Assess, Evolve, Excel: Navigating IPC Program Maturity

As we prepare for the November 2025 roll-out of the new Aged Care Quality Standards, it’s time to move beyond pandemic-driven checklists and embrace a truly programmatic, mature approach. During COVID-19, many organisations deployed rapid, ad-hoc measures: surge capacity wards, one-off PPE audits and cohorting zones; that were vital at the time but often dismantled once case numbers fell. Now, with a full spectrum of infection risks to manage, providers must ask:

How mature is our IPC program today? Where are our strengths and where should we level up next?

From Reactionary Tactics to Strategic IPC

• Crisis-Driven vs. Embedded Practice

  
  

  Pandemic response brought essential “firefighting” actions. Yet, when measures live only in response to outbreaks, staff can slip into a “tick-and-flick” compliance mindset – audits become a box-ticking exercise rather than an integral safety habit.

• Narrow Focus vs. Holistic Risk Management

  
  

  A COVID-centric lens risks sidelining other threats such as norovirus, seasonal influenza, multidrug-resistant organisms and emerging pathogens, all demand robust, routine surveillance and prevention.

By reframing IPC from episodic reaction to continuous strategy, organisations can build resilience across every infection pathway.

Four Pillars of a Mature IPC Program

1. Governance & Leadership Engagement

   • Invite teams at every level to self-assess: “Is IPC embedded in our strategic plan, or still a pandemic add-on?”

   • Create two-way feedback loops so IPC Leads and front-line staff inform management and executive teams on emerging risks and resource needs.

2. Integrated Surveillance & Data-Driven Decision Making

   • Shift from sporadic audits to ongoing review: “Are our hand hygiene and environmental checks routine, or only triggered by an alert?”

   • Use simple dashboards or scorecards as self-check-points, empowering staff to spot trends before they escalate.

3. Comprehensive Education & Culture Change

   • Pivot from primarily COVID education to a modular, role-based curriculum covering all standard and transmission-based precautions.

   • Embed just-in-time prompts (“did you include IPC risks in your handover today?”) so every shift becomes an opportunity to learn and reflect.

4. Sustainable Resources & Environmental Controls

   • Temporary PPE stations become embedded into the care environment; build ventilation checks and cleaning schedules into routine budgets.

   • Encourage every ward/unit to rate its readiness and use those insights to guide procurement and engineering investments.

Reflective Maturity Levels

Encourage teams to consider their rating on a measurable spectrum (such as the one below) and plan their next steps, for example:

Level	Self-Reflect
Foundational	“We have basic policies and periodic checks, but lack integration.”
Developing	“We schedule audits and see patterns, yet data isn’t driving action.”
Proficient	“Surveillance is continuous; our dashboards guide decisions.”
Advanced	“We anticipate risks and prevent outbreaks before they start.”

As you review your current state, ask: “Which level best describes us today? What’s our target level for the next 12 months?”

Practical Next Steps

1. Map Your Activities

   • List every IPC initiative; highlight which are permanent versus surge-only.

2. Realign Infrastructure

   • Convert leftover COVID-era stations into ongoing IPC assets; from PPE points to hand hygiene stations.

3. Strengthen Your Data Flow

   • If your system lacks IPC modules, start with simple trackers for HAI incidence, audits and environmental checks.

4. Launch Peer-Led Self-Reflection Activities

   • Form an “IPC Leads” network to run quarterly reflection sessions: “What went well, and where should we level up next?”

5. Engage Residents & Families

   • Use clear signage and brief surveys so everyone can score and suggest improvements, turning IPC into a shared priority.

Conclusion

The November 2025 Standards aren’t just another compliance hurdle, they’re an invitation to evolve IPC into a strategic, performance-focused program.

By adopting continuous self-assessment, embedding governance, harnessing data, fostering a learning culture and aligning resources, you’ll shift from reactive firefighting to proactive prevention. Take a moment today to self-assess on a program maturity spectrum, set clear goals for advancement, and chart a path toward sustainable excellence in infection prevention and control.