From 1 November 2025, Australia’s aged care system is undergoing a transformative change with the commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024. At the heart of this new rights-based legislation is a fundamental principle: every older person is presumed to have the ability to make decisions about their care and their life.

One significant change in the new Act is the introduction of Registered Supporters. This role is designed to empower older Australians to maintain control over their aged care journey while receiving the support they need to make informed decisions.

What is a Registered Supporter?

A registered supporter is someone an older person trusts, like a family member or friend, who can help them request, access and understand information and communicate their wishes. This formal role replaces the current system of regular and authorised representatives in My Aged Care.

The key principle behind registered supporters is simple yet powerful: they help older people make their own decisions – they don’t make decisions for them. Registered supporters help older people to make and communicate their own decisions in aged care.

Why Were Registered Supporters Introduced?

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety noted the importance of supported decision-making to ensure people have control and choice over their own life and care. The previous system was structured around providers and funding rather than around the people accessing services and what they need.

The new Act addresses this by embedding supported decision-making as a core right, ensuring that older Australians remain at the centre of all decisions about their care.

Who Can Be a Registered Supporter?

A registered supporter can be a trusted family member or friend of an older person’s choosing. An older person can have more than one registered supporter.

Importantly, while some registered supporters also have guardianship, enduring power of attorney or similar legal powers, becoming a registered supporter does not automatically grant decision-making authority. It’s a support role, not a substitute decision-maker role.

What Do Registered Supporters Do?

Registered supporters assist older people in several important ways:

• Requesting information to help the older person make informed decisions about their care
• Helping them understand options available to them in the aged care system
• Communicating preferences and choices on behalf of the older person, when asked to do so
• Receiving copies of information so they can better support the older person’s decision-making.

Critically, having a registered supporter does not prevent an older person from doing something they can do themselves. The older person remains in control of their care journey.

Do You Need a Registered Supporter? 

Not every older person will want or need someone to support them. Some older people might feel they are already supported by their carers and other significant people in their lives, without needing them to become registered supporters. However, by registering someone as a supporter through My Aged Care, you’ll be making it clear who you want to help you. This formal registration lets aged care providers, workers, and assessors know who you trust to support you in making decisions.

Transition Arrangements

If you currently have a regular or authorised representative registered in My Aged Care, the transition to the new system is straightforward. Regular and authorised representatives active in My Aged Care on 31 October 2025 will be known as ‘registered supporters’ from 1 November 2025. This automatic transition ensures continuity of support for older people already receiving aged care services. If you wish to opt out of this transition or make changes to your support arrangements, you can do so through My Aged Care.

How the New Act Puts Rights First

The introduction of registered supporters is just one element of the comprehensive new Aged Care Act, which includes a Statement of Rights that outlines the fundamental rights of older people in aged care. The Act emphasises six key areas:

• Your right to make decisions about your care and services
• Safe, high-quality care delivered with dignity and respect
• Freedom from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Access to information about your rights and services
• Privacy and confidentiality of your personal information
• The right to speak up and make complaints without fear

Resources and Support

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has developed extensive resources to help older people, families, and aged care providers understand the new registered supporter role and prepare for the changes under the new Aged Care Act.

Videos and Visual Resources

• Video: How the new Act puts the rights of older people first – Available in multiple languages and Auslan
• Registered Supporter Resources – Including videos, fact sheets, and training materials

Information and Guidance

• Registered Supporters in Aged Care – Comprehensive information about the registered supporter role
• About the new rights-based Aged Care Act – Overview of the new Act and its key features
• Statement of Rights – Australian Government Fact Sheet – Official fact sheet
• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission – Statement of Rights – Detailed information about your rights
• New Aged Care Act – Prepare – Resources to help you prepare for the changes
• My Aged Care – Support Roles and Relationships – Information about managing your support arrangements
• Exploring Aged Care – Comprehensive Guide – Independent guide to aged care services and rights

Accessible Information for Everyone

Information about registered supporters and the Statement of Rights is available in multiple formats to ensure everyone can access this important information:

• Plain English fact sheets for easy understanding
• Easy Read versions with simple language and visual aids
• Multiple languages, including translation functions for six languages other than English and Auslan
• Audio versions and other accessible formats

This commitment to accessibility reflects the new Aged Care Act’s emphasis on ensuring information is provided in ways that everyone can understand.

Looking Ahead

The introduction of registered supporters represents a significant shift toward a more person-centred aged care system. By presuming that older people have the capacity to make their own decisions and providing formal support mechanisms when needed, the new Act empowers older Australians to maintain greater control over their lives while accessing the care and services they need.

If you have questions about registered supporters or any other aspect of the new Aged Care Act, you can:

• Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
• Visit the Department of Health website at health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act