All Australians deserve access to safe, high-quality care. If you or a loved one is accessing aged care support in any way, it can be helpful to understand who is responsible for providing and assessing that care.
Who is responsible for aged care in Australia?
The Australian Government, your State or Territory Government and your aged care provider each have important roles to play in quality aged care.
Which government department is responsible for aged care in Australia?
The Australian Government is responsible for the development and implementation of aged care policy in Australia, via the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. This Department also manages funding and administration for aged care, including the subsidisation of aged care support for many Australians. The Federal Government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is responsible for aged care regulation, and ultimately the general standards of care a consumer can expect from aged care.
Your aged care provider is responsible and accountable for delivering quality aged care that complies with the Aged Care Quality Standards under the national Aged Care Act 1997. At Aurrum Aged Care we take this responsibility extremely seriously, with our own programs and rigorous standards in place to ensure we meet or exceed the Aged Care Quality Standards.
What do the Aged Care Quality Standards cover?
The Australian Aged Care Quality Standards encompass eight important categories, comprising:
- Standard 1. Consumer dignity and choice
- Standard 2. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
- Standard 3. Personal care and clinical care
- Standard 4. Services and supports for daily living
- Standard 5. Organisation’s service environment
- Standard 6. Feedback and complaints
- Standard 7. Human resources
- Standard 8. Organisational governance
How can you tell if an aged care provider is meeting quality standards?
Each aged care provider in Australia undertakes review audits. In these review audits, an Assessment Team from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission carries out an onsite assessment of whether the care and services meet the Aged Care Quality Standards. You can review the performance and outcomes of these assessments for any aged care provider over at the agedcarequality.gov.au website.
How to find support for aged care services
If you’re just beginning to access aged care support for yourself or your loved one, the Australian Government provides an intuitive website to help you navigate the available options. My Aged Care can help you find the appropriate level and type of support to suit your needs, whether this be at-home support or residential aged care support.
Aurrum’s guide to aged care is also a helpful resource that covers assessment, funding, important qualities to look for in a provider and how to apply to live in an Aurrum Aged Care home. And thirdly, if you would like to explore any of our aged care locations in NSW or Victoria – or simply speak to a friendly person about which steps to take next – you can contact our team via email or at 1800 287 786.