Standard 1 underpins the way that providers and aged care workers are expected to treat older people and is relevant to all standards. Standard 1 reflects important concepts about dignity and respect, individuality and diversity, independence, choice and control, culturally safe care and dignity of risk. These are all important in fostering a sense of safety, autonomy, inclusion and quality of life for older people. Older people are valuable members of society, with rich and varied histories, characteristics, identities, interests and life experiences. Older people can come from a diverse range of backgrounds and groups, including, but not limited to, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people living in rural or remote areas, people who are financially or socially disadvantaged, people who are veterans, people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, people who are care leavers (i.e. older people who spent time in care as a child), people who are parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex, people of various religions, people experiencing mental health problems and mental illness, people living with cognitive impairment, including dementia, and people living with disability. A person’s diversity does not define who they are, but it is critical that providers recognise and embrace each person’s diversity and who they are holistically as a person, and that this drives how providers and aged care workers engage with older people and deliver their funded aged care services.