TWO staff members at a far north Queensland aged care home have been charged with seriously assaulting a 70-year old female resident, prompting the Federal Government to order an audit of the facility.

A 19-year-old woman and a 25-year-old woman have been charged with serious assault after an incident on Thursday Island on October 17.

The independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency is conducting a full review of the Star of the Sea facility on predominantly indigenous Thursday Island off Cape York to ensure "proper resident welfare and safety".

The federal Department of Health and Ageing last week received compulsory reports of two alleged separate assaults on the resident.

The charged women are due to appear at the Thursday Island Magistrates Court on November 11.

Star of the Sea management declined to comment on the allegations.

Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said her primary concern was the health and welfare of residents.

"The Department of Health and Ageing is taking the matter seriously," Ms Elliot said.

"We recognise that it is a very remote facility accessible by sea and plane only, but resident care must always come first."

It is believed the Department of Health and Ageing's complaints investigators visited the home on October 24 to investigate whether the nursing home was meeting its responsibilities under the Aged Care Act.

The audit began on October 27.

Source: The Australian - David Barbeler