The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, Explained
The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards explained: the seven new standards from November 2025, what they mean for you, and how star ratings work.
What the standards are
The seven strengthened standards
What changed and why
What the standards mean for you
How star ratings fit in
Using the standards when you choose care
Frequently asked questions
What are the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards?
They are the benchmarks every registered provider must meet, strengthened under the new Aged Care Act from 1 November 2025. Organised into seven standards, they set out safe, respectful, person-centred care and are checked by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
How many standards are there now?
Seven, streamlined from the previous eight. In broad terms they cover the person, the organisation, care and services, the environment, clinical care, food and nutrition, and the residential community, each broken into detailed outcomes and actions.
Do the standards affect star ratings?
Yes. For residential homes, the compliance part of the Star Ratings on My Aged Care is being redesigned around the strengthened standards from November 2025. It will take up to three years for all homes to be assessed, so ratings keep evolving.
What can I do if a provider falls short?
The standards are expectations you can hold a provider to. Raise concerns with the provider directly first, and if they are not resolved you can complain to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, which regulates providers against the standards.