Navigating the Aged Care Reforms:
What Governance, Risk & Safety Leaders Need to Know
The 1 November 2025 Aged Care Act is more than a legislative change - it’s a systemic shift in how providers manage governance, risk, and safety. Is your organisation ready?
Introduction
The Royal Commission’s recommendations and years of sector consultation have reshaped Australia’s aged care reform agenda. The new Aged Care Act moves beyond funding models, focusing instead on consumer rights, clinical safety, and organisational accountability.
For governance, risk, and quality leaders, this is more than an update. It’s a systemic shift:
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Compliance is no longer about pulling together evidence for audits — it must be proactive, transparent, and continuous.
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Boards and executives are now directly accountable for governance outcomes.
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Providers must show not just that they deliver safe care, but that they are learning, improving, and engaging openly with residents and families
Why it Matters?
The reforms represent an opportunity as much as a challenge. Providers who take a governance-first, risk-informed approach will not only meet compliance expectations, but also:
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Build trust with residents and families.
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Strengthen workforce engagement by reducing uncertainty.
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Position governance and risk teams as enablers of safe, high-quality care, not just monitors of compliance.
The white paper provides practical steps, tips, and readiness checklists to help leaders embrace reform as a catalyst for safer care and stronger accountability.
“Reform gives aged care leaders the permission and the responsibility to lead with integrity, not just compliance.”
What's inside the white paper?
This resource breaks down the key reforms and what they mean for aged care leaders, including:
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Regulatory pressure: Mandatory reporting, unannounced audits, and public star ratings.
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Clinical governance uplift: Stronger requirements for oversight, workforce safety, and infection prevention.
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Consumer rights in practice: Transparency in communication, complaints handling, and cultural safety.
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Financial and prudential standards: Linking financial sustainability directly to safe care delivery.
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Boardroom readiness: Why directors must now take an active role in risk and compliance
Get the full insights.
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Reform snapshot & timelines
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Seven key areas to prepare for
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Practical strategies for board and leadership engagement
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Tools to benchmark governance maturity
Complete the form to download the full white paper and start your reform readiness journey
Smarter Insights. Safer Healthcare