ACQS 2025
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards Explained
Australia’s aged care sector is entering one of the biggest regulatory shifts in decades.
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (ACQS 2025) introduce a new framework designed to improve the safety, quality, and accountability of aged care services across the country.
For aged care providers, the new standards represent a major operational change. They introduce clearer expectations around governance, workforce capability, clinical care, and consumer outcomes.
This guide explains:
What ACQS 2025 is
The 7 new Quality Standards
How the new framework differs from the previous standards
The expected implementation timeline
How providers can prepare for compliance
ACQS 2025 refers to the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards that will replace the existing Aged Care Quality Standards used in Australia.
The new framework is part of the broader aged care reform program following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The goal of the strengthened standards is to:
Improve care quality and safety for older Australians
Strengthen accountability for providers
Ensure consistent governance across aged care organisations
Improve transparency and measurable outcomes
The updated framework places a stronger focus on:
Consumer rights and dignity
Clinical governance
Risk management
Workforce capability
Continuous improvement
Providers will be assessed against these standards during aged care accreditation and regulatory audits conducted by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.