My Aged Care Explained: How to Register, Get Assessed, and Find Services

If you've been told to "go through My Aged Care" and weren't quite sure what that meant, you're not alone. It's the single front door to government-funded aged care in Australia, and almost everyone who gets subsidised help has gone through it. Here's how it works, start to finish.

What My Aged Care actually is

My Aged Care is a federal government service. It's a website (myagedcare.gov.au) and a phone line (1800 200 422). It does three jobs:

1. Registers you in the aged care system.
2. Arranges your assessment, which decides what help you're eligible for.
3. Connects you to providers once you've been assessed.

It is not a provider itself. It doesn't send anyone to clean your house. It's the gatekeeper and the referral hub. The actual services come from local organisations you choose, which is where comparing options matters.

One thing worth saying plainly: this is a government service and it's free. Nobody from My Aged Care should ever ask you to pay to register or be assessed. If someone does, it's a scam.

Step 1: Register and apply for an assessment

You can apply three ways, per My Aged Care:

How	What you need	Good for
Online	A Medicare card; about 15-20 minutes	People comfortable with web forms
Phone (1800 200 422)	Yourself or the person's details	Anyone who'd rather talk to a human
In person	An appointment on 1800 227 475	Face-to-face preference, or complex situations

You can apply for yourself or for someone else. If you're helping a parent or partner, that's expected. The system has a way to record you as a representative so they can talk to you officially. Set that up early; it saves a lot of "we can't discuss this account with you" frustration later.

A few tips for the application

• Have the Medicare card in front of you.
• Be honest about what's hard. The form asks how you're managing with daily tasks. People tend to under-report. Describe the worst days, not just the good ones.
• If the situation is urgent (recent fall, hospital discharge, a carer who can no longer cope), say so. It can affect how quickly you're contacted.

Step 2: The assessment

After you apply, an assessor contacts you to book a visit. My Aged Care says this usually happens within 2 to 6 weeks. If you hear nothing by the six-week mark, ring 1800 200 422 and chase it.

What happens at the visit

The assessor comes to your home. They sit down and talk with you about your health, your day-to-day life, and how you're going with things like cooking, washing, getting around, and managing medication. It's a conversation, not an exam.

A change worth knowing: the old "ACAT" and "RAS" labels have been folded into a Single Assessment System that began rolling out from July 2024. The teams are now just called assessment organisations, and a higher-level assessment is now a "comprehensive assessment." The Department of Health explains the change. If an old brochure says "ACAT assessment," it means the same kind of thing.

How to prepare

• Have someone with you. A family member or friend can fill gaps and back you up.
• Make a list beforehand of the tasks you find difficult. It's easy to forget things on the spot.
• Don't tidy up for the assessor. Seriously. If you spring-clean and dress your best, you make your situation look easier than it is. Let them see a normal day.
• Have a rough idea of your medications and your GP's details handy.

Step 3: Your outcome and finding services

After the visit, you receive a Notice of Decision letter. It sets out:

• Whether you're eligible for government-subsidised services.
• Your support plan, listing the kinds of help recommended.
• A referral code to give to the provider you choose.

What you're eligible for usually falls into one of these:

• Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), entry-level help like cleaning, meals, transport and social support.
• Support at Home, a more coordinated package for higher or more complex needs at home. (This replaced the old Home Care Packages in November 2025; see the Department of Health.)
• Residential aged care, a care home, if living at home is no longer workable.

Choosing a provider is your decision

This is the part people don't realise they control. The referral code is yours. You decide which provider to give it to. You can compare a few, ask questions, and switch later if it's not working.

This is exactly where a directory helps. You can browse home care services near you, check what's verified, and see other community supports in the area at the same time. Use search to find providers by location, or the categories index to explore what's out there.

What about the cost?

Most services are heavily subsidised, but there are contributions depending on your income and assets, assessed separately by Services Australia. Clinical care like nursing is fully government-funded; everyday services like cleaning attract the highest contribution; pensioners pay the least. We cover the full picture, including the means test, in our guide to aged care costs.

You'll always get clear numbers before you sign anything, so being assessed never locks you into a bill.

Quick reference

• Register: myagedcare.gov.au/apply-online or 1800 200 422
• Set up a representative if you're helping someone
• Wait for the assessor (chase at 6 weeks)
• Prepare a list of difficulties; have someone present
• Read the Notice of Decision and note your referral code
• Compare providers and pass on your code

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to do this online?
No. The phone line on 1800 200 422 can do the whole application with you.

Can I be assessed for more than one type of help?
Yes. The assessment can recommend home support, a Support at Home package, or residential care, depending on your needs. Your needs can also be reassessed later if things change.

How long is my outcome valid?
Keep your Notice of Decision and referral code. If your situation changes significantly, you can ask for a reassessment by calling My Aged Care again.

What if I disagree with the outcome?
You can ask for a review. Call My Aged Care and explain why you think your needs weren't fully captured. This is another reason to be candid at the assessment in the first place.

The whole thing comes down to three moves: register, get assessed, choose a provider. Take them one at a time and the rest follows.