Dignity of Risk and Positive Risk-Taking Policy Template
Empower residents to make meaningful choices — including risky ones — while maintaining your duty of care obligations and ACQSC compliance.
Overview
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified over-restriction and paternalistic care as systemic failures in the sector. The principle of "dignity of risk" recognises that every person has the right to take reasonable risks as part of living a full life. This policy template provides a structured framework for balancing resident autonomy against safety obligations, supporting person-centred care that respects individual choice.
What This Policy Covers
- Definition of dignity of risk and positive risk-taking
- Resident rights under the Charter of Aged Care Rights
- Risk assessment process for individual resident decisions
- Informed consent documentation for risky activities
- Process for involving family/carers in risk conversations
- Distinguishing dignity of risk from neglect or duty of care failure
- Staff training requirements on rights-based approaches
- Review and monitoring of risk agreements
Compliance Alignment
- Charter of Aged Care Rights 2019
- Aged Care Quality Standard 1 – Consumer Dignity and Choice
- Aged Care Quality Standard 2 – Ongoing Assessment and Planning
- Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – Final Report Recommendations
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Why This Policy Matters
ACQSC assessors actively look for evidence that providers support resident choice — including choices the facility may find inconvenient. Without a Dignity of Risk policy, facilities risk being found non-compliant with Standard 1 and the Charter of Aged Care Rights. This policy also protects staff by providing a documented, approved framework for supporting resident choices that carry some risk.
