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Official update · document review

September 2026 QI Program Manual Part A: check proxy survey eligibility

The Department published a September 2026 version of the National Aged Care Quality Indicator (QI) Program Manual Part A on 29 September. For the QCE-ACC and QOL-ACC surveys, the manual says a proxy version may be completed only by a legal guardian under section 28(2) of the Aged Care Act 2024; a relative, supporter or staff member is not automatically an eligible proxy. It also spells out that providers retain QI reports and records relating to collection and measurement for seven years from when made or received. The seven-year period is not a newly introduced deadline, and this publication does not itself change the existing quarterly reporting due date.

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Source checked General operational resource only

Document and workflow checks

Turn the official change into reviewable actions

  • Replace superseded Part A references in local QI instructions, record the September 2026 version and assign a survey-process review owner.
  • Check how QCE-ACC and QOL-ACC proxy versions are offered; verify legal-guardian authority under the manual before a proxy completes either survey, and do not substitute staff or an informal supporter.
  • Confirm that QI reports and their collection or measurement records remain in an authorised system for the existing seven-year retention period; check the current reporting calendar separately rather than assuming a new due date.

Who may need to review this

  • Residential aged care QI Program reporting owners
  • Quality, survey, records, and governance teams

Impact areas

  • QI Program Manual Part A version control
  • QCE-ACC and QOL-ACC proxy survey eligibility
  • QI report and source-record retention

Team review question

Who will check the QI manual version, proxy authority process and authorised record-retention handoff?

Usage boundary

This is a source-linked process reminder, not legal advice or a new reporting deadline. Do not enter resident survey responses, guardianship documents or other personal information into CaresLink. Follow the current Department manual and your organisation's authorised systems and advice.