Compliance Resources
Aged Care Compliance Glossary
Comprehensive definitions of key aged care compliance terms under the Aged Care Act 2024. From SIRS to quality standards to prudential compliance, understand the language of aged care regulation.
A
ACQSC (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission)
The independent national regulatory body responsible for assessing and monitoring aged care provider compliance with the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Quality Standards. The ACQSC conducts assessment contacts, investigates complaints, and can issue compliance notices or enforceable undertakings to providers.
Aged Care Act 2024
The primary legislation governing aged care in Australia, covering both residential care and Support at Home services. The Act establishes the Aged Care Quality Standards, mandates the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), requires responsible persons, and sets out obligations for providers regarding prudential compliance, care minutes, complaints, and workforce qualifications.
AN-ACC (Australian National Aged Care Classification)
The Australian National Aged Care Classification is the funding model for residential aged care. It classifies residents into 13 classes based on assessed care needs (cognitive, functional, and medical complexity), each with a corresponding daily subsidy rate. Care minutes targets are measured at facility level against AN-ACC classifications.
Assessment Contact
A regulatory visit conducted by the ACQSC to assess a provider's compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards and legislative obligations. Assessment contacts involve onsite inspections, document review, and interviews with staff and residents. Providers must prepare evidence packs demonstrating compliance across all seven quality standards.
Associated Provider
An individual, company, trust, or partnership that has an association with a registered aged care provider — for example, through ownership, control, or significant influence over the provider's operations. The ACQSC assesses the suitability of associated persons as part of provider registration and ongoing compliance.
B
Behaviour Support Plan
A documented strategy for managing a resident's challenging behaviours. It must be developed in consultation with the resident, family, and clinical staff, and must identify triggers, agreed strategies, and review timeframes. Behaviour support plans are a key component of person-centred care and restrictive practice minimisation.
C
Care Minutes
The total amount of direct and indirect care provided to residents, measured in minutes per day per resident. Since 1 October 2024, the Aged Care Act 2024 requires a minimum of 215 care minutes per resident per day, including 44 minutes of registered nurse time. Care minutes tracking is essential for compliance and funding justification.
Clinical Governance
The overarching system of accountability and responsibility for clinical and safety standards in an aged care facility. Clinical governance encompasses clinical leadership, quality assurance processes, incident management, infection prevention, professional development, and evidence-based practice to ensure safe, high-quality care.
Code of Conduct
A set of mandatory ethical and professional standards that must guide the behaviour of all aged care workers. The Code of Conduct under the Aged Care Act 2024 covers respectful communication, professional boundaries, confidentiality, and accountability. Breaches can result in sanctions including workforce exclusions.
Complaints Management
The formal process for receiving, documenting, investigating, and resolving complaints from residents, families, and staff. Providers must have robust complaints policies that ensure timely resolution, feedback to complainants, and use of complaint data to drive quality improvements.
Compliance Notice
A formal enforcement instrument issued by the ACQSC requiring a provider to remedy a breach of the Aged Care Act 2024 or Quality Standards within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply with a compliance notice can result in significant penalties or suspension of approval to provide aged care.
Consumer Dignity and Choice
A foundational principle under the Aged Care Quality Standards ensuring residents maintain autonomy, independence, and decision-making power over their care and personal affairs. This includes choice in care delivery, activities, dining, and residential arrangements, balanced with safety and best practice considerations.
D
Deemed Refusal
A legal mechanism under the Aged Care Act 2024 where a responsible person is deemed to have refused a screening clearance or suitability assessment if they do not respond within statutory timeframes. A deemed refusal means the person cannot work in or be associated with aged care without the provider's specific approval.
F
Funding & Claims
The financial processes and reporting requirements for aged care funding. Providers must accurately claim funding from the Australian government based on resident classification, care minutes, and compliance with conditions of funding. Errors or misrepresentations can trigger audits and reclaim demands.
G
Governing Body
The board, committee, or management structure responsible for strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability in an aged care provider organisation. The governing body must ensure the provider meets all obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024 and Quality Standards, including financial management, risk oversight, and compliance monitoring.
I
Incident Management
The systematic process for identifying, reporting, investigating, and learning from adverse events and near-misses in aged care settings. Incident management supports quality improvement, prevents recurrence, protects residents, and generates evidence for compliance with safety standards. Some incidents must be reported under SIRS.
Infection Prevention and Control
The systematic measures implemented to prevent and minimise the spread of infectious diseases in aged care facilities. This includes hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, immunisation, personal protective equipment protocols, outbreak investigation, and staff training. IPC is essential for resident safety and quality of care.
L
Liquidity Requirements
Financial solvency thresholds that aged care providers must maintain under the Aged Care Act 2024. Providers must hold sufficient liquid assets and maintain adequate cash flow to meet operating costs, resident accommodation, and care obligations. Failure to maintain liquidity can trigger regulator intervention.
N
National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program)
The mandatory national program requiring all residential aged care providers to collect and submit quarterly data across 14 quality indicators — covering areas such as pressure injuries, restrictive practices, falls, medication management, workforce, and consumer experience. Data is published on My Aged Care and used in Star Ratings, quality improvement, and ACQSC assessments.
O
Open Disclosure
The transparent communication process required when an adverse event or unexpected outcome occurs in aged care. Open disclosure involves acknowledging what happened, explaining the circumstances, expressing regret, and outlining corrective actions. It supports trust, accountability, and resident safety.
Organisational Governance
The overall structure, processes, and accountability mechanisms through which an aged care provider is managed and controlled. Organisational governance encompasses board oversight, risk management, compliance frameworks, financial stewardship, and ethical decision-making aligned with aged care values.
P
Priority 1 Incident
Under SIRS, a reportable incident is classified as Priority 1 if: (1) it has caused or could reasonably be expected to cause injury requiring medical or psychological treatment; (2) there are reasonable grounds for reporting to police; or (3) the incident involves unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct. Priority 1 incidents must be notified to the ACQSC within 24 hours.
Priority 2 Incident
Under SIRS, a reportable incident that does not meet Priority 1 criteria is classified as Priority 2. Priority 2 incidents must be notified to the ACQSC within 30 calendar days. Timely reporting allows regulatory oversight and support.
Prudential Compliance
The financial and solvency obligations imposed on aged care providers to ensure they can meet resident care and accommodation obligations. Prudential compliance includes maintaining liquidity ratios, holding adequate reserves for refundable accommodation deposits (RADs), managing debt, and reporting financial information to regulators.
Q
Quality Standards (Aged Care Quality Standards)
Seven Strengthened Quality Standards that all aged care providers must meet under the Aged Care Act 2024 (effective 1 November 2025): (1) The Individual, (2) The Organisation, (3) The Care and Services, (4) The Environment, (5) Clinical Care, (6) Food and Nutrition, and (7) The Residential Community (residential care only). Standards 1—–6 apply to all providers. These standards drive person-centred, safe, accountable aged care.
R
Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
A one-time upfront payment made by residents for accommodation in residential aged care facilities. RADs must be fully refundable and are subject to strict prudential requirements. Providers must maintain adequate liquidity to refund deposits on demand and may use deposits for permitted purposes including capital expenditure, subject to the Prudential Standards.
Registered Nurse (RN) Coverage
The requirement that residential aged care facilities maintain adequate registered nurse staffing and availability to meet resident care needs. Since 1 October 2024, the Aged Care Act 2024 requires a minimum of 44 care minutes per resident per day from registered nurses. RN coverage ensures residents have access to qualified clinical assessment and decision-making.
Responsible Person
An individual at a residential aged care provider with management authority or control who must undergo suitability screening and periodic assessment. Responsible persons are individuals in five categories defined by the Act: those who make executive decisions, those with significant influence over the provider, nursing and care management roles, those responsible for day-to-day operations, and other prescribed persons. All must demonstrate suitability to work in aged care.
Restrictive Practice
Any measure or action that restricts a resident's rights, freedom of movement, or autonomy. The Aged Care Act 2024 defines five types: chemical restraint, physical restraint, mechanical restraint, environmental restraint, and seclusion. All restrictive practices must be justified, minimised, documented, and regularly reviewed. Use is only permitted when necessary to prevent harm and only as a last resort.
S
SIRS (Serious Incident Response Scheme)
The mandatory national scheme requiring all registered aged care providers — including residential and Support at Home — to identify, respond to, investigate, and report serious incidents. SIRS has two priority levels: Priority 1 incidents (24-hour notification) and Priority 2 incidents (30-day notification). Providers must have robust incident management systems, investigation processes, and corrective actions.
Self-Assessment
The provider-led evaluation process to determine compliance with the seven Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. Providers conduct self-assessments regularly, documenting evidence, identifying gaps, and planning improvements. Self-assessments prepare providers for ACQSC assessment contacts and demonstrate commitment to continuous quality improvement.
Suitability Assessment
The formal evaluation process to determine if a person is suitable to be a responsible person in aged care or to provide care services. Suitability assessments check criminal history, professional conduct, working with children checks, health status, and character references. Unsuitable persons are excluded from aged care work.
W
Whistleblower Protection
The legal protections available to workers and others who report suspected breaches of aged care laws, standards, or ethical obligations. Whistleblower protections ensure reporters are protected from reprisal, discrimination, or termination. Providers must have confidential channels and policies supporting safe disclosure.
Workforce Compliance
The comprehensive framework ensuring all aged care workers meet required qualifications, screening, training, and conduct standards. Workforce compliance includes criminal history checks, health assessments, code of conduct adherence, professional development, and fitness-to-practise evaluations. Compliance protects residents and supports safe, quality care.
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