The new Aged Care Act starts from 1 November 2025. It includes a Statement of Rights to help make sure older people are at the centre of their aged care.
A new video is available to help explain what rights older people have when accessing aged care services. This includes the right to:
- make decisions about their own life
- have their identity and culture respected
- have greater choice and control over how they receive services
- choose if they want help to make decisions and who gives them that help
- be cared for by workers with the right skills and training to deliver them safe, quality and fair services
- be supported to make a complaint if they're not happy with their care.
The video is available in a variety of languages and Auslan.
Our fact sheet on the Statement of Rights is also available in a variety of languages and in Easy Read.
The new Aged Care Act puts you at the centre of your aged care.
It will make aged care safer, fairer and more respectful.
Under the new Act, your rights matter and your decisions will not just be accepted, but respected.
The Statement of Rights means you have the right to make decisions about your life.
It means people providing your care will respect who you are and also value and support
your identity, culture, spirituality and diversity.
It allows you to communicate your wishes and get information about your care.
Providers must respect your culture and communicate in your preferred language.
This might mean using interpreters or other aids to help you communicate your wishes.
You also have the right to stay connected to your community.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this includes the right to stay connected to Country or Island home.
You have the right to make decisions about your life, including the aged care support and services you receive.
If you want, a registered supporter can help you with this.
