People living in residential aged care often have complex health needs and medications that require clinical skills when administering.
Medication administration is a core nursing responsibility and a critical aspect of safe, person-centred care. As the final checkpoint before medication is given, nurses play an important role in ensuring the correct medication has been prescribed and dispensed. This requires medical literacy, and physiological understanding and knowledge of how medications affect older people - skills nurses develop through their education.
From 1 July 2026, registered residential aged care providers in Victoria are required to ensure only nurses (registered and enrolled nurses) and other registered health practitioners administer prescribed and dispensed Drugs of Dependence and Schedules 4, 8 and 9 medications to people who do not administer their own medication.
This new requirement builds on existing Victorian legislative requirements that a registered nurse manages medication and aims to strengthen medication safety and reduce the risk of medicine-related problems in residential aged care.
The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 (Vic) include limited exemptions for exceptional circumstances when the requirement does not apply.
On 12 June 2026, the Minister for Ageing wrote to Victorian residential aged care homes with details of the legislative changes.
New requirement
The requirement only applies to residents who do not administer their own medication.
The requirement also only applies when a resident is on the premises of the residential aged care home.
The new requirement:
- Does not prescribe models of care or how Commonwealth Government mandated direct care minutes are to be used; how homes implement the reform is a decision for providers.
- Does not change health practitioners existing authorisation under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, or the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017, to administer medication within their scope of practice (for example general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and paramedic practitioners).
- Does not apply to unscheduled and Schedules 2 and 3 medications.
- Does not change any requirements of the voluntary assisted dying legislation.
- Does not impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners authorisation to administer Schedule 4 and 8 medications across Victoria's health and care settings.
The Victorian Government has committed to a 90-day grace period where no enforcement action will be pursued until 29 September 2026 to give providers that need to prepare for these changes some flexibility.
Exemptions for exceptional circumstances
Chapter 3C of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 prescribes circumstances where the requirements that a nurse or other registered health practitioner can administer medication. The exemptions can apply if:
a. There is an unforeseen event that unexpectedly affects the availability of nurses (or other available registered health practitioners)
AND
b. The registered nurse managing the medication administration determines that medication cannot wait and delegates to someone other than a nurse.
The registered nurse needs to record the exemption, including:
- The date of the unforeseen event
- A brief description of the unforeseen event
- The period of time that medication needed to be administered to a resident by someone other than a nurse.
Sector Guidance
The department has prepared a Guidance document to support practical application of the legislative requirement of the new requirement.
Guidance for legislative requirements for medication administration in residential aged care
This document is intended to be read in conjunction with:
- Part II of Division 10A of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981(Vic)
- Chapter 3C of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017
Information for residents and families
The department has prepared information about the requirement for people living in residential aged care, and their families.
The role of the Victorian Health Regulator
The Victorian Health Regulator is responsible for monitoring and enforcement of requirements under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 and associated Regulations.
Anyone can raise concerns of suspected non-compliance with the Health Regulator online or via Healthregulator@health.vic.gov.au
What are Schedules 4, 8 and 9 medications and drugs of dependence?
Schedule 4 medications are prescription-only, for example antibiotics, local anaesthetics, and strong analgesics (such as Panadeine Forte®)
Schedule 8 medications are those that have a higher risk for abuse, misuse and physical or psychological dependence (for example oxycodone (OxyContin® or Endone®), morphine MS-Contin®) and some benzodiazepines (flunitrazepam and alprazolam).
Schedule 9 medications are prohibited substances and may include medication used in clinical trials.
Drugs of Dependence are listed in the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 and have a higher potential for dependence – they include all medicines in Schedules 8 and 9 and some from Schedules 4 (such as benzodiazepines). Drugs of Dependence should be treated with a higher degree of caution.
Updated