Personal Property and Valuables Policy Template
Protect residents' belongings and your facility's reputation with a structured property management policy covering the complete lifecycle of resident possessions.
Overview
Missing or stolen personal property is consistently one of the highest categories of resident complaints in aged care. Residents enter facilities with possessions that may carry significant financial and sentimental value — and they have a right under the Charter of Aged Care Rights to have their property respected and protected. This policy template establishes clear inventory, labelling, storage, and dispute resolution procedures that protect residents and demonstrate due diligence to the ACQSC.
What This Policy Covers
- Property inventory process at admission
- Resident or family declaration of high-value items
- Labelling requirements for clothing and personal items
- Secure storage arrangements for valuables and cash
- Responsibility for items lost in the laundry
- Reporting and investigation of missing or stolen property
- Police notification for suspected theft
- Management of unclaimed property
- Property management during temporary absences and hospital stays
- Property return and final inventory process at discharge or death
Compliance Alignment
- Charter of Aged Care Rights 2019 – Right 7 (property and finances)
- Aged Care Quality Standard 1 – Consumer Dignity and Choice
- Aged Care Quality Standard 8 – Organisational Governance
- Privacy Act 1988 (property records)
- Australian Consumer Law (liability for lost goods)
Why This Policy Matters
Property complaints that escalate to the ACQSC or media are disproportionately damaging to a facility's reputation and Star Rating. A documented, practiced property management policy demonstrates that the provider takes resident rights seriously and has a clear accountability framework — reducing both complaint frequency and escalation risk.
