Understanding the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (2025)
At Premium Home Care Services (PHCS), quality care has always been at the centre of what we do. With the introduction of the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (August 2025), which form part of the new Aged Care Act, Australia is taking an important step toward creating a more transparent, consistent and person centred aged care system.
These new standards have been designed to better protect older Australians, support their dignity and independence, and ensure providers deliver safe and high quality care at every step. Below is an overview of what is changing and what it means for the people and families we support.
Why the Standards Have Been Strengthened
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety highlighted the need for clearer expectations, stronger accountability and more respectful, individualised care.
The updated standards aim to:
- Put older people at the centre of all care decisions
- Strengthen governance and provider accountability
- Improve safety, clinical outcomes and health monitoring
- Ensure culturally safe and inclusive care
- Build trust through transparency and consistent practice
These standards are not just regulatory obligations. They reflect the level of care all older Australians deserve.
The Seven Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
The new framework includes seven key standards, each focusing on a different aspect of delivering safe and high quality aged care.
1. The Individual
This standard reinforces that every older person has their own identity, choices, background and goals. Care must be personalised, respectful and empowering, ensuring people continue to live life their way.
At PHCS, this aligns closely with our approach. We recognise every person as a unique individual, not just a care recipient.
2. The Organisation
Providers must deliver safe and high quality care through strong leadership, clear communication and effective systems. This includes maintaining transparency and ensuring staff are trained, supported and accountable.
3. The Care and Services
Older people must receive care that is safe, effective and tailored to their needs. This includes clinical care, daily living supports and wellbeing services.
4. The Environment
Aged care environments must be comfortable, safe, clean and culturally appropriate. Even in home based care, this standard ensures the person’s living environment supports dignity and independence.
5. Clinical Care
This standard strengthens requirements around managing health conditions, medications, clinical assessments and responding to health changes promptly and safely.
6. The Workforce
Staff must be trained, skilled and supported to deliver quality care. This includes cultural competence, safety training, ongoing development and clear staff responsibilities.
7. The Governance
Boards, executives and leaders must ensure the entire organisation meets its responsibilities, prioritising safety, risk management, ethics and continuous improvement.
What This Means for PHCS Clients and Families
At Premium Home Care Services, we fully welcome these strengthened standards. Many of the expectations are already embedded in how we operate, but the new framework ensures even greater transparency and consistency across the aged care sector.
For our clients, this means:
- More personalised and respectful care
- Improved transparency around services and decisions
- Stronger protections for safety, rights and wellbeing
- Better care planning and clinical monitoring
- Highly trained and supported staff
- Clear pathways for feedback and concerns
For families, it offers reassurance that your loved one is receiving care that meets rigorous national standards.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
PHCS is actively reviewing and aligning all internal policies, training and quality systems with the strengthened standards to ensure we continue to deliver care that meets and exceeds expectations.
We will also be sharing a short social media series that breaks down each standard in simple terms, so our community can better understand what the changes mean day to day.
Providing high quality care is not just a requirement. It is our commitment to every person we support.
If you would like to learn more about how these changes may affect you or a family member, our team is always here to help.
