Free browser-based tool
Australian Aged Care Minutes Calculator
Estimate a home’s total, RN-only, and RN-plus-EN worked minutes per occupied bed day. The calculator also translates a gap to target into the approximate additional worked hours required across the same occupied bed days.
Calculator
Calculate the reporting-period position
Estimated result
Reporting-period position
- Total care minutes
- —per occupied bed day
- RN-only minutes
- —per occupied bed day
- RN plus EN minutes
- —per occupied bed day
- Total target gap
- —minutes per occupied bed day
- Hours to close total gap
- —across these occupied bed days
Enter the six inputs and select “Calculate position”.
01
Calculation method
The hours-to-target estimate applies the difference between the entered target and calculated result across the same occupied bed days. It is a mathematical estimate, not a staffing plan: it does not allocate shifts, assess skill mix, predict occupancy, or determine whether a particular hour is eligible.
02
Use controlled inputs
- Use worked hours
Exclude leave, training, voluntary hours, and other time that does not meet the current reporting definition.
- Resolve role eligibility first
Do not use an unresolved job title as evidence that time is eligible direct care.
- Align the period
Hours, occupied bed days, and targets must relate to the same home and reporting period.
- Use the home-specific target
Do not substitute the sector-wide average for the published target that applies to the home.
03
How to interpret the result
The three views are deliberately separate. Total minutes tests the overall eligible direct-care result. RN-only minutes show the registered-nurse contribution. RN-plus-EN minutes provide the combined nursing view relevant to the current allowance for EN contribution to the RN target.
This calculator does not determine legal compliance, calculate 24/7 RN coverage, or replace the department’s tools, QFR definitions, GPMS reporting, professional advice, or independent audit work. Confirm source eligibility and current requirements before using any result in a return or decision.
Sources
Primary sources used for this page
- Care minutes in residential aged careCare-minute responsibilities and home-specific targets
- QFR residential care labour costs and hours reporting guidance videoOfficial care-minute formula and worked-hour guidance
- Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse resourcesCurrent government target datasets, calculators, guides and dashboards
Source links and page content were checked on 11 August 2026. Government guidance can change; follow the linked source for the current position.
Review CareMin against your current process.
See how source records, calculations, monitoring, and evidence remain connected.