Fixing the Right Problem in Aged Care

Marketing Team
Aug 21
3 min read

The New Aged Care Compliance Mandate: What’s Changing?

Australia’s aged care system is on the cusp of another regulatory shift. Very soon, every residential aged care provider across the country will be required to submit an externally audited Care Minutes Performance Statement as part of their Aged Care Financial Report. Access the official information here

This is not a surprise move. It comes after multiple chances were given for providers to self-report their care minute compliance voluntarily. Unfortunately, despite these opportunities, many providers failed to consistently meet the required thresholds.

The result? The Government has now mandated audits to ensure accountability and safeguard the integrity of the care being delivered.

The Real-World Impact: More Pressure on Providers

For aged care providers, this new compliance requirement arrives at a time when the sector is already operating under immense strain.

The pressures are real and multifaceted:

Workforce shortages make it increasingly difficult to maintain quality care while meeting regulatory expectations.
Funding constraints limit operational flexibility and investment in innovation.
Growing compliance demands add significant administrative burden, pulling frontline staff away from what they do best — caring for residents.

Now, providers face yet another layer of complexity with mandatory external audits. This means:

More manual processes
Increased reporting obligations
Higher costs associated with engaging auditors

The risk? The sector could become buried under paperwork and compliance stress, while the true heart of aged care — quality resident care — gets overshadowed.

The Uncomfortable Question: Are We Solving the Right Problem?

Here’s the critical question:

If we can track the exact location of a $20 parcel as it travels across continents in real time, why are we still using spreadsheets, paper sign-off sheets, and human memory to track something as essential as resident care?

The truth is, outdated and error-prone systems are still being used for some of the most critical aspects of care delivery. This not only increases the risk of non-compliance but also compromises the wellbeing and dignity of aged care residents.

The Technology Solution: Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS)

The good news? The technology already exists.

Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) can transform aged care beyond compliance.

RTLS solutions can automatically capture care minute data per shift, per nurse, per resident. This removes guesswork, eliminates manual data entry, and reduces human error.

With RTLS, providers gain:

Reliable, automated data collection
Real-time visibility into care activities and staff movements
Audit-ready reporting at any moment
Improved workforce efficiency (less paperwork, more care)

This is not just about compliance — it’s about making care visible, measurable, and transparent.

Beyond Compliance: The Bigger Picture

What aged care providers truly need is not more forms to fill out. They need better visibility into operations, teams, and resident care.

That visibility delivers:

Safeguarding of government funding
Reduced audit costs and penalties
Higher care standards through identifying gaps and inefficiencies
Real-time accountability, creating a culture of excellence

By embracing technology, aged care organisations can shift from a reactive, compliance-driven model to a proactive, care-focused model that delivers better outcomes for residents, families, and staff.