with our model of care.
Why are the Strengthened Standards so important?
The changes aim to improve the safety, dignity, and quality of life for older people by making standards more measurable, person-centred, and responsive to diverse needs. The Act and the Strengthened Standards are rights-based, placing the needs, wishes and preferences of each resident at the centre of their own care.
Importantly, the Strengthened Standards are measured and monitored by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC).
What's new?
The Strengthened Standards have been simplified to seven Standards, with Food and Nutrition included as a new Standard in its own right. The Strengthened Standards encompass all elements of a person’s care and consist of:
· 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
· Standard 7: The Residential Community
Each Standard includes a description of what older people should expect from providers, clear outcomes on what each provider is assessed on, and information on how providers can demonstrate they’re meeting those expectations and outcomes for their residents.
Opal HealthCare strongly supports the Act and the Strengthened Standards. Our model of care at each of our Care Communities is based on person-centred and relationship-centred care. Respecting and enabling the preferences of each person and helping them stay connected with the people who matter to them most.
Commonly asked questions about the Strengthened Standards
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The Aged Care Quality Standards are a set of requirements that define what good care looks like and reflect the quality of care older people should expect. The current seven standards are:
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The 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety called for a comprehensive review of Australia’s Aged Care Quality Standards to ensure they better support safe, high‑quality care. The Commission recommended strengthening the Standards in several key ways, including:
- Developing stronger clinical standards
- Reviewing the Quality Standards with a focus on priority areas
- Establishing a process for regular, ongoing updates to the Standards
The Royal Commission also identified several areas for improvement to better meet the needs of older Australians, including:
- Dementia care
- Support for people from diverse backgrounds
- Provider governance
- Food and nutrition
- Clinical care
These priorities already align closely with Opal HealthCare’s Model of Care, and we welcomed the updates to the legislation.
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The Australian Government’s New Aged Care Act and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards came into effect on Saturday, 1 November 2025.
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The Aged Care Act 2024 is a modern legislative framework designed to improve the aged care system in Australia. It replaced the Aged Care Act 1997 and focuses on empowering older people, increasing protections and offering more choice across care and services.
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The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is the national regulator of aged care services. It ensures that providers meet quality and safety standards, manages complaints and serious incidents, and monitors provider performance and compliance.
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The aged care system is currently governed by several laws including the Aged Care Act 2024. On 1 November, this replaced the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018.
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The new Act includes a Statement of Rights outlining the rights that older people have when accessing aged care services. This will replace the current Charter of Rights.
The Statement of Rights includes the right for every individual to have:
- Independence, autonomy, empowerment and freedom of choice
- Equitable access
- Quality and safe funded aged care services
- Respect for privacy and information
- Person-centred communication and the ability to raise issues without reprisal
- Advocates, significant persons and social connections.
To read a plain language summary of the new Statement of Rights, click here.
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In Australia, the amount you pay for your aged care depends on your personal and financial circumstances. The Government funds most aged care services, but those who can afford to contribute to the cost of their care are required to do so according to their assessed means.
If you entered permanent residential aged care before 1 November 2025, there will be no changes to your fees.
For older people who enter permanent care after 1 November 2025, fees and charges will vary depending on your personal circumstances.
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The higher everyday living fee (HELF) is an optional fee for people who choose to receive higher-quality everyday living services in permanent or respite residential aged care. This enables people to tailor additional services to suit them.
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Older people now have the option to nominate and register a 'Supporter’. Registered Supporters can help residents understand, make, and communicate decisions about their care. This is intended to ensure older people can make their own decisions, and maintain control over their own lives, for longer. Click here to see more.
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A Registered Supporter can be a trusted person chosen by the resident. This could be a family member, friend, or someone else significant in their life, as long as they are nominated and registered appropriately.
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The new Aged Care Act makes it easier for people to come forward with concerns about misconduct or harm, and to ensure they’re protected when they do. From 1 November 2025, residents, family and anyone of significance to a resident can make a disclosure as a whistleblower. These disclosures can also be made to a wide group of people. Click here to see more.
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At Opal HealthCare, our residents are at the centre of everything we do.
While our ways of working and delivery of care were already strongly aligned with the incoming reforms, we also:
- Implemented training for our team to ensure we’re well prepared for the changes
- Co-ordinated our systems and processes with new regulations
- Ensured our day-to-day delivery of excellent care is in line with the Strengthened Standards
- Communicated with our residents and their families so they understand the changes relevant to them
