About the office
The Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care is an independent statutory agency led by the Inspector-General.
Together, we have oversight of the administration, regulation, and funding of the aged care system by the Australian Government, including the:
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority
- other services or bodies in the aged care system regulated or funded by the government.
Our status as an independent statutory agency will help to ensure the aged care system is:
- robust, accountable and transparent
- able to meet the needs of older people in Australia, their families, and their carers.
Watch our introductory video to learn about the purpose, function, and vision of the Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care.
Our role in the aged care system
Our role is to provide independent oversight of the aged care system through our core functions of reviews, monitoring and reporting. To do this, we will:
- review and report on the aged care system
- identify systemic and significant problems
- recommend changes
- increase accountability and transparency through reporting our findings to parliament, including on the implementation of Royal Commission recommendations.
Find out more about what we do.
Our office and the Inspector-General are separate from other agencies in the aged care system. We will not duplicate their functions, such as regulation, policy development, or complaints appeals.
The Inspector-General of Aged Care will oversee government and government-funded bodies. These include the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. These bodies administer, price and regulate services for people, providers, and peaks.
Why we were established
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that the Australian Government establish:
- an Inspector-General of Aged Care
- an Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care.
The government established both on 16 October 2023 through the Inspector-General of Aged Care Act 2023.
Find out more about the Royal Commission's recommendations.
Appointing the Inspector-General
The government is currently conducting a selection process, in line with the Merit and Transparency Policy, to appoint the Inspector-General. Until this happens, an acting Inspector-General, appointed by the Minister for Aged Care and Sport, will perform the role.
Organisational chart
