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The new Aged Care Act puts you at the centre of your aged care.

It will make aged care safer, fairer and more respectful.

Under the new Act, your rights matter.

And your decisions will not just be accepted, but respected.

The Statement of Rights means you have the right to make decisions about your

life. It means people providing your care will respect who you are and also

value and support your identity, culture, spirituality and diversity.

It allows you to communicate your wishes and get information about your care.

Providers must respect your culture and communicate in your preferred language.

This might mean using interpreters or other aids to help you communicate your

wishes. You also have the right to stay connected to your community.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this includes the right

stay connected to country or island home.

You have the right to make decisions about your life.

including the aged care support and services you receive.

If you want, a registered supporter can help you with this.

Registered supporters can be people you trust, like a family member or a friend.

They can help you make your own decisions about your care, communicate

decisions you make, and receive copies of your information so they can help you

make your decisions.

You can still ask people you trust to help. They don't have to be registered.

But by registering them through My Aged Care, you'll be making it clear who you

want to help you.

Having supporters does not stop you from doing something yourself, because

you're in control of your care.

Under the strengthened quality standards, you'll be involved in the

about who provides your care, including when, where and how you get it. People

looking after you must put your rights first.

They must listen to you.

hear your concerns and answer your questions.

They also need to have the right skills and training.

You have the right to safe and quality care.

Residential aged care providers must report on critical areas of care that

affect your health, safety and wellbeing.

This helps providers improve the quality of care they give you and helps the

government monitor the quality of your care.

This also contributes to the range of information you can access about

when making choices about the care you receive now, or that you might want down

the track.

There is a new regulatory model for aged care providers.

These are rules and obligations they need to follow to protect your rights

delivering your aged care.

The new regulatory requirements support your right to receive quality and safe

care, including being an active participant in decision -making about

Aged care providers will be registered with the Aged Care Quality and Safety

Commission. Their registration will be renewed every three years.

The Commission is responsible for assessing the quality of care and

being delivered by providers.

The Commission will also monitor providers to make sure they comply with

rules.

So what can you do if you think your rights are not being respected?

Or if you are concerned about the quality of your care? You have the right

speak up if you have an issue with your aged care services.

No issue is too small to raise.

It can be about something as simple as the quality of your meals, not being

to have a say in what daily activities you participate in, or maybe an issue

with someone who is providing your care.

If you give feedback or raise a concern with your provider, they must listen and

respond quickly.

and fairly.

If they don't, you have the right to make a complaint without fear or

punishment. If you need help to make a complaint or find information, the Older

Persons Advocacy Network can help.

You can make a complaint to the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner online, by

phone or by letter. For more information about your rights and how Australia's

aged care system is being improved, visit myagedcare .gov .au.