Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) began operations on 1 January 2019. Its purpose is to protect and enhance the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of aged-care consumers by holding aged-care providers to account for the quality and safety of the services they provide, and the outcomes they achieve.

The Commission replaces the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner. Combining these functions into one independent agency strengthens the focus on consumers, streamlines regulation, supports better engagement with consumers and providers, and promotes transparency.

The ACQSC introduced new Aged Care Quality Standards on 1 July 2019. The ACQSC began monitoring and assessing provider performance against the Aged Care Quality Standards from this date.

The Quality Standards apply to all aged-care services, including residential care, home care and short-term restorative care, as well as services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program.

The new standards complement the single Charter of Aged Care Rights to support the rights of all people receiving aged-care services.

Organisations providing aged-care services in Australia have to comply with the new standards. This also applies to those providing services to DVA clients.

Further information about the ACQSC and the Quality Standards can be found at www.agedcarequality.gov.au.