Updated translated checklists help seniors and providers navigate home care contracts
12 Mar 2026
People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and aged care providers can access updated translated Aged Care Contract Checklists reflecting the new Aged Care Act, designed to improve communication and understanding when signing home care service agreements.
Developed by the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) NT, one of the programs run by COTA NT, the checklists help both clients and service providers work through the key elements of a home care contract before services begin.
The checklists were already available in multiple languages and have now been updated to align with the new Aged Care Act, which came into effect in November 2025. They are now available in 64 languages and support older people, families and carers to better understand their rights and responsibilities when entering into agreements for government subsidised home care services.
PICAC NT Manager Cecilia Chiolero said the latest update was driven both by legislative changes and by feedback from providers working with diverse communities.
“We updated the checklists to reflect the changes introduced under the new Aged Care Act so that older people and providers can continue to rely on them as a practical and relevant support tool. We have also recently added six new translations after requests from people working with CALD clients in the Northern Territory and across Australia,” Ms Chiolero said.
“The checklists are designed to be clear, using easy-to-read font and simple, straightforward language. Contracts can be confusing at the best of times, so the checklists help make sure everyone is talking about the same things before anything is signed.”
Ms Chiolero said the program is able to keep expanding the resource.
“If providers need the checklist in another language, we encourage them to get in touch. Through the PICAC program we can organise translations free of charge so older people can clearly understand the services they’re agreeing to.”
The translated checklists are free to download and share and can be used by aged care providers, multicultural organisations and community groups supporting older people.
Download the checklists:
https://www.cotant.org.au/picac/aged-care-contract-checklist/
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Media Contact: Sue Shearer, CEO of COTA NT, and Cecilia Chiolero, PICAC NT Manager
Email: / Phone: 08 8941 1004 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 3pm)
- Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care, established in 1997, supports aged care services to meet the needs of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.