How to Navigate the New Aged Care Act with Digital Learning

As of 1 November 2025, the new Aged Care Act is now in effect. These significant reforms are reshaping how providers manage workforce capability, compliance and quality of care. 

For HR leaders, this isn’t just a regulatory shift. It’s a people challenge. You’re balancing compliance, onboarding, rostering and workforce wellbeing, often across multiple sites or services with limited time and resources. And now, the the bar for skills, training and accountability is rising. 

That’s where digital learning becomes a strategic advantage. A Learning Management System like ELMO Learning gives providers a streamlined, scalable and efficient platform for training, supporting both regulatory compliance and the development of a more confident and capable workforce.

Upskilling is now a compliance imperative 

Under the new Act, providers may need to demonstrate that staff have the right capabilities and stay competent across clinical, behavioural and administrative tasks. 

This means more frequent training, ongoing verification of qualifications and clear evidence for auditors and regulators. Manual spreadsheets and site-based paper files simply won’t keep up.

According to ELMO’s 2025 HR Industry Benchmark Report, upskilling employees is the number one challenge across the healthcare sector. A well-designed LMS helps organisations stay ahead by ensuring every employee has clear visibility of what training is required, what has been completed and what still needs attention. It simplifies skill validation and provides a single, secure source of truth.

Keeping up with compliance

The new Aged Care Act places stronger emphasis on workforce governance,  including training records, care minute compliance, and staff credential tracking.

For most aged care providers, these processes are still highly manual. That’s why an LMS is more than a “nice-to-have”; it’s an essential compliance safeguard.

A centralised learning platform:

• Tracks completion of mandatory training in real time
  
• Sends automated reminders for certifications
  
• Produces instant audit-ready reports
  

In the 2025 Total Economic Impact™ study by Forrester Consulting, organisations using ELMO Software saved an average of 2,184 hours per year in HR admin time (Source: Forrester TEI Report, 2025).

That’s time HR can reinvest in strategy, support, and care outcomes.

Fitting learning into busy schedules

Aged care workforces are dedicated, hands-on and often time-poor. Training must fit into unpredictable rosters, varied literacy levels, and mobile work environments.

Modern digital learning enables staff to complete training on any device, at their own pace, between shifts, during downtime, or at home.

Short, interactive modules keep engagement high and disruption low, ensuring that everyone – from carers to RNs – can access consistent, high-quality training.

This flexibility also supports equity and retention: when employees feel equipped and included, they’re more likely to stay.

Training for better care, not just compliance

While compliance is a key driver, training ultimately exists to improve care outcomes. High-quality learning equips staff with the knowledge and confidence they need to deliver safe, respectful and person-centred care. It covers everything from clinical competencies to communication, empathy, cultural safety and behaviour support.

Continuous learning builds a stronger culture—one where workers feel supported, residents receive safer and more compassionate care, and families feel confident in the services provided. Investing in training is an investment in the wellbeing of both staff and residents.

How ELMO supports aged care HR teams

ELMO’s Learning Management System keeps employee skills current and supports compliance with a highly configurable solution designed for evolving organisational needs.

• Centralise all learning resources in one secure platform
• Automated compliance tracking and receive notifications when expirations are close
• Customisable training modules for different facilities or roles
• Enable on-demand access through mobile-friendly delivery
• Support professional development and clear career pathways

It’s part of ELMO’s unified HR & payroll platform, trusted by more than 2,000 ANZ organisations, including aged care and community service providers.

Building a learning culture for the future of care

The Aged Care Act signals a sector where workforce capability is the foundation of quality. Providers who invest early in digital learning will not only stay compliant, they’ll also strengthen engagement, retention, and the resident experience.

When staff feel skilled, seen, and supported, everyone benefits.
And when your learning systems work seamlessly, HR can focus on what matters most: building a sustainable, capable workforce for the future of aged care.

Ready to modernise your aged care training and compliance?

Speak with to us about how digital learning can help your organisation meet the new standards, and build lasting workforce confidence.

Speak to the team