Further to our update of 16 April, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the ‘Commission’) has now drawn a line in the sand, with 8 August 2025 set as the date where changes to the aged care provider application process will begin to apply.
While Support at Home does not commence until 1 November, the Commission will treat applications received before and after this date as follows:
Applications submitted before 8 August 2025 and where a decision is not made by 31 October 2025
If you have submitted your application prior to this date and paid your application fee, you will not have any additional fees to pay.
While the Commission is working to review as many applications as possible, if a decision about your application has not been made by 31 October 2025, you will be issued with a request for information (RFI) (at no charge) that will include:
- what categories you want to register in
- what types of services you want to provide
- where you want to deliver your services.
An application to be registered in any of the following categories will also be subject to an audit (although no audit fee will be charged):
- Category 4 – Personal care and care support in the home or community (including respite)
- Category 5 – Nursing and transition care
- Category 6 – Residential care (including respite)
Applicants who are subject to an audit should be prepared to address the requirements under the new Aged Care Act 2024 and Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
A Draft Audit Evidence Collection Tool has been released by the Commission and new applicants (as well as existing providers) will need to complete this in addition to their already submitted application form. Those who have completed their application under the current form may find many of their responses are transferrable, with minor updates required to demonstrate an understanding of and compliance with the updated Standards and Outcomes.
Applications submitted on or after 8 August (up to 31 October) 2025
If you submit your application on or after 8 August and up to 31 October 2025, you will still pay the application fees applicable under the current Aged Care Act, with the additional audit cost of $14,910 applicable to those applying for registration in categories 4, 5 and 6.
As noted above, this audit will require applicants to demonstrate their understanding of the new Aged Care Act 2024 and the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards through completion of the Audit Evidence Collection Tool.
Those applying under Category 6 will also be required to obtain approval for their proposed residential care home as part of the conditions of registration into Category 6. Applicants should expect that this will include an on-site visit to assess the service environment.
Applications submitted from 1 November 2025
Applications submitted after implementation of Support at Home will follow a process that:
- Utilises a much shorter application form, which focuses on the Organisation, Responsible Persons, Registration Categories and Associated Providers.
- Essentially moves all questions from Section 3 onwards in the current application form to the audit process and Audit Evidence Collection Tool.
- Requires any applications for Category 6 to also apply for their specifically nominated residential care home to be approved at the same time.
- Follows the updated application fee schedule.
Key considerations for timing of applications
Organisations considering submitting their application between 8 August and 31 October 2025 may wish to consider how far they are currently progressed in completion of the existing application form. Those who are very close to submission may consider whether the difference in application fees is significant enough to submit before 31 October, knowing they will still be subject to additional work to adjust their responses in the Audit Evidence Collection Tool and also required to pay the audit fee.
For organisations who are not far progressed, given the time required to complete their application and the fact submissions would be closely approaching 31 October, now may be the time to pause, re-educate themselves, update policies and procedures, and move to advanced preparation of the new application form ready for submission after 1 November.
Those looking to apply under Category 6 may also look to use this time to ensure their proposed residential care home will pass an on-site assessment of safety and suitability to house aged care residents.
Summary
In summary, the implementation of audits for all applications not decided by 31 October 2025 will bring to light those organisations who have relied heavily on written application support. The audit process will not only include a desktop audit as guided by the Audit Evidence Collection Tool, but will also involve meetings with the organisation’s Governing Body (if established) and Responsible Persons.
To protect the safety of aged care participants and ensure high quality service delivery from providers moving forward, the Commission’s audits will quickly identify those organisations who have not highly educated themselves in their obligations, or who do not have a working team of Responsible Persons in place ready to demonstrate their working knowledge of policies and procedures they have outlined in their written submissions.
Useful resources
- A comparison of current and proposed fees for new providers can be found here.
- A draft of the application form proposed for use from 1 November can be found here.
- A copy of the Registration Audit Guide for new applicants can be found here.
SoCom Consulting advises on Aged Care Provider applications and the compliance requirements around documentation and worker obligations. To discuss how we can assist you, Contact Us.
