From November 2025, the aged care sector in Australia will enter a new regulatory landscape. The introduction of the Aged Care Act 2025 will strengthen the rights of residents and increase accountability for Aged Care Centre. For many centres, this will mean not only maintaining safe environments, but also demonstrating compliance through clearer reporting and risk management practices.
Security touches every part of aged care—from safeguarding residents and staff to protecting facilities and sensitive records. With the upcoming reforms, it also becomes a central element in meeting compliance and governance standards.
Why Security is Critical in Aged Care
Aged care centres face a unique set of security challenges that extend beyond those of standard commercial environments. Resident safety is paramount. Older Australians in care are among the most vulnerable members of the community, and facilities must ensure their protection through controlled access, monitored entry points, and rapid staff communication during emergencies.
Medication storage presents another critical risk area. Restricted substances require tight oversight to prevent misuse or unauthorised access, and any lapse can place residents at risk while also undermining compliance obligations. At the same time, staff support is essential. Care teams, often working night shifts or in small groups, need the reassurance of reliable security systems that allow them to focus on delivering quality care rather than responding to avoidable incidents.
Visitor management adds further complexity. Aged care homes must remain welcoming spaces for families while ensuring unauthorised individuals cannot access sensitive areas. These operational needs intersect with compliance responsibilities, as providers are expected to demonstrate that their security practices meet health, safety, and aged care quality standards. With the reforms on the horizon, these responsibilities will carry even greater significance, placing the onus squarely on providers to show clear, proactive risk management.
The Compliance Lens: What Changes in 2025
Under the new legislation, residents will have stronger rights to safety, transparency, and accountability. For providers, this translates into increased obligations. Centres will need to provide audit-ready evidence that their environments are secure, demonstrate risk management processes around resident safety and medication control, record, and report incidents in line with regulatory requirements, and ensure the security of confidential resident information.
For many facilities, this will require reviewing existing systems or implementing new measures. Security is no longer simply about preventing intrusions or managing emergencies—it has become a core part of how centres demonstrate compliance and uphold residents’ rights.
Practical Approaches to Aged Care Security
Every aged care site is different in terms of size, layout, and staffing, so solutions must be tailored to the facility. Common approaches across the sector include integrated alarm systems and monitoring to protect sensitive areas such as medication rooms, staff-only zones, and facility entry points. High-definition CCTV provides coverage of critical areas from car parks to communal spaces, with recorded footage serving both as a deterrent and as documentation for compliance purposes.
Access control systems, whether card-based, keypad, or biometric, ensure only authorised staff can enter restricted areas and generate records that support audits. Security is most effective when integrated with care systems, including nurse call and intercom platforms, allowing staff to respond quickly to incidents while maintaining accurate records for compliance purposes. These measures protect residents and staff while also providing providers with the documentation and transparency required under the new Act.
Security and Trust
At its core, security in aged care is about building trust. Families seek reassurance that their loved ones are safe, while staff need confidence to perform their duties without unnecessary risk. For providers, fulfilling this trust is inseparable from meeting compliance obligations.
Security solutions should be viewed not as standalone technology but as part of a broader framework of governance, reporting, and care. Providers who invest in integrated, evidence-based systems will be better prepared for inspections, accreditation, and the evolving regulatory environment.
Looking Ahead
The aged care sector is entering a period of significant change. With compliance responsibilities shifting squarely onto providers under the Aged Care Act 2025, security will play a more central role than ever.
For providers, the key question is no longer whether to invest in security, but how to implement systems that support both daily care and regulatory reporting. Solutions that combine resident protection with reliable compliance evidence will help centres meet new obligations while strengthening the trust placed in them by families and staff. Experienced security partners can provide guidance in designing systems that are effective, transparent, and aligned with the requirements of the new Act.
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