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Aged Care Code of Conduct Australia: 8 Elements, Who Must Comply & What It Means (2026)
Published in: Aged Care

Aged Care Code of Conduct Australia: 8 Elements, Who Must Comply & What It Means (2026)

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Choosing aged care can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to understand what “quality” and “safety” look like in day-to-day practice. Beyond facilities, brochures, and promises, Australian families want clear reassurance about something very practical: how people are expected to behave when delivering care.

That is exactly what the Aged Care Code of Conduct is for. It sets legally enforceable behavioural expectations for providers, leaders, staff, contractors, and volunteers involved in delivering government-subsidised aged care services across Australia.

This 2026 guide explains what the Code is, who must follow it, what the 8 elements mean in practice, what good conduct looks like day to day, and what to do if you are concerned about a provider or worker’s behaviour.

8
Legally enforceable
elements in the Code
3
Groups who must
comply with the Code
Dec 2022
Code of Conduct
commenced
ACQSC
Regulator with power
to enforce the Code

What Is the Aged Care Code of Conduct?

The Aged Care Code of Conduct is a set of legally enforceable behavioral expectations that apply to everyone delivering funded aged care services in Australia—from frontline care workers to board members and executive leadership.

In plain language, the Code exists to protect older Australians by requiring that care is provided with dignity, respect, privacy, competence, honesty, and a strong commitment to safety — including proactive steps to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and sexual misconduct.

The Code is not a policy document that sits in a folder. It has legal force under the Aged Care Act 2024, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) has the power to take action—including issuing banning orders—when someone fails to comply. For families choosing a provider, it gives you a clear benchmark to measure providers against.

Who Must Comply With the Aged Care Code of Conduct?

The Code applies to three key groups involved in delivering government-funded aged care services in Australia:

1
Registered Providers The organisation delivering the aged care service. Providers must comply with the Code themselves and take reasonable steps to ensure their workers and responsible persons also comply. This includes workers engaged through agencies or as volunteers.
2
Responsible Persons Directors, executives, board members, and others with governance or leadership responsibilities within the provider organisation. Leadership sets the culture — the Code holds them directly accountable for that culture.
3
Aged Care Workers All employees, contractors, agency staff, and volunteers who deliver funded aged care services. This includes personal care assistants, registered nurses, allied health professionals, and activity coordinators.

This three-tier structure matters because safe, respectful care is shaped by both front-line behaviour (how care is delivered day to day) and leadership and systems (how the service is staffed, governed, and monitored from the top). The Code holds all three levels accountable.

When Did the Aged Care Code of Conduct Commence?

The Aged Care Code of Conduct commenced on 1 December 2022 and continues in full force under the Aged Care Act 2024, which commenced on 1 November 2025. The Code sits alongside the updated Aged Care Quality Standards and the legally enforceable Statement of Rights — together forming the core behavioural and quality framework for funded aged care in Australia.

The 8 Elements of the Aged Care Code of Conduct — Explained

Here are the eight required behaviours under the Aged Care Code of Conduct, explained clearly with what good practice looks like in everyday care — and the questions families can ask when evaluating a provider.

1
Respect each person’s rights to expression, self-determination, and decision-making

What it means: Older people have the right to make choices about their own life and care — and to be listened to and supported in those choices, even when they are difficult or unconventional.

What good looks like: Staff explain options and seek consent before care tasks. Residents are included in decisions about their daily routines. Preferences are documented and respected consistently across shifts.

Questions to ask a provider: “How do you support residents to make decisions about their daily routines and care?” / “How do you obtain and record consent for care and medical decisions?”

2
Treat each person with dignity and respect, and value their diversity

What it means: Respect is non-negotiable, and care must reflect each person’s identity, background, culture, beliefs, language, and personal preferences — not just their clinical needs.

What good looks like: Staff use respectful language and uphold privacy during personal care. Cultural needs and personal routines are taken seriously. Residents from diverse backgrounds receive genuinely inclusive support.

Questions to ask a provider: “How do you support cultural safety and individual preferences?” / “How do you make sure staff understand what dignity looks like in practice?”

3
Respect each person’s privacy

What it means: Private care, private information, and private conversations must be handled discreetly and appropriately — in person and in documentation.

What good looks like: Staff knock before entering rooms and explain what they are doing. Personal information is not discussed publicly or casually in corridors or common areas. Resident records are accessed only by authorised staff.

Questions to ask a provider: “How do you protect privacy in shared areas and during personal care?” / “How do you manage confidentiality and access to resident health records?”

4
Provide care, support, and services in a safe and competent manner

What it means: Care must be delivered by people who are properly trained, supervised, and competent — using safe practices that protect both the resident and the worker.

What good looks like: Safe manual handling and infection prevention practices. Clear medication management processes. Consistent handovers between shifts. Competency checks and appropriate supervision for all staff including casual and agency workers.

Questions to ask a provider: “How do you train staff and check ongoing competency?” / “How do you supervise shifts, especially when using casual or agency workers?”

5
Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency

What it means: Families and residents deserve clear information, honest communication, and no avoidance when issues arise. Financial dealings must be above reproach.

What good looks like: Providers communicate changes in health, care plans, or incidents promptly and clearly. Explanations are given honestly without minimising concerns. Financial information is provided in plain language before any commitment is made.

Questions to ask a provider: “How will you keep us informed if there is an incident or change in care?” / “How do you document and communicate important updates to families?”

6
Promptly raise and act on concerns about quality and safety

What it means: If something could affect a resident’s safety or the quality of care, it must be reported and addressed promptly — not ignored, delayed, or managed quietly to avoid inconvenience.

What good looks like: Staff feel genuinely safe to speak up without fear of reprisal. Concerns are logged, investigated, and followed through to resolution. Improvements are tracked and not forgotten after the initial report.

Questions to ask a provider: “How do staff raise concerns, and what happens after they do?” / “How do you show families that a concern has been properly addressed and resolved?”

7
Provide care and services free from violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect, abuse, and sexual misconduct

What it means: Older people in care must be protected from harm in all its forms — physical, emotional, financial, and sexual. Zero tolerance applies.

What good looks like: Clear professional boundaries maintained at all times. Respectful behaviour across every interaction. A care culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, not just management’s.

Questions to ask a provider: “What safeguards are in place to prevent abuse or neglect?” / “How do you protect residents from financial exploitation?”

8
Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect, abuse, and sexual misconduct

What it means: Providers must do more than “have a policy.” They must actively work to prevent harm — through systems, training, oversight, and culture — and respond properly when incidents occur.

What good looks like: Clear reporting and escalation pathways known by all staff. Immediate actions to protect residents when something goes wrong. Thorough documentation, independent investigation, and follow-up support for affected residents and families.

Questions to ask a provider: “If something serious happens, what is the immediate response process?” / “Who is notified, and how do you support the resident and their family afterwards?”

How the Code of Conduct Relates to the Aged Care Quality Standards

Families often ask about the difference between the Code of Conduct and the Aged Care Quality Standards. They work together but cover different ground:

FrameworkWhat It Focuses OnWho It Applies To
Code of ConductBehaviour and accountability — how providers and workers must act toward each individualProviders, responsible persons, and all workers including volunteers
Quality StandardsQuality outcomes and systems — what the service must deliver and how it must be organisedRegistered providers

Used together, the code and the quality standards give families a complete picture for evaluating a provider — both the standard of care being delivered and the culture and conduct of the people delivering it.

What Good Conduct Looks Like in Everyday Aged Care

You do not need a legal background to recognize strong conduct. The code shows up in small, consistent behaviors across every shift—not just in formal audits or inspection reports. Here is what to look for:

Signs of strong Code compliance — what to look for

  • Staff speak to residents respectfully and include them in decisions about their care
  • Consent is checked before personal care tasks — residents are never rushed
  • Privacy is protected during care and in conversations throughout the facility
  • Health changes are noticed early and escalated appropriately to nursing staff
  • Concerns from residents and families are welcomed — not met with defensiveness
  • Food, daily routines, and activities genuinely reflect each resident’s individual preferences
  • Families are kept informed promptly when something changes — good news and bad
  • Staff from all shifts demonstrate consistent, respectful behaviour — not just during tours

Red Flags Families Should Take Seriously

If you notice any of the following during a visit or over time, treat it as a prompt to ask questions immediately — not something to wait and see about:

Red flags — raise concerns immediately if you see these

  • Dismissive or rushed interactions — residents being spoken over or ignored
  • Privacy routinely compromised — loud health discussions in corridors, no consent sought
  • Repeated missed care needs — hydration, hygiene, continence support, mobility assistance
  • Unexplained injuries or vague explanations that do not improve over time
  • Pressure around financial decisions or signing documents without adequate explanation
  • Residents appearing fearful, withdrawn, or unusually distressed after interactions with staff
  • Concerns raised previously that were never followed up or resolved

What to Do If You Have Concerns About an Aged Care Provider or Worker

If something does not feel right, you do not need to wait for it to “become a pattern.” Acting early protects your loved one and helps the broader system improve. Here is the recommended process:

Step 1 — Raise it with the provider first

Speak directly with the facility manager, Head of Care, or Clinical Nurse Consultant. Ask: “What action will be taken, and by when?” / “Who is responsible for follow-up?” / “How will this be documented and closed out?” A provider with a healthy culture will welcome this conversation, not avoid it.

Step 2 — Escalate to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

If the provider’s response is unclear, delayed, or if you believe there is an immediate risk to safety, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) directly. The ACQSC has independent investigative powers and can act — including issuing banning orders — when someone fails to comply with the Code.

ACQSC Complaints: 1800 951 822  |  agedcarequality.gov.au

The Code of Conduct for Aged Care Workers

Aged care workers — including personal care assistants, aged care support workers, registered nurses, allied health professionals, activity coordinators, and volunteers — have the most direct and frequent contact with older people receiving care. For this reason, the Code of Conduct places specific obligations on how workers behave in every interaction.

The Code of Conduct for aged care workers requires that every interaction reflects respect, dignity, safety, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of each resident — regardless of shift, staffing pressures, or individual circumstances. Workers must always act in a way that is kind, consistent, and aligned with all 8 elements of the Code.

Importantly, registered providers have a legal obligation not only to comply with the Code themselves but to actively support, equip, and prepare their workers to comply. This means adequate training, clear supervision, safe reporting pathways, and a workplace culture where workers feel empowered to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

Aged Care Code of Conduct vs Code of Ethics — What Is the Difference?

Families and workers sometimes confuse the Aged Care Code of Conduct with an “aged care code of ethics.” They are related but distinct:

FrameworkWhat It IsLegal Force?
Code of ConductLegally enforceable behavioural requirements under the Aged Care Act 2024 — specific, mandatory, and enforced by the ACQSCYes — legally binding
Code of EthicsEthical principles and values that guide professional behaviour — typically issued by industry bodies or professional associations, not legislatedNo — advisory only

In aged care, the Code of Conduct is what matters legally. A provider or worker who breaches the Code can face action from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — including banning orders that permanently restrict them from working in aged care. An ethical code issued by a professional association carries no equivalent enforcement power.

Frequently Asked Questions — Aged Care Code of Conduct

What is the code of conduct in aged care?

The Aged Care Code of Conduct is a set of legally enforceable behavioural expectations that describe how registered providers, responsible persons, and aged care workers must behave when delivering funded aged care services in Australia. It consists of 8 elements covering rights, dignity, privacy, safe care, honesty, raising concerns, and protection from harm. It commenced on 1 December 2022 and continues under the Aged Care Act 2024.

How many elements — or principles — are in the Aged Care Code of Conduct?

The Aged Care Code of Conduct consists of 8 elements — sometimes referred to as principles or behaviour statements. Each element describes a required behaviour for providers, responsible persons, and workers delivering funded aged care. The 8 elements cover: self-determination and rights, dignity and diversity, privacy, safe and competent care, integrity and honesty, raising concerns, freedom from harm, and prevention of and response to harm.

Who is required to comply with the Code of Conduct for aged care?

Three groups must comply: registered providers (the organisation delivering care), responsible persons (directors, executives, and board members), and all aged care workers — including employees, contractors, agency staff, and volunteers. Providers have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure all workers and responsible persons they engage comply with the Code.

What does respect mean in aged care under the Code of Conduct?

Respect in aged care means treating each person with dignity, acknowledging their identity, culture, beliefs, and preferences, and supporting their right to make decisions about their own life and care. Under Elements 1 and 2 of the Code, workers must respect each person’s rights to self-determination and decision-making, and treat every individual with dignity regardless of their background, condition, or circumstances.

What is the role of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in the Code of Conduct?

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is the independent regulator responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct. The ACQSC can investigate complaints, conduct audits, issue compliance notices, and apply for banning orders that restrict or permanently prohibit individuals from working in aged care. Contact the ACQSC on 1800 951 822 or at agedcarequality.gov.au.

What is the difference between the Code of Conduct and the Quality Standards?

The Code of Conduct sets behavioural expectations — how providers and workers must act toward each individual. The Aged Care Quality Standards set service outcomes and systems — what the service must deliver and how it must be organised and governed. Used together, they give families a complete picture of both the standard of care being delivered and the conduct of the people delivering it.

What should I do if I am worried about an aged care worker’s behaviour?

Raise the concern with the provider first — ask what action will be taken and by when. If the response is unsatisfactory or safety is at immediate risk, escalate to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822. You do not need to wait for a pattern to develop — act on your concern promptly.

Use the Code of Conduct as Your Behaviour Checklist

The Aged Care Code of Conduct gives families a clear, practical benchmark for evaluating how older people are treated — with dignity, privacy, safety, honesty, and a genuine commitment to safeguarding from harm. If you are choosing an aged care home in 2026, use the Code’s 8 elements alongside the Aged Care Quality Standards to ask targeted questions and compare providers in a meaningful way.

The best providers will not avoid these conversations. They will explain their approach clearly, give specific examples of how concerns are handled, and demonstrate consistent, respectful behaviour across staff, shifts, and leadership — because quality care is not only a policy, it is a culture that shows up every day.

At Superior Care Group, we treat the Code of Conduct as a practical standard that families should be able to see in action — not just a document. We have been delivering residential aged care in Queensland since 1979, and our commitment to dignity, transparency, and safety is built into the daily culture of both our residences — Wellington Park in Wellington Point, Brisbane’s South East, and Merrimac Park on the Gold Coast.

We welcome families to use the 8 Code elements as a checklist when they visit. Ask us how we handle concerns. Ask about our supervision and training processes. Ask what happens when something goes wrong. A provider that welcomes these questions — and answers them clearly — is almost always a provider with strong systems and a genuine culture of care.

Visit Wellington Park or Merrimac Park — Ask Us Anything

Wellington Park — Wellington Point, Brisbane South East  |  (07) 3822 1876

Merrimac Park — Merrimac, Gold Coast  |  (07) 5618 1111

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