Preparing for the Aged Care Act 2024

How Rapid Global helps aged care providers navigate new compliance expectations 

Australia’s aged care system is entering a new chapter. The new Aged Care Act will take effect on 1 November 2025, alongside the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Draft Regulatory Strategy 2025–26, which is currently open for consultation. Together, these changes call on providers to embed transparency, uphold rights, and prioritise safety more deeply into everyday practice. 

It’s a significant shift for aged care providers, but by pairing deep domain understanding with technology designed for aged care, Rapid Global helps providers not just comply, but excel. 

What the Aged Care Act 2024 means for providers 

The new Act establishes a rights-based framework, anchored by a legislated Statement of Rights and strengthened Quality Standards. It introduces: 

• A single-entry assessment system for aged care access 
• Clear expectations around upholding and respecting older people’s rights 
• Bolstered governance, compliance and quality expectations
• Expanded powers for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 
• Enhanced consumer protections and clearer pathways for complaints authority 
• A mandate for culturally safe, person-centred and inclusive care 

More details can be found on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website, and in the Provider Handbook. Overall, these changes centre older Australians to ensure they can live equal, self-determined and meaningful lives.  

What the Draft Regulatory Strategy 2025–26 signals 

Released in July 2025, the Draft Regulatory Strategy articulates how the Commission plans to oversee the new legislation with an aim to be: 

• Clear in expectations, practical in implementation 
• Consistent and fair in oversight 
• More data-driven and proactive in managing risk
• You’ll be expected to maintain richer records, act swiftly, and demonstrate compliance not when prompted but as part of routine operations. 

Rapid Global: your digital partner for reform readiness 

Rapid Global is tailored to help you meet these rising expectations. Here’s how our platform aligns with the coming regulatory landscape: 

Stay audit-ready at all times 

Using Rapid Workforce (including Rapid Contractor Management, Rapid Induct and Rapid Access), you can track training, certifications, and site access across your entire workforce. Whether they’re a full-time carer or a contractor on a short-term engagement, your records are centralised, searchable, and always up to date. 

Deliver compliant inductions and onboarding 

Under the new Act, everyone working in aged care will need to understand their responsibilities under the Statement of Rights and Quality Standards. Rapid Induct allows you to deliver customised training and policy sign-offs to staff, volunteers, and contractors before they arrive onsite. 

Manage site access and screen visitors

With Rapid Access, you can verify that every individual entering your facility – whether a cleaner, contractor, or guest – is compliant with your site requirements. Features like QR code check-in, face ID, and geolocation make it easy to enforce entry rules and track occupancy for safety purposes. 

Respond to incidents in real time 

Rapid Incident Reporting enables staff to quickly log incidents or near misses via mobile or tablet. You can include photos, video, or supporting notes, and alerts are sent to relevant personnel immediately helping you respond promptly to emerging issues. 

Create a culture of safety and transparency

By giving your team access to digital tools that support continuous monitoring and reporting, you’re not only meeting compliance obligations, you’re embedding a safety-first culture that aligns with the intent of the new legislation. 

Client spotlight: How ECH streamlines contractor compliance for better outcomes 

ECH, an aged care provider, chose Rapid to simplify contractor management across its facilities. 

“The system is simple to set up and use. If you are looking to increase your compliance and reduce internal administration, Rapid is a sound option,” explains Shane Mizow, ECH’s Procurement and Fleet Manager. 

Rapid’s real-time compliance dashboards “offer transparency and assurance not only to ECH but also to third-party auditors, who require evidence of systematic contractor management.” 

Results included a marked reduction in administrative burden and improved safety standards – both of which are crucial under the new regulatory environment. 

What you can do now to stay ahead 

• Review your systems against the new Act and Regulatory Strategy: Where do gaps exist – in training, incident reporting, access control?
• Align your induction and onboarding content with the forthcoming Statement of Rights and Quality Standards. 
• Automate your audit processes and incident logging to reduce manual efforts and improve oversight. 
• Engage your staff and contractors: embed training, prompt refresher awareness, and use real-time metrics to encourage shared ownership of compliance. 

The Department of Health and the Aged Care Commission’s Sector Change Plan provides helpful toolkits and communication resources. Aligning Rapid Global with these materials helps translate strategy into daily practice. 

Ready to lead in the new era? 

Rapid Global provides compliance software to many of the world’s most respected organisations, and has the expertise to help you confidently transition into the next chapter of aged care in Australia. 

Whether you’re tightening onboarding, speeding up incident handling, or aligning with reform timelines, we can help. Get in touch with the Sales team here at Rapid Global for personalised advice and a full software demonstration.