Aged Care Blog

care minutes in residential aged care

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?

Register today

Expert staffing solutions

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

Send an enquiry

Subscribe Here!

Subscribe to our blog!

Leave a Comment





Aged care blog
Aged care careers

First published: April 2025 Aged care careers cover working in clinical and non-clinical roles across an array of environments including residential aged care, home care/independent living and retirement communities. There is a wealth of employment opportunities that will allow you to explore roles that fit your knowledge and skills, that you can make a long…
Palliative approach in aged care

First published: August 2025 The spectrum of palliative care covers more than just end-of-life care. A palliative approach to aged care encompasses methods to improve the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Types of palliative care In residential aged care, palliative care is delivered with…
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…
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…
An interview with our nursing team

First written: August 2024 The second in our ‘Meet the team’ series, we spoke to Rhys, one of our wonderful Sydney based AINs. He has been part of the Sanctuary team for the past three years, working on a casual basis in homes across Western and Northern Sydney, NSW. He has worked in a variety…
Delivering impact: how our partnership with Alphacrucis University College is changing the lives of Pacific Islander aged care workers

First published: October 2024 Sanctuary Recruitment and Pulse Staffing Australia, under the global healthcare partner Acacium Group, have secured a bid for this year’s Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. Aiming to fill labour gaps and alleviate work shortages across the country in a multitude of sectors, the PALM scheme allows for workers from the…
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,…
Duties and responsibilities of an aged care worker

First published: July 2024 Aged care workers working in the Australian aged care industry are responsible for more than just fundamental duties and responsibilities. They are expected to provide personal, emotional, and holistic support to their residents, playing a key part in a resident’s twilight years. Working in aged care is an admirable profession, one…
What is home care?

First published: April 2025 Home care, or care at home, is the support and assistance provided by healthcare professionals to allow those who need a helping hand to live independently at home for longer. The number of people wanting to remain at home is increasing, with 80% of older people opting to continue to live…