From Policy to Practice: How to Navigate Aged Care Reform With Strong Governance

Note: This sponsored article first appeared on Aged Care Insite on June 2, 2025.

Australia’s new Aged Care Act 2024 (‘the Act’) comes into effect on 1 Novermber 2025. Drafted in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, it builds on already delivered reforms and legislates, among other measures:

• The Government’s response to the Aged Care Taskforce recommendations
• The new Support at Home program
• Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
• Stronger powers for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
• A Statement of Rights for older people.

In practical terms, the Act places more responsibility on boards to ensure compliance with the new rights-based care model, emphasising consumer rights, transparency and accountability.

This article provides practical advice on how to meet these new responsibilities. It advocates for proactive oversight and ensuring your governance structures support the new Act’s goals.

Practical Board Actions and Care Quality

Supporting clients’ health and well-being remains your paramount responsibility. Providing high-quality services is your core business.

Boards should prioritise continuous education so members can stay informed about regulatory changes and their impacts. Additionally, careful monitoring of funding allocation is essential. Further actions include:

• Reviewing governance and risk management protocols
• Appointing or enhancing compliance officers
• Establishing clear policies for handling customer complaints
• Ensuring regular care quality audits.

With this emphasis on quality, providers will benefit significantly from becoming ISO9001 accredited. As the international standard for quality management systems (QMSes), ISO9001 helps organisations establish structured processes to enhance service delivery. Becoming accredited is a multi-step process, but it brings many advantages.

These advantages include enabling your organisation to respond quickly to evolving customer needs, becoming more competitive in the marketplace, improving operational performance, and optimising time and resource use.

To learn more about ISO9001 accreditation for Australian businesses, please visit: https://www.onboardmeetings.com/blog/iso9001-accreditation-australia/