Care minutes in residential aged care

First published: November 2024

As part of the aged care reform roadmap, the Department of Health and Aged Care are making changes to the number of direct care minutes a resident in residential aged care receives each day from a clinical aged care worker. As of 2023, it sat at 200 minutes per day with 40 of these being from a registered nurse. In October 2024 this increased to 215, with registered nurses needing to dedicate at least 44 minutes of their day to each resident in their care. Due to workforce shortages in aged care, a new initiative was introduced with the 2024 changes, whereby 10% of the registered nurse minutes could be delivered by an enrolled nurse.

Why are care minutes in aged care important?

The aged care industry is governed by numerous bodies stating the legal and ethical requirements that surround resident aged care. The eight aged care quality standards showcases what good care looks like, with emphasis on the fact that anyone who receives aged care is entitled to the right to be treated with dignity and respect, as well as a level of care that meets their needs via a holistic approach. Through the reports published by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (the first being in 2019), 148 recommendations were listed when considering the development of the new Aged Care Act. There were a number of these that were focused on the standard of care in relation to staffing interactions:

Recommendation 13: Embedding high quality aged care
Recommendation 14: A general duty to provide high quality and safe care
Recommendation 86: Minimum staff time standard for residential care
Recommendation 122: Reporting of staffing hours

How are the care minutes in a residential aged care home reported?

Every aged care provider must submit a Quarterly Financial Report which details:

Care minutes delivered by clinical members of staff (employees in a non direct care role do not count towards this)
Financial statements
Food and nutrition reports
Outbreak management expenses
Answers to viability and prudential compliance questions
Labour costing at the home level

What happens if the care minutes level is not being met?

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission receives every QFR. If the care minutes are not being fulfilled, then action may be taken against non compliance.

The public can access information via this governing body to see how each service and provider is meeting their care minute targets. There is a current workforce shortage in Australia in the aged care industry, so there are many government initiatives which aims to increase these numbers. Workforce acquisition and retention was also named in the recommendations by the Royal Commission, which led to the 15% pay rise increase in 2023, along with efforts places upon quality training and education and utilising overseas nursing pools through programs such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme as an example.

Looking for reliable aged care nursing staffing solutions to fulfill your care minute requirements?

Sanctuary Recruitment are experts in the field of aged care, pairing highly skilled and experienced professionals with assignments that match our candidates and clients needs, wants, and values.

To find out more about what we offer and how we can supply passionate and dedicated nurses to your home, contact our team today:

Register with us

Looking for a new opportunity
in the aged care sector?

Expert staffing solutions

Need staffing support on a temporary, contract or permanent basis?

Send an enquiry

Subscribe Here!

Aged care blog

Your guide to getting involved in aged care volunteering

First published: May 2025 Aged care volunteering is an opportunity to give back to the community whilst providing companionship and support to older people whilst both living in aged care homes or receiving home care. Aged care volunteering options that are available include assisting with daily living activities to make day to day tasks easier,…

What is aged care?

First published: January 2025 Aged care is a collection of services delivered to older people (usually aged 65 and over), both inside and outside of their home, that allows them to live a full, normal life. Aged care is provided on a variety of different levels, depending on the needs of the client. In Australia,…

Fast tracked AHPRA conversion for overseas nurses

Published February 2025 From April 2025, internationally qualified nurses from six countries will be able to receive their AHPRA registration using a more effective, less timely process. Nurses from the United Kingdom, Ireland. the United States, Singapore, Spain and parts of Canada (British Columbia and Ontario) will be able to register as a healthcare practitioner…

Can I work in aged care without a certificate?

First published: June 2024 Aged Care is a fruitful industry, and as leaders in the recruitment of aged care professionals in Australia, we often are posed with the question of if you can work in aged care without a relevant certificate. Working in aged care can look different to each person. As it is a…

2024 flu vaccination requirements in aged care in Australia

First published: July 2024 The Aged Care Quality Standards states that for the purpose of infection control, aged care providers and relevant organisations should promote the benefits of the influenza and coronavirus vaccinations for both their residents and staff. These vaccinations are to be renewed annually, adapting to each new strain of influenza. Key aims…

Establishing and maintaining work role boundaries in aged care

First published: November 2024 Working in the aged care industry gives you opportunity to develop close relationships with the residents in your care. The superheroes that are healthcare professionals understand their patients and residents on a deeper level, especially in aged care as nurses can be interacting with the same residents for years. Work role…

Aged care worker salary earnings in Australia in 2025

Revised January 2025 An aged care worker salary in Australia is increasing with the demand. It was reported that there is a need for at least 110,000 direct aged care workers across the country in the next decade. The aged care industry is made up of many different roles, both clinical and non-clinical, with a variety…

Ideas for engaging aged care activities

First published: September 2024 An important part of an aged care resident’s health and wellbeing includes lifestyle and leisure activities that call to their needs, interests and desires. The 13th recommendation in the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety report was ‘Embedding high quality aged care’, which includes supporting the resident to engage in recreational…

Aged care manager salary guide

First published: June 2025 Are you wanting to step into an aged care management role? These jobs offer a fulfilling career where you can make a meaningful impact while earning a competitive salary. In this blog, we’ll look at the aged care manager salary you’ll receive, taking into consideration factors that can influence your pay…

Enhancing aged care: Pulse Staffing Australia and Sanctuary Recruitment to deliver PALM Aged Care Expansion Program

First published: July 2024 Quality aged care is vital for ensuring that elderly people live fulfilling, healthy lives with dignity and respect. Aligned with our purpose to improve people’s lives, Pulse Staffing Australia and Sanctuary Recruitment, both part of Acacium Group, have partnered to support the delivery of the 2024 PALM Aged Care Expansion Program….