The Single Assessment System is Australia’s national pathway for aged care assessments, and it replaced Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) on 9 December 2024. It’s how older Australians access government-funded support at home, respite care and aged care homes. A trained assessor uses the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) to understand your health, daily activities, living situation, goals and support needs. You can apply through My Aged Care online, by phone or in person, and a family member, carer or health professional can help.
Key Takeaways
- The Single Assessment System provides one pathway into government-funded aged care.
- It replaced Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) and other assessment workforces on 9 December 2024.
- Assessors consider your health, daily life, goals, home environment and available support.
- The assessment can consider support at home, respite care and entry to an aged care home.
- Support at Home started on 1 November 2025.
- Aged care assessments are funded by the Australian Government.
The Single Assessment System Makes Aged Care Easier to Access
The Single Assessment System replaced Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT, or ACAS in Victoria) on 9 December 2024, so if you’ve been told to apply for an ACAT assessment, this is the assessment you’ll go through now.
The Single Assessment System gives older Australians one starting point for government-funded aged care. Your assessment outcome can determine which aged care services you may access, including Support at Home, respite care and residential aged care.
How Does the Single Assessment System Work?
The Single Assessment System brings together trained assessors, a standard assessment tool and a triage process. These steps help identify the type of assessment and support that may suit you.
After you apply, My Aged Care refers you to an assessment organisation in your area. This organisation is funded by the Australian Government to conduct aged care needs assessments.
A trained aged care needs assessor will contact you to arrange an appointment. They will talk with you about your health, daily life, current support and what you would like help with.
What Will the Assessor Ask About?
Your assessor works through the Integrated Assessment Tool, the national tool for aged care needs assessments. It isn’t a test you pass or fail. The questions adjust based on your circumstances and earlier answers, with more detailed questions where needed. You won’t necessarily be asked every question within the areas below.
Depending on your needs, a clinical assessor may carry out your assessment or work with a non-clinical assessor. Some questions and assessment tools require clinical involvement.
Everyday Tasks
The assessor asks how you manage personal care, including showering, dressing, grooming, eating, using the toilet and getting in and out of bed or a chair. They also ask about the tasks that keep a household running: housework, shopping, preparing meals, taking your medicines, managing money and using the phone or going online.
Getting around is part of this too, including whether you still drive and how you get to appointments and the shops. Describe what you do now, including help you already get from family, because the assessment records both what you need and how much of that need is already met.
Continence is covered here as well. It’s a standard part of the assessment, and explaining any bladder or bowel concerns helps the assessor identify suitable support.
Health Conditions and Medicines
The assessor records your health conditions, any treatments you’re having and the medicines you take, including whether you need help managing them. They also ask how your health has affected your day-to-day activities over the past four weeks.
Mention recent changes, including a new diagnosis, hospital stay or change in medicines, even if things have since settled. The four-week question is about how your health has affected everyday activities, not a limit on the medical history you can discuss.
Mobility, Falls and Physical Health
Expect questions about walking, using stairs and any walking aid or wheelchair you rely on. The assessor also asks about falls, swallowing and your general physical health. Depending on your assessment and the care being considered, a clinical assessor may also use a standard mobility assessment.
Mention falls and near falls, including times when you weren’t hurt. The assessor asks about the past 12 months, with more detail about the past four weeks.
Memory, Mood and Behaviour
The assessor asks about memory, thinking and communication, and records any dementia diagnosis you already have. They may also use a short cognitive screening tool, depending on your circumstances.
A screening result isn’t a diagnosis. If it suggests further investigation is needed, discuss this with your general practitioner (GP).
Mood is covered with a short set of questions, along with changes in behaviour such as agitation, wandering or a change in personality. If you’re helping a parent or partner living with dementia, your observations of day-to-day changes can contribute to the assessment, with their consent.
Family, Friends and Carers
The assessor asks who lives with you, who helps you regularly and how connected you feel to family, friends and your community. Loneliness and isolation are part of the assessment because social support services are among the options an assessment can cover.
If a family member or friend provides care, the assessor asks about their situation too, including what happens if they need a break or can’t be there in an emergency. They’ll also ask whether you care for someone else, such as a partner, because that affects what support suits you.
Home and Safety
The assessor asks about your home and garden, how easy they are to maintain and any safety equipment already in place, such as rails or a personal alarm. If your housing is insecure or about to change, say so, because it affects what support makes sense.
Decisions and Legal Arrangements
The assessor may ask who helps you make decisions about money and health, and whether you have a power of attorney or an advance care plan in place. If you do, it can help to know where the documents are and who holds them.
These questions help the assessor understand your support needs and decision-making arrangements. They are separate from any income and assets assessment used to work out your aged care contributions, which is handled by Services Australia or, for some people, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
Goals and Preferences
The assessor records your goals, such as staying in your own home, keeping up an activity you enjoy or getting back to your routine after a hospital stay. They also ask about your background, culture, language and anything else that shapes the kind of support that suits you.
Your assessor develops a support plan with you, drawing on what you discuss and agree during the assessment. It records your strengths, support needs, goals and preferences, and sets out the care and services that could help you. Specific goals make that plan more useful when you start comparing providers.
What Aged Care Services Can an Assessment Cover?
Your assessment can consider different types of government-funded aged care. The outcome depends on your needs and whether you meet the eligibility requirements.
If you need help with… | Your assessment may lead to… |
Everyday tasks at home | Commonwealth Home Support Program |
Ongoing support at home | |
Regaining independence after illness | Short-term aged care services |
Taking a break from a caring role | Residential respite care |
Moving into an aged care home | Approval for residential aged care |
Your assessment will not automatically approve every service. It identifies the support you may be eligible to receive.
How Does This Relate to Support at Home?
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s program for ongoing in-home aged care. It replaced the former Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Program. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is still available.
If you are approved for Support at Home, the aged care assessment organisation will send you a Notice of Decision letter.
The letter includes:
- The services you are approved to receive
- Any approved short-term support
- The reasons and evidence for the decision
- A copy of your support plan
- Information about requesting a review if you disagree with the decision
If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home services, the letter will also confirm your priority category. You will enter the Support at Home Priority System while you wait for funding to be allocated which can take between a few weeks to over 12 months.
When funding becomes available, you will receive another letter which confirms your funding allocation and explains the next steps.
How Do I Arrange an Aged Care Assessment?
You can request an aged care assessment through My Aged Care online or by calling 1800 200 422. A family member, friend or health professional can help with the request.
Eligibility depends on your age, care needs and circumstances. Read our guide on My Aged Care eligibility to find out who can apply.
What Happens at the Appointment?
Most assessments happen at home, where the assessor can see how you actually manage day to day. If you’re in hospital, they’ll come to you there instead.
Expect an honest conversation, not a checklist. The assessor will ask what’s got more difficult lately, what you still want to do yourself, and where extra help would make the biggest difference.
You are welcome to have someone with you during the appointment. A partner, adult child or friend can fill in gaps you might forget, especially about bad days versus good ones.
You can also ask for an interpreter or communication support. Just let them know before your appointment if you need this help.
How Can You Prepare?
It can be helpful to jot down a few notes beforehand to help you make the most of the conversation.
Before the appointment, consider:
- Which daily tasks have become harder or less safe
- What support you already receive
- Your medicines and any recent health changes
- Questions you want to ask
- Whether you would like someone to attend with you
- The activities and routines that matter most to you
What Does an Assessment Cost?
You will not be charged for an aged care assessment as it is fully funded by the government.
This does not mean all aged care services are free, however. Depending on your circumstances and the type of care you require, you may need to contribute towards some services.
What If My Needs Change?
You can ask for your situation to be reviewed if your needs change, just contact My Aged Care.
A review may be helpful after a fall, hospital stay, new diagnosis or change in your living arrangements. It may also be helpful when family or informal support changes.
Get Help Comparing Providers
Once you are approved for aged care services, you can choose the provider that best suits your needs. Be sure to compare home care providers’ availability, fees, services and approach to care before you decide.
At Aged Care Decisions, we can help you understand your options and compare providers based on your care needs, location, preferences and budget. And our service is 100% free and independent.
Request your free Options Report to compare aged care providers in your area.
Do I need an assessment to get government-funded aged care?
Yes. Most people need an aged care assessment before they can access government-funded aged care services. The assessment identifies the support you may be eligible to receive.
Can a family member apply for me?
Yes. With your permission, a family member, friend or carer can help you apply for a one-off assessment. Your doctor or another health professional can also refer you to My Aged Care.
If you want someone to speak and act for you on an ongoing basis, register them as your registered supporter. You can set this up when you apply, or your assessor can do it during your assessment.
Can someone attend my assessment with me?
Yes. You can invite a family member, friend, carer or other support person. They can help you explain your situation and remember the information discussed.
What if I need aged care support urgently?
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and explain your situation. They can discuss urgent support options and next steps with you.
Do I have to pay for the assessment?
No. Aged care needs assessments are funded by the Australian Government. You may later contribute towards services, depending on the care you receive.
Here’s how Aged Care Decisions’ FREE aged care matching service works:
