Mandatory Staffing Levels and Rostering Policy Template

Addresses compliance with legislated 24/7 Registered Nurse requirements and minimum 200 direct care minutes per resident per day, including rostering systems, reporting obligations, and contingency staffing plans.

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Mandatory Staffing Levels and Rostering Policy Template

Meet your legislated staffing obligations — including the 24/7 Registered Nurse requirement and 200 care minutes per resident per day — with a structured rostering governance policy.

Overview

From 1 October 2023, all residential aged care facilities receiving government funding must have a Registered Nurse on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From 1 October 2023, facilities must also deliver an average of 200 minutes of direct care per resident per day, including at least 40 minutes from a Registered Nurse. These requirements are reported daily through the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program and are factored into the Star Ratings system. This policy template establishes governance for meeting, monitoring, and reporting these legislated staffing obligations.

What This Policy Covers

24/7 Registered Nurse on-site requirements and limited exemption criteria
200 care minutes per resident per day target (with 40 RN minutes)
Rostering principles for compliant care minute delivery
Workforce mix requirements (RN, EN, PCW)
Daily staffing data collection and reporting obligations
Contingency planning for unexpected staffing shortfalls
Agency and contractor use governance
Minimum staffing for specific units (dementia, palliative)
Reporting to the Department of Health and Aged Care
Board and executive reporting on staffing compliance

Compliance Alignment

Aged Care Act 1997 – Quality of Care Principles 2014 (as amended 2023)
Aged Care (Mandatory Staffing) Instrument 2023
National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program
Aged Care Quality Standard 7 – Human Resources
Aged Care Quality Standard 8 – Organisational Governance
Australian Aged Care Star Ratings – Staffing sub-rating

Why This Policy Matters

Non-compliance with mandatory staffing requirements is the single highest-impact ACQSC enforcement trigger currently active. Facilities that fail to meet 24/7 RN or care minute requirements face immediate non-compliance findings, public disclosure on My Aged Care, Star Rating reduction, and potential sanctions. This policy is arguably the most urgent compliance document for any Australian residential aged care provider in 2024–2025.

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