Resources

This webpage from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing explains that restrictive practices must only be used as a last resort to prevent serious harm in aged care. It outlines provider responsibilities to protect rights, seek consent, and use the least restrictive option for the shortest time.

This project report by Steele et al. highlights the harms experienced by people living with dementia in residential aged care and frames reparations as a rights-based response to acknowledge, address and prevent those harms. It sets out principles and recommendations to strengthen accountability, justice and dignity within the aged care system.

This report from the Grattan Institute examines the future of aged care through a rights-based lens, outlining system-level reforms to strengthen dignity, choice and accountability. Written ahead of the new Aged Care Act, it provides forward-looking recommendations based on the authors views.

This toolkit by the South Australian Government and COTA brings together key rights, laws and support services to help LGBTI+ people in South Australia understand, assert and safeguard their rights across the life course. It is designed to support diverse LGBTI+ communities with clear, accessible information that promotes dignity, inclusion and lifelong wellbeing.

This reflection sheet by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing can be used by aged care providers to use as a reflection tool when talking to older people, their families and carers about their care preferences.

This catalogue brings together learning modules and education resources from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to support workforce capability under the Aged Care Act 2024. Resources are organised by key learning areas, including cultural safety, helping providers quickly identify training needs and select appropriate education options.

This webpage from the Attorney-Generals Office outlines its commitment to protecting the rights of older Australians by addressing elder abuse — recognising it as a violation of human rights that can occur in many forms and settings, and supporting national initiatives, services and legal frameworks to prevent harm and uphold dignity. 

This Hello Leaders article explains that preparing for aged care reform means adopting resident-centred thinking so older people’s rights, preferences and outcomes drive how care is delivered rather than merely meeting compliance requirements. It argues that putting residents front and centre supports higher-quality, person-centred care and organisational readiness for the new rights-based Aged Care Act.

This Eastern Sector Development Team (ESDT) article highlights inclusive person-centred care as a rights-based, culturally safe model that honours each individual’s unique values, preferences and life history in aged care. It emphasises that services should be respectful, responsive and inclusive of diversity so that older people are truly seen, heard and valued in how care is planned and delivered.

This guideline from the Nursing Homes Ireland and the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery is intended for nursing home care providers, managers and staff working in nursing homes in Ireland. Although not Australian it provides information that maybe useful in relation to local implementation of rights based care in residential settings.