Our regulatory functions

On 1 January 2020, the aged care regulatory functions of the Secretary of the Department of Health were transferred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner (the Commissioner). This ensures that the Commissioner has the full suite of regulatory functions from entry, quality monitoring and compliance to exit (if required) for providers of aged care services.

Amendments to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 (Commission Rules) have been implemented to support the transition of regulatory functions. The amendments focus on the following key outcomes:

integrate and remove duplication in the management of non-compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards
establish a regulatory framework with graduated and escalating responses to non-compliance
streamline existing performance assessment processes, providing greater clarity to consumers and transparency of decision making for providers.

This page contains information for aged care providers resulting from the introduction of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 (Act) establishes the Commission and enables the Minister to make Rules prescribing matters for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 (Rules) give operational effect to the processes of the Commission. The Rules replace a number of Principles including the Quality Agency Principles 2013.

Relevant links and fact sheets:

The Commission will continue to communicate with the sector on any changes arising from amendments to the Act or Rules.

Regulatory Strategy

Our 2024–25 Regulatory Strategy explains how we perform our regulatory functions.

The updated Regulatory Strategy describes how we will deliver on our commitment to protect older people, and how we hold providers and workers to account. It sets out for providers and workers what we expect from them and how we will engage with them. Importantly, it also explains what older people and their families, as well as providers and workers, can expect from us.

We know that transparency around what we care about, what we expect from providers, what older people can expect from us and how we regulate is key to building trust and confidence in the Commission. This is an interim strategy for 2024-2025 that we will update annually.