New – Single Assessment System as of 9th December 2024

My Aged Care Changes are reforming aged care assessments to make it easier for you to enter residential aged care and access different services, as your needs change.

My Aged Care Changes have introduced – The Single Assessment System workforce, this will replace the Regional Assessment Service, (RAS) as well as the Aged Care Assessment Teams, (ACAT).

The new system will provide a single assessment pathway to access all Government-funded in-home care, flexible care and entry to residential aged care, all of your aged care needs will be handled with one single assessment. They will be able to assess for Home Care Packages (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). These My Aged Care Changes are expected to streamline the process.

There will now be shorter wait times for assessments with the new system due to My Aged Care Changes.

Hospital-based assessments will continue. If you need an assessment while in hospital, you will be allocated the next available assessor. If you needs are urgent and you know you are going to struggle to manage at home, it is recommended that you get assessed while in Hospital. This is a part of My Aged Care Changes to ensure urgent needs are met promptly.

Some assessment organisations will conduct residential aged care funding assessments to determine your Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) after you have settled into residential aged care. Most residential aged care funding organisations will also conduct aged care needs assessments to expand availability and access across Australia. 

How do you apply for an aged care needs assessment?

How you apply for an assessment has not changed. You, or your family or carer will need to:

• Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 – 8am – 8pm weekdays and 10am and 2pm on Saturdays.
• book a face-to-face appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at select Services Australia service centres by calling 1800 277 475.
• visit the My Aged Care website to ‘Apply for an Assessment Online’

My Aged Care can assist you with –

• Registering you with My Aged Care.
• Asking you some initial questions to find out what aged care services you may need.
• Refer you to an assessment organisation in your local area, so you can be assessed.

What will happen next?

A Triage Delegate from an assessment organisation will call you within 2 weeks of accepting your referral. This will be a quick call to support you being booked into the right type of aged care needs assessment for your needs.

I am waiting for my assessment, what happens to me?

If you already have an assessment booked in, nothing will change. An assessor will come to your home to conduct your assessment at your booked time and date.