An aged care assessment is the step that opens the door to government-funded aged care. Before you can use Support at Home, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or an aged care home, someone needs to sit down with you and work out what help you need. This guide explains how to apply, who carries out the assessment, how to prepare, and what the decision letter means for you.
Why the assessment comes first
Government-funded aged care is based on assessed need. The assessment records your situation, your goals and the services you are approved for. Providers work from that approval, so nothing funded can start until it is in place.
If you are applying for a parent or partner, applying early gives you time to think about providers while you wait.
Three ways to apply
You can apply through My Aged Care in whichever way suits you:
- Online. The online application takes about 10 to 15 minutes and you will need your Medicare card. You can apply for yourself or for someone else.
- By phone. Call My Aged Care and a staff member will take you through the questions.
- In person. Book a time with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre.
A family member, friend or community representative can help you apply. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can ask for an assessment by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assessment organisation. Veterans and war widows or widowers may be able to get some support without an assessment, through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The How to get assessed page on My Aged Care has the phone numbers and the online form.
Who does the assessment now
You may have heard the term ACAT assessment. Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) and the Regional Assessment Service used to carry out different kinds of assessments. Both were brought together under the Single Assessment System, along with the separate organisations that did residential funding assessments.
Since December 2024, assessment organisations in the Single Assessment System carry out all needs assessments for in-home care, flexible programs, residential respite and entry into an aged care home. People still search for “ACAT” and many health workers still use the name, but it now means an assessment through this system.
What the assessor will ask and what to have ready
After you apply, an assessment organisation calls you, or the person you nominated, to confirm your details and book a time. Most assessments happen at home. Some take place elsewhere, by phone or by video.
The assessor will ask about:
- the support you already have and whether it will continue
- your health and lifestyle, including any concerns you have
- how you manage daily tasks around the home
- memory, and safety at home
- family, community and cultural activities that matter to you
Have these ready on the day:
- your Medicare card and one other form of ID
- any referrals from your doctor
- contact details for your GP and other health professionals
- details of any support you already receive
- a short list of questions, such as what support is available for your carer
The assessor works with you to write a support plan. It records what was discussed and agreed, so it helps to be honest about the hard days, not only the good ones.
Bringing a family member or support person
You can have a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter with you. If you need an interpreter, you can ask for one at any stage. Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can have an Elder Care Support worker attend. If there is nobody you would feel comfortable asking, a care finder may be able to come with you. The care finder and assessment category lists organisations that offer this kind of help.
Someone supporting you can also give the assessor information before the visit. That is useful when the person being assessed tends to play down their needs.
After the assessment: the decision letter and what it unlocks
You receive a letter that sets out what you are approved for. For in-home care, it will say whether you are approved for Support at Home and how its classifications work, for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, or for something else, such as respite or an aged care home.
The letter is what providers need to see. Keep it somewhere easy to find, and share a copy with the family member who is helping you.
When your needs change
Needs rarely stay the same. If your health changes or the services you have no longer cover what you need, you can ask for a reassessment through My Aged Care.
Next step: comparing providers
With your letter in hand, you can start a shortlist. Provider24 lists in-home support services by area, and the Explore page lets you search by category and location together, so you can see which businesses list your suburb and contact them yourself.
This article is general information, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an aged care assessment done?
Apply through My Aged Care online, by phone, or in person with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre. An assessment organisation then calls you to arrange a time, and the assessment usually takes place in your home.
What is the difference between ACAT and My Aged Care?
My Aged Care is the government’s entry point for aged care, where you apply and where your records are kept. ACAT was the name of the teams that carried out many assessments. Those teams are now part of the Single Assessment System, and My Aged Care sends your application to an assessment organisation.
What are the levels of ACAT assessment?
The assessment does not give you a level by itself. It records your needs and the services you are approved for. If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home services, you are placed in one of its classifications.