How do the strengthened Quality Standards map to our old policies?

Old eight, new seven

The previous standards were: 1 consumer dignity and choice, 2 ongoing assessment and planning with consumers, 3 personal care and clinical care, 4 services and supports for daily living, 5 organisation's service environment, 6 feedback and complaints, 7 human resources, and 8 organisational governance.

The strengthened standards, in sections 15-10 to 15-40 of the Aged Care Rules 2025, are: 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. The department's comparison found most expectations clarify or align with the old standards, with a smaller share that are new.

How the old standards roughly line up

As a starting point: old Standard 1 moves mainly to new Standard 1. Old Standard 2 moves to Standard 3, with clinical assessment in Standard 5. Old Standard 3 splits between Standard 3 for personal care and Standard 5 for clinical care. Old Standard 4 spreads across Standard 3, Standard 6 for meals and Standard 7 for residential daily living. Old Standard 5 moves to Standard 4. Old Standards 6, 7 and 8 all move into Standard 2, which now covers feedback and complaints, workforce, governance, risk and incident management.

Treat this as a guide only. Many old requirements have been split, expanded or reworded, so a policy that met one old standard may now need to meet outcomes in two or three new ones.

Where gaps usually appear

Standard 1 expects providers to show they understand the Statement of Rights, which replaced the Charter of Aged Care Rights. Standard 2 places clearer expectations on the governing body. Standard 5 is a dedicated clinical care standard developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Standard 6, food and nutrition, is new and applies to residential care only, as does Standard 7. Diversity and dementia are now built into several standards, so they cannot be handled by one policy.

A practical review approach

Start with your registration categories. The standards apply to categories 4, 5 and 6, and not every standard applies to every service. Then list every current policy and procedure, note the old standard each was written for, and map it to the new outcomes. The Commission's framework analysis maps each action in the strengthened standards to the old standards and can help, but it was prepared against the December 2023 final draft, so check each outcome against the current Rules.

Mark each policy as covered, needing changes or missing. Update language at the same time: references to the Charter, to consumers rather than older people, and to the old Act and SIRS definitions. Have the governing body approve the changes, and keep the mapping as evidence for audit. If you are unsure whether a policy meets an outcome, ask your quality lead or contact the Commission.