Accreditation is a requirement for any residential aged care service that wants to receive Commonwealth funding.
The process includes an assessment to ensure the service meets the Aged Care Quality Standards.
If a service is commencing or recommencing, a flat fee applies. If a service is getting re-accredited, fees are based on the number of allocated places. This includes both accredited services and previously accredited services.
GST doesn't apply to these fees. The Commission also doesn't issue receipts of invoices for accreditation fees that have been paid.
Fees to commence and recommence services
The application fee to commence or recommence a residential aged care service is $1,140. This is a flat rate and doesn't change regardless of the number of places offered by a service.
Fees for accredited or previously accredited services
Services with fewer than 25 places get a 50% discount in accreditation fees.
Some services may also be eligible for a viability supplement. This supplement helps aged care providers in rural and remote areas with the cost of providing services.
Services that get viability supplements that are more than 50% of the service fees over a 12-month period are eligible for a 50% discount on their application fee.
Services that have less than 25 places and get a viability supplement that's more than 50% of the service fee over the last 12 months, don't have to pay any accreditation fees.
Number of allocated places for a service | Application fee | Application fee for services that get a viability supplement for 50% of the last 12 months |
1 to 9 | $3,016 | $0 |
10 to 24 | $5,945 | $0 |
25 to 80 | $11,891 | $5,945 |
81 to 160 | $17,124 | $8,562 |
161 or more | $22,410 | $11,205 |
Every month the Department of Health provides the Commission with a list of services that have received the viability supplement that's more than 50% of the service fee over the last 12 months. If your service is on the list before the email notification that your next application for re-accreditation is due, our email will advise that discounted fees will apply.
For information on accreditation processes, visit our Accreditation of commencing services and Re-accreditation of residential services pages.
How to pay
You can pay for accreditation or re-accreditation by eftpos or cheque.
Bank transfer
You can transfer payments to the Commission.
- Account name: ACQSC Departmental External Revenue
- BSB: 062 000
- Account number: 1717 7204
If you're paying for a single service, include your Residential Aged Care Service Identifier (RACS ID) and the service name in the description. If you're paying for multiple services, include your RACS IDs and provider name instead.
After you've completed the bank transfer, email your proof of payment to finance@agedcarequality.gov.au. For each service, make sure you include:
- name of service
- RACS ID
- fee paid
Make sure you also include the total value transferred to the Commission.
Cheques
Cheques should be paid to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Ensure you also include the service’s name and RACS ID on the back.
If the cheque is for more than 1 service, make sure you include the RACS ID and fee being paid for each service.
Cost Recovery
The Australian Government applies cost recovery for the accreditation of residential service. This involves providers paying the Commission a fee to become accredited and reaccredited if the provider seeks to become reaccredited.
Implementation statement
A Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) outlines cost recovery arrangements for approved providers of residential services. It covers how approved providers with residential services pay fees and charges for the total cost of accreditation of those services.
More information
If you have any questions or concerns about cost recovery or accreditation fees, you can contact us.