Resource library

Outbreak management planning is a key part of infection prevention and control. This document supports both the development of a new outbreak management plan (OMP) and the quality assurance of existing plans. It details common OMP sections to get you started as you tailor your OMP to your service.

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 July 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

Having a comprehensive and organisation-specific outbreak management plan (OMP) helps your organisation to be prepared for the management of infections and outbreaks within your service. A key part of this readiness is ensuring that your OMP is fit-for-purpose and that everyone across the organisation can implement it if required. One way to maintain readiness and support continuous improvement of your OMP is to run regular drills, or stress tests, of your plan.

Approved providers must use this form to update, cease or notify us of suitability matters for service key personnel. Email the completed form and all related documents to APnotifications@agedcarequality.gov.au.

This Regulatory Bulletin explains approved providers’ responsibilities relating to COVID-19 vaccinations and infection prevention and control. It details how the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission) is regulating these responsibilities and responding to providers found to be non-compliant.

Joint letter on Winter outbreaks to Board Chairs, Residential Aged Care Providers from the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly and Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM. 

This Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) provides information on how the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) implements cost recovery charging for the accreditation and re-accreditation of residential aged care services.

Letter from Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM and Chief Clinical Advisory Dr Melanie Wroth to residential aged care providers and people living in residential aged care homes on the importance of being up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

This fact sheet includes suggested questions you can ask your provider about how prepared they are for an infectious disease outbreak (including COVID-19). It also includes links to a range of resources to help you feel safe, informed and connected.

Approved providers may request that the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner (the Commissioner) revoke their approval in accordance with section 63H of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 (the Commission Act).

Joint letter to approved providers of residential aged care services from the Commission and the Australian Electoral Commission about the 2023 referendum and COVID-19 entry approach for mobile polling staff.

Joint letter from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson PSM and Professor Paul Kelly, Chief Medical Officer to all approved providers of residential aged care services on uptake of the COVID-19 booster.

National Aged Care Provider Conference 2023. Our approach to assessing and monitoring quality aged care. Presentation by Anthony Speed Executive Director, Quality Assessment and Monitoring.

Review of the Aged Care Quality Standards was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Commission is contributing to the review in our role as the national regulator of aged care services. This fact sheet provides further information about our Strengthened Quality Standards pilot project, commencing early 2023.

Low-value urine dipstick testing practice in aged care is a common, yet modifiable, driver of antibiotic overuse for conditions such as asymptomatic bacteriuria.

The Commission undertook a project to evaluate the feasibility and useability of To Dip Or Not To Dip (TDONTD) in Australian aged care services.

The spread of COVID-19 is increasing across the community and in residential aged care services. Of all the treatment measures available to services, rapid access to oral antivirals could make the biggest difference to consumers if they become infected with COVID-19.

This provider fact sheet helps ensure services are doing everything possible to prevent, prepare for and reduce the impact of a COVID-19 outbreak. It features links to key resources available from the Commission, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and peak bodies.

The Commission recognises the known physical, psychosocial and nutritional impacts on older people if they experience extended periods of social isolation. This statement outlines what our position is on provider responsibilities relating to visitor access.

On Monday 28 February 2022, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, PSM, sent a letter to approved providers on the COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

We hosted a webinar on 30 August 2021 that revisited some foundation steps providers of residential aged care can take to be ready for a COVID-19 outbreak. We also discussed the changing context of COVID in 2021.

A fact sheet for aged care residents, their families and representatives on your rights relating to COVID-19 restrictions in residential aged care.