Does regulatory scrutiny alone change organisational behaviour? Regulators are often associated with fines, sanctions and enforcement action. Yet much of their work involves somethings less visible: monitoring organisations, investigating concerns and seeking explanations for organisational practices.
Exploring the effects of regulatory interventions in aged care
In the next seminar in the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative seminar series, Dr Yolanda Lin will present her new research examining how aged care providers respond when regulators investigate complaints. Drawing on evidence from the aged care sector, her research explores whether organisations alter their operations, staffing and resource allocation even when no formal penalties are imposed.
Yolanda’s findings suggest that oversight itself can drive organisational change, with providers often investing more time and resources in compliance and quality improvement. Her research also highlights why some organisations are more responsive than others, offering new insights into regulation, organisational behaviour and accountability.
Yolanda’s seminar will be of interest to researchers, policymakers and practitioners interested in regulation, governance, organisational behaviour, public policy and improving outcomes in aged care.
“Regulatory scrutiny can be an effective regulatory tool for eliciting firms’ voluntary improvements in operational activities avoiding the need for formal penalties,” Yolanda said.
While regulators employ different types of regulatory interventions to detect and rectify non-compliance, most research has predominantly focused on firms’ responses to formal penalties (or punitive interventions). The extent to which regulatory interventions in the form of increased scrutiny have real effects on firms’ operations remains largely unexplored.
Regulatory scrutiny can be an effective regulatory tool for eliciting firms’ voluntary improvements in operational activities avoiding the need for formal penalties.
This seminar will offer valuable insights for researchers, policymakers and practitioners interested in regulation, governance and improving outcomes in aged care.
Join us for an engaging discussion on how organisations respond to regulatory oversight and what this means for the future of compliance and accountability in the aged care sector.
Register to attend
Come along to learn more. Fruit, tea and coffee will be provided.
When: Wednesday 30 September 2026, 1-2pm.
Where: RES Hub Event Space (CB02.05.250)
What’s next?
- Learn more about UARC.
- Connect with UARC via email to be informed about the next UARC Research Seminar.