The Aged Care Quality Standards set the bar every residential and home care provider in Australia is assessed against — and equipment is one of the practical, evidence-based areas an assessor from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will expect to see clearly documented. Nova Biomedical has supported aged care providers across Australia with equipment testing and compliance for over 25 years, and we’re ISO9001:2015 certified for the quality systems behind that work.
What Are the Aged Care Quality Standards?
The Aged Care Quality Standards are set by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and apply to all approved providers of Australian Government-subsidised aged care, covering residential care, home care, and flexible care. Providers are assessed against the Standards through accreditation site audits and ongoing monitoring, with Standard 5 (Clinical Care) and Standard 2 (Ongoing Assessment and Planning) most directly touching the equipment used in day-to-day resident care, alongside the broader risk management expectations that run through the Standards as a whole.
An assessor isn’t just looking for equipment to be present — they’re checking that it’s safe, maintained, and that the provider can produce records showing it’s actively managed rather than just purchased once and left in service.
What Equipment Do Aged Care Providers Need to Keep Compliant?
- Patient hoists and lifting equipment — ceiling hoists, mobile hoists, and slings require regular safety testing and load checks given their direct role in preventing resident and staff injury.
- Electrical equipment throughout the facility — from clinical devices to general appliances, AS/NZS 3551 electrical safety testing applies across a residential aged care facility’s equipment fleet.
- Emergency and resuscitation equipment — defibrillators/AEDs and emergency response equipment need to be checked, tested, and in-date.
- Beds and mobility equipment — electric beds, wheelchairs, and pressure care equipment need routine safety and function checks as part of a facility’s maintenance program.
An assessor will typically ask to see service records, test tags, and a clear maintenance schedule — not just confirmation that equipment is on-site.
Common Issues We See Before an Accreditation Audit
- Hoist and sling testing records that are incomplete or scattered across multiple systems, making them hard to produce quickly during an audit.
- Electrical safety test tags that have lapsed on equipment that’s been in continuous use without anyone tracking the due date.
- No single register covering equipment across a multi-site or multi-wing facility, particularly after equipment has been moved between areas.
- Unclear responsibility for who signs off on equipment being fit for use after a fault is reported.
These are common precisely because aged care equipment fleets are large and constantly moving between residents, wings, and storage — not because providers aren’t trying to stay on top of it.
How Nova Biomedical Supports Aged Care Compliance
We provide AS/NZS 3551 electrical safety testing, hoist and lifting equipment testing, AED servicing, and general biomedical and clinical equipment maintenance and repairs for residential aged care facilities — all backed by clear, audit-ready documentation your quality team can hand straight to an assessor.
Our work spans aged care providers of all sizes across Australia, alongside hospitals, GP and specialist practices, mine site, and government contracts, bringing the same ISO9001:2015-certified quality system to every site. See our full range of biomedical engineering services.
FAQ
How often does aged care equipment need to be tested?
It depends on the equipment type and your facility’s risk assessment — AS/NZS 3551 electrical safety testing is typically annual, while hoists and lifting equipment are often tested more frequently given their role in resident and staff safety.
Can you manage equipment testing across multiple aged care sites?
Yes — we regularly coordinate testing schedules and consolidated reporting across multi-site aged care providers to keep everything aligned ahead of accreditation activity.
Do you test hoists and lifting equipment as well as electrical equipment?
Yes, our services cover both patient hoists and lifting equipment testing alongside general AS/NZS 3551 electrical safety testing, so your facility isn’t juggling multiple providers.
What happens if equipment fails testing?
We flag it immediately and discuss repair or replacement options on the spot where practical, so your team has a clear action plan and documented evidence of the response.
Who This Applies To
The Aged Care Quality Standards apply to every aged care facility, single-site or multi-site. We work with aged care providers across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Get Your Aged Care Equipment Ready for Accreditation
If your facility has an accreditation audit coming up, Nova Biomedical can help make sure your equipment records are ready. Contact Nova Biomedical for a quote.
