Australia's Aged Care Act of 1997 mandates a number of key reforms aimed at ensuring consistency in the quality of care and well-being for all residents of aged care facilities. The law required residential aged care facilities to provide high-quality care within a framework of continuous improvement which requires aged care workers to perform the following tasks: collect data from residents; analyze data; record data; develop strategies for meeting residents' needs and solving problems; implement interventions through a care plan; and interact with other members of the health care team and residents' families. This task list translates into the need for personal carers to demonstrate a broad range of language and literacy skills and practices as part of their daily work. These new literacy practices have changed the dynamics of relations between frontline workers and management. Employees are now expected to apply these new literacy practices in new situations and for new purposes. These changes in the requirements regarding accreditation of Australia's aged care facilities and the functional literacy tasks expected of aged care facilities have necessitated that policymakers consider the issue of support for such workers in developing the language and literacy skills required of employees in residential aged care facilities. (16 references) (MN)