About the Agency

Board members and executive management team

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into aged care

The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Limited (known also as the Aged Care Standards Agency, or just 'the Agency') is an independent company limited by guarantee, established under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. It is the body established by the Commonwealth Government as the accreditation body under the Aged Care Act 1997.

The core functions of the Agency are:

• Manage the residential aged care accreditation process using the Accreditation Standards
• Promote high quality care and assist industry to improve service quality by identifying best practice, and providing information, education and training
• Assess and strategically manage services working towards accreditation
• Liaise with the Department of Health and Ageing about services that do not comply with the relevant Standards

The Agency fulfils its functions using processes and principles set down in legislation, notably the Aged Care Act 1997, the Accountability Principles 1998, and the Accreditation Grant Principles 1999.

Visit here to access the 'SCALEplus' website, where you can search for relevant legislation.

Accreditation Requirement

Under the Aged Care Act, all aged care homes must meet an accreditation requirement to be eligible to receive a Commonwealth residential care subsidy.

Accreditation is granted to homes that comply with the Accreditation Standards, which are defined in the Aged Care Act. There are 135,000 people living in Australia's 3000 residential aged care homes. The Accreditation Standards aim to ensure that all residents of aged care receive high and continuously improving quality of care and services.

For information on the role of the Department of Health and Ageing click here.