Aged Care Reforms

Star ratings help you understand the quality and safety of care at residential aged care homes. These ratings provide a simple overall score of one to five stars, indicating the quality of care, you and your loved ones can expect.

What do the stars mean?

★ (1 star) – Significant improvement needed.
★★ (2 stars) – Improvement needed.
★★★ – (3 stars) – An ‘acceptable’ quality of care.
★★★★ (4 stars) – A ‘good’ quality of care.
★★★★★ – (5 stars) – An ‘excellent’ quality of care.

Star Ratings are based on four key areas to give you a complete picture of a Residential Aged Care home’s quality:

1. Consumer experience
   • Feedback from 20% of residents on their satisfaction and experience.
2. Compliance with standards
   • Assessed by independent regulators to ensure the home meets safety and quality standards.
3. Care minutes
   • Measures the average time each resident spends with nurses and carers daily, aiming for 200 minutes, including 40 minutes with a registered nurse.
4. Quality indicators
   • Tracks important care outcomes against 14 Quality Indicators.

Star Ratings make it easier for older Australians and their families to compare residential aged care homes and make informed decisions about care.

You can find Star Ratings on the Find a Provider section of the My Aged Care website.

Star Ratings provides clear, user-friendly information to help you choose the care that’s right for you.

The Aged Care Quality Standards are rules that ensure aged care providers deliver safe, high-quality care that meets the needs and preferences of older Australians. All government-funded aged care providers must follow these standards.

There are 8 Quality Standards, each focused on key aspects of care:

1. Consumer dignity and choice – You are treated with respect and can make decisions about your own care.
2. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers – Your changing needs are regularly reviewed to provide personalised care.
3. Personal care and clinical care – Care is safe and meets clinical standards.
4. Services and supports for daily living – Support is provided to help you enjoy your life and stay independent.
5. Service environment – Facilities are safe, clean, and comfortable.
6. Feedback and complaints – You can easily share concerns, and they’ll be addressed.
7. Human resources – Staff are appropriately trained and skilled.
8. Organisational governance – Providers are well-managed and meet high standards.

The Quality Standards ensure that:

• Your care is tailored to your individual needs.
• You are respected and involved in decisions about your care.
• Services meet safety and quality expectations.
• Providers listen to your feedback and continuously improve their care.

This means you or your loved ones can trust that aged care providers are delivering the best possible care.

From 1 November 2025, strengthened Quality Standards will become part of the new Aged Care Act. These updated standards will further improve care by focusing on:

• Food and nutrition – Ensuring residents receive high-quality meals that support their health.
• Clinical care – Improved management of healthcare to meet individual needs.
• Dementia support – Helping those with dementia live with dignity.
• Diversity and inclusion – Supporting people from all cultural backgrounds.
• Stronger governance – Holding providers to higher standards.

The strengthened Quality Standards will make it easier for you to assess the quality of care and understand what to expect from providers.

The Aged Care Quality Standards protect and empower older Australians by:

• Reassuring you: Services are regularly assessed for safety and high quality.
• Informing your choices: You’ll better understand what to look for when choosing care for yourself or a loved one.
• Encouraging continuous improvement: Providers must always strive to do better.

For more details on the current and strengthened standards, visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website.