Key Takeaways
- An aged care assessment is free and arranged through My Aged Care (1800 200 422).
- Higher needs are assessed by an ACAT team. Lower needs are assessed by RAS (the Regional Assessment Service).
- The assessor visits you at home, asks about daily tasks, health, safety, and support, and may invite a family member to join.
- The result is a Support at Home classification from 1 (lowest funding) to 8 (highest), which sets your quarterly budget.
- Government estimates suggest waits for assessment and a funded place can be lengthy, so it helps to start early.
- You do not choose a provider until after your assessment and funding are approved.
What is an aged care assessment?
An aged care assessment is a friendly check of how you are managing at home. A trained person, called an assessor, talks with you about your daily life. They want to understand what you can do on your own and where a little help would make things safer or easier.
The assessment is the front door to government-funded home care. You cannot get funding until you have one.
Why the assessment exists under Support at Home
Support at Home is the government program that began on 1 November 2025. It replaced the older Home Care Packages. The assessment makes sure funding goes to the people who need it, and that the amount matches the level of support each person requires.
To learn more about the wider system, read our plain-English guide to Support at Home, the program that replaced Home Care Packages.
ACAT and RAS: the two types of assessment
There are two kinds of assessor, and the type you get depends on your needs.
- ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team. ACAT handles people with higher or more complex needs, often including health or clinical concerns.
- RAS stands for the Regional Assessment Service. RAS handles people with lower needs who mainly want help with everyday tasks.
You do not pick which one comes to you. My Aged Care decides, based on a short phone chat about your situation.
The assessment is free
There is no fee to be assessed
The assessment costs you nothing. There is no fee to be assessed, and no fee to apply. Be careful of anyone who asks you to pay for one.
How to get an aged care assessment
Getting started is simpler than many people expect. It follows three clear steps.
Step 1: Contact My Aged Care
My Aged Care is the official government starting point for all aged care. You can call them on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. A family member can call on your behalf if you give your consent.
You can also apply for Support at Home through My Aged Care online.
Step 2: A short eligibility check
When you make contact, a staff member asks a few questions over the phone. They want to know your age, your general health, and how you are coping with daily tasks. This short chat decides whether you go forward to a full assessment, and whether ACAT or RAS will visit.
Step 3: Booking your assessment visit
If you pass the eligibility check, My Aged Care arranges a time for an assessor to visit you. They will agree a date that suits you. Most visits happen in your own home, where the assessor can see how you live day to day.
What happens during the assessment
The visit is a conversation, not a test. The assessor is there to listen and understand, not to judge.
Who visits and how long it takes
One assessor usually visits. They sit down with you, often at the kitchen table, and talk things through. A visit commonly lasts around an hour, though it can be shorter or longer depending on your situation.
What the assessor will ask you
The assessor asks about the ordinary parts of your day. Expect questions about:
- Daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and showering.
- Your health, medicines, and any recent falls or hospital stays.
- Safety around your home, including stairs, the bathroom, and getting in and out.
- Who already helps you, such as family, friends, or neighbours.
- What worries you, and what you would like to keep doing on your own.
Having a family member or carer with you
You are welcome to have someone with you. A partner, an adult child, a friend, or a carer can sit in and help you remember details. Many people find this comforting, and a second person often recalls things you might forget on the day.
How to prepare for your assessment
A little preparation helps you get a fair result. You do not need to study or rehearse. You just need to be ready to speak plainly.
Documents and information to have ready
Gather a few useful items before the visit:
- Your Medicare card.
- A list of your current medicines.
- The names and numbers of your doctor and any specialists.
- Notes about recent falls, hospital visits, or health changes.
Questions worth thinking about beforehand
Spend a few minutes thinking about your day. Where do you struggle? What takes longer than it used to? What have you stopped doing because it feels unsafe? Jotting down a few notes means you will not freeze up when the assessor asks.
Being honest about a hard day, not a good day
Describe a hard day
This is the most important tip. Many people put on a brave face and describe their best day. Try not to. Describe a hard day, the kind where everything feels like an effort. The support you are funded for reflects the picture you give, so an honest description leads to the right level of support.
How your classification and funding are decided
After the visit, the assessor turns what they learned into a recommendation, and My Aged Care confirms the outcome.
From assessment to a classification (1 to 8)
Support at Home uses eight classifications, numbered 1 to 8. A classification is simply a band that reflects how much support you need. Classification 1 is the lowest level of funding. Classification 8 is the highest. The assessor recommends a classification based on your needs. My Aged Care confirms the classification and the budget that goes with it.
For a deeper look, see how the 8 Support at Home classifications work.
What your classification means for your budget
Your classification sets your quarterly budget, which is the pool of money you can use for care over three months. A higher classification means a larger budget. You then spend that budget on the everyday and clinical services you can use your budget for, such as personal care, help around the house, and nursing.
Clinical care, such as nursing, is fully government-funded, so you make no contribution for it within your budget. Some everyday and independence services may carry a means-tested participant contribution. A participant contribution is a part-payment based on your income and assets.
What happens after you are approved
Once your classification is confirmed, you receive a letter that sets out your funding. Only then do you choose a provider and decide how you want your care delivered. You can compare self-managed and full-service home care to find the model that suits you.
How long does the assessment process take?
This is the part that needs patience. The system is busy, and waits can be longer than people expect.
Reported government wait times
Recently published government estimates suggest that the wait for an assessment, and then for a funded place to become available, can be lengthy. Waiting times change over time and differ by region, so treat any single figure with caution and check the current position with My Aged Care.
What to do while you wait
Do not sit idle. Use the waiting period to read about your options, gather your documents, and talk with family about what good care looks like for you. You can also see what home care costs in your area so you are ready to act the moment your funding is approved.
Questions about this topic
How do I get an ACAT assessment?
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. They ask a few short questions over the phone. If your needs look higher or more complex, they arrange an ACAT team to visit you at home. The assessment is free, and a family member can help you make the call.
Is an aged care assessment free?
Yes. The assessment costs nothing. There is no fee to apply and no fee to be assessed. If anyone asks you to pay for an aged care assessment, be cautious, because the official government process through My Aged Care is always free.
What questions do they ask in an aged care assessment?
The assessor asks about your everyday life. Expect questions about cooking, cleaning, shopping, and showering, plus your health, medicines, recent falls, safety around the home, and who already helps you. There are no trick questions. An honest description of a hard day leads to the right level of support.
What is the difference between ACAT and RAS?
ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team and handles people with higher or more complex needs, often including health concerns. RAS stands for the Regional Assessment Service and handles people with lower needs who mainly want help with everyday tasks. My Aged Care chooses which assessor visits, based on your needs.
How long does it take to get an aged care assessment?
Recently published government estimates suggest the wait for an assessment, and for a funded place to follow, can be lengthy. Times vary by region and change over time, so check the current position with My Aged Care. Starting early gives you the best chance of being ready when funding is approved.
What happens after my aged care assessment?
The assessor recommends a Support at Home classification from 1 to 8, and My Aged Care confirms it. This sets your quarterly budget. You receive a letter confirming your funding. Only then do you choose a provider and decide how your care is delivered, such as a self-managed or full-service model.
See what care could cost
When your funding is approved, it helps to know what care costs near you. You can see what home care costs in your area on this site, or call Trilogy Care on 1300 318 723 for a friendly chat about your options.
Trilogy Care operates this site. We are listed and ranked by the same open method as every other provider shown here, so you can compare fairly.
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