Your rights and protections under the new Aged Care Act

The Australian Parliament passed the Aged Care Act 2024 on 25 November 2024. This new law started on 1 November 2025 and creates a rights-based aged care system that puts older people at the centre of their care. This article explains your rights under the new Act.

Why the new act matters

The new Aged Care Act 2024 will make aged care safer, fairer and more respectful for older Australians.

According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the new Act will:

• Place the rights of older people at the centre of care
• Strengthen accountability for providers through registration and monitoring
• Simplify rules to make them easier to understand
• Introduce a new Statement of Rights

The new Act responds to about 60 of the 148 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Royal Commission found that the current aged care legislation was no longer fit for purpose because it focused on providers and funding rather than on the people accessing services.

Your rights under the Statement of Rights

The Aged Care Act 2024 includes a Statement of Rights that explains the rights older people have when accessing government-funded aged care services.

Independence, autonomy and freedom of choice

You will have the right to make your own decisions and have control over:

• Which funded aged care services you use
• How you access funded aged care services and who provides them
• Your money and belongings
• How you live, even if there is some personal risk

You will have the right to get support to make these decisions if you need to.

Safe and quality care

You will have the right to receive safe, high-quality care that:

• Supports your physical and mental health and wellbeing
• Is delivered by care workers with appropriate qualifications, skills and experience
• Respects your dignity and privacy

Communication and language

You will have the right to communicate in the language or method you prefer. This includes using interpreters or communication aids if you need them.

Support and advocacy

You may need support to understand your rights, make decisions or make a complaint. You will have the right to get this support from an independent advocate or someone else you choose.

Equitable access

You will have the right to a fair and accurate assessment to find out what funded aged care services you need. This assessment should respect your culture and background.

Your right to speak up

If you feel that your rights are not being respected, you have the right to raise concerns or make a complaint.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can support you if you have not been able to resolve issues with your service provider. You can make complaints confidentially or anonymously if you wish.

Contact the commission:

• Phone: 1800 951 822
• Website: agedcarequality.gov.au

The Commission will listen to your concerns, discuss the outcome you want and explain how they can help.

Finding and comparing providers

Under the new Act, providers will be required to share clear information to help you make informed decisions.

You can use the Find a provider tool on the My Aged Care website to:

• Search for government-funded aged care providers in your area
• Compare different providers
• View information about services offered

My Aged Care:

• Phone: 1800 200 422
• Website: myagedcare.gov.au

How the commission holds providers accountable

The new Act gives the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission stronger powers to regulate providers.

Providers will need to:

• Be registered with the Commission to receive government funding
• Meet registration conditions and quality standards
• Comply with financial and prudential standards
• Ensure their actions are guided by the Statement of Rights

The Commission will hold care providers accountable and work to ensure your safety, rights and care are put first.

Key takeaway

The Aged Care Act 2024 marks an important shift towards a person-centred aged care system in Australia. The new Act starts from 1 November 2025.

By knowing your rights under the Statement of Rights and using the resources available through My Aged Care and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, you can make informed decisions about your care.

If you’d like to discuss how these aged care changes may affect your financial planning, the team at Paris Financial is here to help. Contact us today for a confidential conversation about your loved ones aged care needs.

Sources:
About the new rights-based Aged Care Act: health.gov.au
Aged Care Act 2024 – Statement of Rights explainer: health.gov.au
New Aged Care Act – Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: agedcarequality.gov.au
Complaints and concerns – Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: agedcarequality.gov.au
My Aged Care – Find a provider: myagedcare.gov.au
About the Aged Care Act: health.gov.au

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General Advice Disclaimer
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended to be a recommendation. We strongly recommend you seek advice from your financial adviser as to whether this information is appropriate to your needs, financial situation and investment objectives. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this article, Paris Financial Services Pty Ltd, its directors, authors, consultants, editors and any persons involved in the construction of this article, expressly disclaim all and any form of liability to any person in respect of this article and any consequences arising from its use by any person in reliance upon the whole or any part of this article.