The new Aged Care Act starts on 1 July 2025. We refer to 1 July 2025 as ‘Transition Day’.
After Transition Day, a new regulatory framework will change how we regulate funded aged care services. Through this new framework, we’ll regulate how providers and workers:
- deliver funded aged care services
- safeguard the rights and wellbeing of older people receiving services.
Moving from the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 to the new Act will change our powers, functions and duties. We refer to these Acts as the ‘old law’.
All requirements on providers and workers under the old law continue until Transition Day. This includes requirements to, for example, consult with older people about their care, comply with the Quality Standards and Code of Conduct, and follow rules for fees and charges. These requirements don’t change before Transition Day.
The new Act does not mean regulatory activities under the old law will stop after Transition Day.
If we have started regulatory activities under the old law, we’ll change, continue or replace these activities when the new Act starts.
After Transition Day:
- most regulatory activities will change to their equivalent under the new Act
- some will continue under the old law
- some will end and be replaced by a different activity under the new Act.
Our transition to the new Act will follow the Aged Care (Consequential and Transition Provisions) Act 2024 (Transition Act).
The Transition Act has 3 principles to describe our approach to transition:
- Activities will change to their equivalents in the new Act where possible.
- Activities will continue under the old law if they rely on obligations or powers that are significantly different from those under the new Act.
- Activities will end if they rely on parts of the old law that stop under the new Act.
Providers should refer to the Transition Act to support their planning for Transition Day.
