Updates to provider specialisations

Since 27 June 2022, aged care providers must have their claims to deliver specialised care to diverse groups verified by an independent assessor. From 27 February 2023, only verified claims to deliver this care will be published on provider profiles.

What is specialised care?

Specialised care means a provider goes above and beyond the Aged Care Quality Standards to provide care that is sensitive to people’s needs. A few examples could be:

• A percentage of staff have completed specific training in providing care to people with diverse needs
• Policies and procedures are in place to support and promote delivery of specialised care
• Care recipients agree that the services are specialised and appropriate.

What does this involve?

These aged care providers can apply to have their specialised services independently verified against the My Aged Care Provider Specialisation Verification Framework (the Framework). Doing this ensures that more reliable information is available to help older people find safe and inclusive care.

Introduced in June 2022, the Framework sets out criteria that aged care providers must meet to be recognised on My Aged Care as delivering specialist care for one or more of the following 9 groups:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
• People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds
• People who are financially or socially disadvantaged
• Veterans
• People who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Care leavers
• Parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal
• Lesbian, gay, transgender, and/or intersex people
• People who live in rural or remote areas.

What does this change mean? 

The way that provider diverse needs specialisation claims display on the Find a provider tool on the My Aged Care website is changing. From 27 February 2023, any unverified specialisation claims will be removed from this website.

You can search for aged care providers who offer care targeted towards your needs using the specialisations filter in the Find a provider tool. If a provider claims to deliver a specialised service, you can be assured that they have met the strict requirements under the Framework.

If you have questions about the care an aged care provider delivers, it’s best to contact them directly.

Read more about specialisations and verification.

Information for service providers 

Aged care providers can find out more about the verification process and how to apply on the Department of Health website.