Your Quick Guide to the New Aged Care Standards: Do’s and Don'ts

Your Quick Guide to the New Aged Care Standards: Do’s and Don’ts

With the new Aged Care Act coming into effect on 1 November 2025, aged care providers across Australia must prepare for a range of changes aimed at improving service quality, transparency, and consumer rights.

There’s a lot of information out there and we’ve looked at a lot of suggestions from government and sector experts. To support a smooth transition, we’ve compiled a practical list of Do’s and Don’ts to help organisations understand their responsibilities and avoid common pitfalls under the new legislation.

These guidelines reflect the latest government advice and sector readiness resources and are especially relevant for providers delivering in-home aged care services under the CHSP.

✅ Do’s

1. Understand and Uphold the Statement of Rights
   Ensure all staff are trained to respect and promote older people’s rights to dignity, safety, choice, and cultural identity.
2. Register Under the New Regulatory Framework
   Providers must register with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and meet strengthened quality standards.
3. Use Transparent Pricing and Service Information
   Clearly publish service offerings, fees, and performance metrics to support informed consumer choice.
4. Participate in Training and Sector Readiness Programs
   Access webinars, fact sheets, and eLearning modules to support transition and compliance.
5. Support Diverse and Vulnerable Groups
   Tailor services to meet the needs of CALD communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those at risk of homelessness. [Aged Care…ed to Know]

❌ Don’ts

1. Don’t Ignore Consumer Feedback or Complaints
   Providers must have accessible, responsive complaints mechanisms and cannot retaliate against feedback.
2. Don’t Delay Transition Planning
   Waiting until November to act may risk non-compliance. Begin readiness activities now using available resources.
3. Don’t Rely on Outdated Assessment Models
   The ACAT and RAS systems will be replaced—ensure your processes align with the new Single Assessment System.
4. Don’t Overlook Financial Governance Requirements
   Providers must meet new standards for financial transparency and accountability.
5. Don’t Provide Services That Disregard Cultural Safety
   Services must be inclusive and respectful of cultural, linguistic, and identity-based needs.

On September 30, Inner Sydney Voice (ISV) hosted a consultation with local CHSP service providers to gather input and perspectives on the current state of in-home aged care. We sincerely thank all participants for their valuable contributions. The feedback gathered during this session will directly inform ISV’s submission to the National Audit Office on behalf of local service providers.

Even though the submission period has ended (October 11), ISV welcomes ongoing updates and insights from service providers. These will help guide future advocacy and planning, especially as we prepare for the implementation of the new Aged Care Act on November 1, 2025.

To  learn about the audit, visit the Australian National Audit Office website.