Since 9 December 2024, Australia's aged care assessment process consolidated — the old separate Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and Regional Assessment Service (RAS) merged into a Single Assessment System (sometimes called SAS, sometimes "comprehensive assessment"). The "ACAT" terminology is still in common use because everyone knows it, but technically it's been replaced. One eligibility test now covers the full range of aged care services — Support at Home, residential aged care, transition care, short-term restorative care, and respite.
The assessment is free. The waiting times are real (weeks for the assessment, then potentially months for funding to actually start, especially for higher Support at Home classifications). This guide is the practical walkthrough — what triggers it, what to expect, how to prepare. Verified against My Aged Care — assessment as at 28 May 2026.
NestWise doesn't have an aged-care calculator yet. The official gateway for any aged care service in Australia is My Aged Care or 1800 200 422.
When to start the process
Common triggers for requesting an aged care assessment:
- An older parent is finding daily tasks harder (cleaning, cooking, personal care, transport).
- A hospital admission or fall has reduced mobility / independence.
- A dementia diagnosis changes what support is needed.
- The informal carer can no longer keep up (family carer burnout, change in caring availability).
- The older person is considering moving to residential aged care.
- A medical condition has progressed and needs more care than the current arrangement provides.
You can request an assessment at any time — there's no minimum age, but the system is targeted at people 65+ (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).
How to start
- Register with My Aged Care — online at myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422 (free). The person being cared for can register themselves; or a family member can register on their behalf with consent.
- Initial phone screening — My Aged Care will ask basic questions about what's prompting the request.
- Referral for an assessment — the case is passed to a Single Assessment System assessor in the right region.
- Assessment interview — usually within 2–6 weeks (longer in rural and remote areas).
- Outcome letter — usually within 2–6 weeks of the interview, classifying eligibility for which services and which Support at Home level.
The whole process commonly takes 6–12 weeks from first call to approval letter. After approval, waiting for the actual funding to become available can take much longer for higher-classification Support at Home cases (sometimes >9 months) because demand exceeds supply.
What the assessor looks at
The Single Assessment System assessor uses a standardised tool to look at:
- Physical capacity — mobility, transferring, personal care, daily living tasks.
- Cognitive capacity — memory, decision-making, behaviour.
- Medical complexity — number of medications, frequency of medical care needed, chronic conditions.
- Home environment — is the home safe? Are there modifications that would help (rails, ramps, shower seats)?
- Informal supports — family carers, friends, community networks; what they're already doing and what they can sustain.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, CALD, LGBTI+ identification — for specialist care matching where relevant.
- Care goals — what does the older person want to maintain (independence, staying at home, social activity)?
The assessment determines which programs the older person is eligible for, and at what level. For Support at Home, this means Classification 1 (lowest needs) through 8 (highest needs). For residential aged care, it confirms eligibility — the specific facility is then chosen by the family.
What to prepare for the assessment
Things that materially help the assessor get the right picture:
- A list of medications (names + doses + frequency).
- GP and specialist contact details + any recent medical reports if available.
- A description of a typical day — what time they get up, what they eat, what tasks they manage themselves, what they need help with.
- What's already been tried — community supports, informal care arrangements, equipment that's been useful (or not).
- Family member present — a partner or adult child can support the conversation, especially helpful if the older person has hearing difficulty, cognitive issues, or downplays their own care needs.
- Care goals — what would the older person like more support with? What's important to them?
The assessor isn't a doctor — they're trained in care needs assessment. A clear, honest description of daily challenges helps them recommend the right level of support.
What the assessment can lead to
| Service | What it is |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) | Lighter, entry-level supports — meals, cleaning, transport, social support. For older people with simple needs. |
| Support at Home (Classifications 1–8) | The main home-care program. Replaced Home Care Packages 1 Nov 2025. Annual budget split into quarterly allocations; 10% care management. Classification 1 → ~$10,731/yr; Classification 8 → ~$78,106/yr. |
| Transition Care Programme (TCP) | Short-term restorative support after a hospital stay — physiotherapy, nursing, personal care. Helps people recover at home rather than entering residential care prematurely. |
| Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) | Up to 8 weeks of intensive support designed to reverse or slow functional decline. |
| Respite care | Short stays in residential aged care or in-home respite, giving the informal carer a break. Can be planned (booked in advance) or emergency. |
| Residential aged care | Full-time residential placement. See our Residential Aged Care Costs guide for the fee detail. |
The assessment approves eligibility for the services that match the assessed needs. The older person and family then choose which to use, and which provider.
How to dispute or request reconsideration
If you disagree with the assessment outcome — for example, you think your parent qualifies for Support at Home but was offered only CHSP — you can:
- Request a reassessment via My Aged Care if circumstances have changed.
- Request a review of decision — formal process where Services Australia / Department of Health reconsiders the original assessment.
- Escalate to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if you have concerns about how the assessment was conducted.
These review processes exist; staff at My Aged Care can talk you through them when you call.
A note on commercial "fast-track" services
Some private companies advertise "fast-track aged care assessments" or "concierge aged care services". These do not bypass the official assessment process — Single Assessment System assessment is government-funded and the only path to government-funded aged care services. Commercial services may help with paperwork, family discussions, or finding facilities, but they can't speed up the actual approval. Be careful about paying for things that the government provides for free.
What's NOT covered by the Single Assessment System
The aged care assessment covers government-funded aged care services. It does NOT cover:
- Carer Payment / Carer Allowance for the family carer — those are claimed via Centrelink (separately). See our Carer Payment + Allowance guide.
- Disability supports for people under 65 — those go through the NDIS.
- Healthcare (GPs, specialists, hospitals) — covered by Medicare and Private Health Insurance.
- Private home-care services funded out-of-pocket without government assistance.
Where to go for more
- My Aged Care (1800 200 422) — single gateway for any aged care service.
- Department of Health — Single Assessment System — policy and program detail.
- Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) — free independent advocacy if you need help navigating the system.
Related NestWise guides
- Support at Home explained — the new home-care program (replaced HCPs 1 Nov 2025)
- Residential aged care costs 2025-26 — fee breakdown for residential placement
- Carer Payment + Carer Allowance — payments for the family carer (separate from the older person's services)