With the rollout of the Support at Home program and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, audits will play a crucial role in ensuring providers deliver safe, high-quality services.
For aged care providers — especially those delivering home care services — understanding the audit process, how it differs from previous approaches, and how to prepare is essential to maintaining compliance and service quality.
What is an Aged Care Audit?
Approved aged care providers, including Support at Home providers, must meet the Aged Care Quality Standards.
To assess compliance, the Aged Care Quality and Safeguards Commission conducts audits, which can be either:
- Scheduled — planned in advance with notice to the provider
- Unannounced — where auditors arrive or make contact on any given day without prior warning
These audits review a provider’s performance against the standards, ensuring that both governance processes and frontline care meet required expectations.
What’s Different Under Support at Home?
Audits under Support at Home differ from those conducted for the previous Home Care Package or Short-Term Restorative Care programs.
Key changes include:
- Stronger quality standards with increased compliance requirements following the Royal Commission
- Greater focus on both executive-level governance and frontline service delivery
- Executive teams now need to demonstrate — with evidence — how their strategic and operational plans align with the standards and drive quality outcomes
This broader scope means leadership teams must be as prepared for an audit as their frontline staff.
Audit Frequency
Most providers can expect a minimum three-yearly full audit.
However:
- Providers with previous nonconformities will be audited more frequently to ensure corrective actions are in place
- Additional contact points or spot checks may occur between audits
How to Prepare for an Audit
Proactive preparation is the best strategy for audit success.
Providers should conduct annual self-audits against the Aged Care Quality Standards and use Commission-provided self-assessment templates to guide internal reviews.
Engaging third-party consultants for independent assessments and gap analysis can also help identify areas for improvement before an official audit takes place.
Maintaining up-to-date records and evidence across all compliance areas is equally important. This ongoing approach ensures that teams are prepared for both scheduled and unannounced audits, giving providers confidence that they can demonstrate adherence to the standards at any time.
Audit Outcomes
The results of an audit can vary:
- No nonconformities → Your next full audit may be years away, with only light follow-up
- Minor or moderate nonconformities → You’ll receive a timeline for implementing improvements before reassessment
- Severe nonconformities → Could result in loss of provider registration
Providers have 14 days to respond to the findings and recommendations of audits.
How Long Does an Audit Take?
Audits are generally conducted by two representatives from the Aged Care Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Most audits typically take around two days, although complex or large-scale organisations may require a longer review.
The scope and duration of the audit are proportional to the provider’s size, operational complexity, and risk profile, ensuring the process is tailored to the organisation being assessed.
Benefits of Audit Feedback
Audit feedback should not be seen as merely a regulatory requirement. Instead, it is a valuable tool for continuous improvement.
Providers benefit from objective insights into their strengths and areas for growth, which can lead to better governance, enhanced service delivery practices, and greater organisational readiness for future compliance changes.
Training for Audit Readiness
Staff understanding of their compliance responsibilities is critical to audit success.
Take Five Learning offers targeted, bite-sized training for both frontline staff and management, covering:
- The Aged Care Quality Standards
- The Aged Care Code of Conduct
- The Statement of Rights
- The Serious Incident Reporting Scheme
These modules ensure teams are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to meet — and exceed — audit expectations and importantly to deliver exceptional care.
Final Words
In the Support at Home era, audits will be more rigorous and more comprehensive. Providers that embed continuous improvement, maintain clear documentation, and invest in staff training will not only pass audits but also enhance the quality of care for the people they serve.
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September 29, 2025
