The Victorian Government has introduced new legislation to better protect people living in aged care that will see only highly qualified health practitioners able to administer certain medications.
The Government introduced the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment Bill 2025 into the Victorian Parliament in a bid to reduce the risk of medicine-related issues in residential aged care.
The change would see only registered and enrolled nurses – or other authorised health professionals such as pharmacists and GPs – able to administer specificmedicines and drugs of dependence to aged care residents from 1 July 2026.
This includes drugs such as local anaesthetics, antibiotics, strong, medicines with strict legislative controls including opioid analgesics like pethidine, morphine, oxycodone, benzodiazepines and clinical trial medications.
“These changes are about putting the safety of residents first – making sure our older Victorians living in aged care receive the right medication, safely and at the right time, from the right professionals,” said Minister for Ageing, Ingrid Stitt.
Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas said the changes will make aged care safer by addressing problems highlighted by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which found too many residents were given medication unsafely — including without proper oversight, without clinical judgement or sometimes they weren’t given their medication at all.
“These reforms will ensure that medication in aged care is handled with the same care and clinical oversight you would expect in any hospital or health service across the state,” said Minister Thomas.
The Bill was developed after extensive consultation with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, unions, peak bodies and providers – including public, private, community, charity, religious and multicultural providers.
The Bill allows for exceptions in emergencies or other unexpected situations where delayed medication could put a resident at risk – giving power to make rules for when the usual requirements do not apply.
The changes won’t stop residents from taking their own medication when it’s safe to do so and won’t affect how medicines are given in other care settings or under the Voluntary Assisted Dying scheme.
The Government says the reform will be reviewed after five years to ensure it is working as intended and that providers continue to have the support they need.
