A guide for families

Getting an aged care assessment through My Aged Care

By the Supportd team · Checked against official sources on 26 October 2026

The short answer

Every kind of government funded aged care starts with an assessment through My Aged Care, which you can apply for online, by calling 1800 200 422 or in person at a Services Australia centre. After a short screening, an assessment organisation calls to arrange a visit, and a trained assessor meets your parent, usually at home, to work out what help they need and which programs they are approved for.

Who can be assessed

Eligibility for government funded aged care is based on age, needs and situation. To qualify for an assessment, a person needs help with some everyday tasks, has care needs, and is:

aged 65 or older, or
an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older, or
homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 or older.

My Aged Care has an online tool that checks whether your parent meets these requirements before you apply. Veterans and war widows or widowers may be able to get some aged care support without an assessment through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Three ways to apply

You can apply for yourself or, with your parent’s permission, on their behalf. The application takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Online at myagedcare.gov.au. You only need their Medicare card.
By phone on 1800 200 422. My Aged Care is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm, and closed on Sundays and national public holidays. A family member can join the call, and interpreters are available.
In person with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre. Book on 1800 227 475, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

The application asks about your parent’s age and health, how they are managing at home, any support they already receive, what would help them live well, and whether they want to register a supporter. My Aged Care keeps a record, so they will not have to repeat everything at the assessment.

What happens after you apply

A screening process sorts the application and gives it a referral priority, which tells the assessment organisation how quickly the assessment should happen. My Aged Care says the assessment organisation will call within 2 to 6 weeks to confirm details and book a time, and that depending on how urgent the needs are, the assessment usually takes place within 5 to 40 days.

For assessments completed between 1 April and 30 June 2026, the national median wait from referral to assessment was 26 days. Some people wait more and some less, depending on the type of assessment, how many assessors work in the area and how urgent the application is.

My Aged Care also posts a welcome pack. You can track the application through your parent’s My Aged Care Online Account or by calling My Aged Care.

Getting ready for the assessment

Assessments are usually done in person at your parent’s home, although they can also happen at another place, by telehealth or over the phone. Your parent can have a family member, friend, carer, registered supporter or interpreter with them, and someone supporting them can give the assessor information beforehand.

Have these ready:

their Medicare card and one other form of ID, such as a driver licence, healthcare card, passport or DVA card
copies of any referrals from their doctor
contact details for their GP and other health professionals
information about any support they already receive
anything you have already found out about aged care services you want to discuss.

It helps to write down questions too. My Aged Care suggests asking what services could help your parent reach their goals, what is available locally and how long the waits are, what support there is for you as a carer, and how to contact the assessor afterwards.

What the assessor does

The assessor first asks whether your parent agrees to the assessment, and may ask permission to talk to family, a carer or their GP. They then work through a standard set of questions called the Integrated Assessment Tool, which covers physical health, medical conditions, thinking and memory, wellbeing, safety at home, support needs and risks. They will also ask about daily tasks around the home and family, community and cultural activities.

Together they write a Support Plan, which records your parent’s strengths, difficulties, goals and preferences. The plan says which programs they are eligible for, for example the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Support at Home (including the short term pathways), an aged care home, residential respite, transition care or a specialist program.

For Support at Home, the assessment also sets a classification, which decides how much funding they receive, and a priority category, which decides how quickly. A clinically trained delegate at the assessment organisation reviews and confirms both.

The outcome letter, and if you disagree

After the assessment your parent (and their registered supporter, if they have one) receives a Notice of Decision letter and a copy of the Support Plan, by post or email. Checking the assessment can take up to 2 weeks; if you have not heard after 2 weeks, call the assessment organisation or check the Online Account.

If your parent is found not eligible, the letter explains why. Paying a provider privately is still an option, and people under 65 can look into the NDIS by calling 1800 800 110.

If you disagree with the decision, talk to the assessment organisation first. You can also ask for a free internal review by writing to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing within 28 days of receiving the letter. A family member, friend or registered supporter can write on your parent’s behalf, and the department will tell you the result within 90 days.

Helping your parent through it

If you want to speak with My Aged Care and providers on your parent’s behalf over time, they can register you as their supporter. This can be set up when you apply or by the assessor at the assessment, and the person being registered needs to be there.

Free help is also available. The Older Persons Advocacy Network gives independent advice on 1800 700 600, and care finders help older people who have no one else to support them through the process.

If something changes suddenly, call 000 for urgent medical care, Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 for emergency respite, or My Aged Care to arrange an assessment for ongoing care.

Next steps

Read the full picture in Support at Home explained.
Browse home care providers by suburb, Support at Home funded or private.
Ask us to find home care for your parent. A real person looks for providers near them, free for families.
Look up unfamiliar words in the aged care glossary.

Supportd is a directory of providers. We are not a care provider, we are not part of My Aged Care, and we cannot assess eligibility or speed up funding.

Tell us what your parent needs

Leave your details and a real person on our team will look for help at home near you and come back to you within a few hours.

Common questions

Can I apply for an aged care assessment for my mum or dad?

Yes. A family member can complete the online application or call My Aged Care on your parent’s behalf, with their permission. If you will be helping on an ongoing basis, ask about becoming their registered supporter.

How long does it take to get an aged care assessment?

My Aged Care says the assessment organisation calls within 2 to 6 weeks, and the assessment usually happens within 5 to 40 days depending on urgency. Between 1 April and 30 June 2026 the national median wait from referral to assessment was 26 days.

Can I be there for the assessment?

Yes. Your parent can have a family member, friend, carer, registered supporter or interpreter with them, and you can give the assessor information before the visit.

What if we do not agree with the result?

Talk to the assessment organisation first. You can ask for a free internal review by writing to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing within 28 days of receiving the outcome letter.

Can Supportd arrange the assessment?

No. Supportd is a directory of providers and is not part of My Aged Care. Assessments only come through My Aged Care. Once your parent knows what help they need, we can help you find providers near them, free.

All aged care guides →

Sources

General information only, last checked on 26 October 2026. Rules, wait times and amounts change, so check the official sources for the latest. For advice about your own situation, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.