A Trusted Workforce Under the New Aged Care Act

From 1 November 2025, the new Aged Care Act will put you at the centre of your aged care.

The new Act introduces laws to make sure workers deliver the safe, high-quality, rights-based care you deserve.

Workers will help you to feel safe and supported, and act in a way that is consistent with the Code of Conduct for Aged Care. They must listen to you, understand you and treat you with kindness and respect.

Importantly, workers must also respect your right to make your own decisions about your own life and support you to make those decisions.

To give you confidence in the care you're receiving, workers are required to have the right qualifications, skills and experience. All aged care workers are screened and assessed to ensure everyone working in aged care is suitable to do so.

Workers will also be guided by the Statement of Principles. It encourages them to be innovative, continuously improve and provide high-quality care. Workers are also supported to give feedback to their employer about the quality of care your provider delivers.

And if something does go wrong? You have the right to speak up.

Whether it's a concern about your care, a breach of your rights or something that just doesn't feel right – the new Act empowers you to give feedback or make a complain, without fear of being punished or treated unfairly.

Your feedback is an important way for your provider to understand what is working well and to identify areas that can be improved.

Workers can support you to make a complaint, either to your provider or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. They can also connect you with advocacy and support services, like the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).

Together, these changes are about building a system you can trust and have confidence in. A system where your voice matters, your choices are respected and your care is centred around you.