Lunch & Learn: ACJ presents Accountability in Aged Care - Rights, Responsibilities and Remedies

What happens when an older person is harmed in aged care and what legal options are actually available under the new Aged Care Act 2024?

In our first Lunch & Learn for 2026, Katrina Ryan from Aged Care Justice unpacks the new statutory duties placed on Registered Providers and Responsible Persons and what accountability looks like in practice.

The session examined how breaches of the duty may give rise to regulatory action or civil liability, and the legal pathways available to consumers seeking support, redress, or compensation.

Key discussion points include:

+ Understanding the statutory duty of care: what the new provider duty requires in practice, including the obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent harm and ensure safe, high-quality care.
+ Due diligence and leadership accountability: how senior leaders and decision-makers must demonstrate active oversight of compliance, safety, and risk management under the new framework.
+ Consumer impact and potential remedies: what these duties mean for individuals affected by harm or substandard care, and how they interact with existing complaints, regulatory, and enforcement pathways. + Why this matters: how a clearer understanding of service delivery obligations, and the consequences of breach, supports residents, home care recipients, families, supporters, and aged care professionals.

This session is for aged care workers and leaders, advocates, and community members supporting someone in the aged care system who want a practical understanding of rights, responsibilities, and what happens when care falls short.

Watch the recording on our YouTube channel:

Download session slides here

Katrina Ryan is the Legal Education Lead at Aged Care Justice, where she develops legal education materials for the public and legal profession on aged care legal rights and remedies. She recently led a two-year legal education project on restrictive practices funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board and holds a Juris Doctor from the Australian National University.

Aged Care Justice (ACJ) is a registered charity supporting Australians living in residential aged care or receiving home care, by providing access to legal services, educational material on aged care rights and lobbying for sector reform. ACJ was formed in 2020 by senior legal and clinical professionals to ensure all Australians receive quality aged care services and are treated with dignity and respect. When a person contacts ACJ, we listen to their issue and connect them with a lawyer with experience in aged care issues who will provide a free legal consultation anywhere in Australia.