ACAT Assessment Guide for Support at Home in 2026

The Support at Home program replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme in November 2025.

The Support at Home program sees improved access to services, products, equipment, and home modifications to help older Australians continue to live independently at home for longer.

What is the ACAT assessment?

ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team. The Aged Care Assessment Team are government-funded health professionals who assess the care requirements of older persons to determine their eligibility for subsidised aged care services, such as Home Care Packages, short-term restorative care or residential aged care homes.

ACAT assessments are coordinated by Australian government organisation, My Aged Care.

Is it still called an ACAT assessment? (The Single Assessment System explained)

Formerly known as ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team), the in-depth evaluation is now a comprehensive assessment managed by the national Single Assessment System (SAS).

The Single Assessment System (SAS) was introduced on 9 December 2024 to streamline the framework for the evaluation of older Australians for government-subsidised aged care. It replaced the former ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) system by merging previously separate assessment workforces into one national team.

The three key outcomes resulted in:

1. Unified Workforce

Under the old system, ACAT was one of three separate assessment bodies. If your needs increased, you had to be referred to a completely different team. The Single Assessment System uses a single national workforce of trained health professionals to handle both simple and complex assessments.

2. The Assessment Types Delivered

Under the Single Assessment System (SAS), assessors use one standardised Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) to determine your needs, delivering two levels of evaluation.

Firstly, there’s the Home Support Assessment, for lower-level needs, generally unlocking the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). For higher or more complex needs the Comprehensive Assessment (formerly handled by ACAT), determines your eligibility for Support at Home, residential respite or permanent residential aged care.

3. Consistency

With the Single Assessment System, information seamlessly flows through the My Aged Care platform, so you are only required to tell your story once. It means that even if your care requirements change, for example if your requirements become more complex, you stay with the same assessment workforce.

Who is eligible for an assessment?

Eligibility for government-subsidised aged care services is based on your age, needs and situation.

To be eligible for an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment, you generally must be 65 years or older, or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and need help with daily tasks. Others who qualify for an ACAT assessment are people aged 50 or older who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as those experiencing early-onset medical conditions and requiring specialist support. You can check your eligibility for Support at Home funding on the My Aged Care website.

How to arrange an assessment through My Aged Care

To arrange an assessment, you submit an online request through the My Aged Care website. You will need your Medicare card and it takes about 15 minutes to complete the online form. You can complete the application for yourself or on behalf of a family member or friend.

Who conducts the assessment?

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by a My Aged Care team member after which (within 2 to 6 weeks) an assessor will contact you to arrange a time and place for your assessment.

The assessment is usually done in your home or via telehealth.

What will the assessor look at?

An aged care assessment will ascertain how much help you need with everyday activities. An assessor will meet with you to discuss your living routines, current health, your care needs and goals.

At this time you can have a family member, friend or carer present. If the assessment finds that you are eligible for support services, it will then determine which program/s you’re eligible for.

How to prepare for your assessment

It’s important that you organise everything you need in advance of your assessment. It will help you feel more relaxed and confident that you are presenting an accurate and thorough representation of your wants and needs.

You may also want to have someone with you during the assessment, such as a family member, friend or carer. Also, if English is not your primary language, you may need an interpreter present.

Documents to have ready before the assessor arrives

For your assessment you will require the following documents: your Medicare card and another form of ID, such as driver’s license, healthcare card, passport or DVA card.

Have on-hand copies of any referrals from your doctor, as well as the contact details for your GP or other health professionals you currently require the services of.

Finally, information on any support you receive will provide a clearer picture of your needs.

What happens after the assessment?

Once the assessor has properly reviewed your case and the relevant services that might be available to you, you will receive a ‘Notice of Decision’ letter outlining the services you are approved to receive, along with a copy of your support plan.

How long does the assessment process take?

The time the assessment process takes varies according to the complexity of the assessment and the urgency of the care required. The approval letter takes from 2 to 6 weeks after the assessment. However, if you need a Home Care Package, the national waiting lists can take anywhere from 3 to 12+ months.

What if you disagree with the outcome?

If you don’t agree with the assessment outcome outlined in your Notice of Decision, you have the right to request a free of charge ‘internal review’ of that decision. At this time you can provide new information to the department to support your request.

You must ask for an internal review within 28 days of receiving your Notice of Decision. The last step is to write a letter to the System Governor at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to ask them to review the decision.

We’re here to help

Understanding what’s covered by Support at Home can feel confusing, especially when every situation is different. If you have questions, we’re here to help you understand your options and work out what support may be right for you and your loved one.

Here’s what you can do next:

Email us on gethomecare@respect.com.au

Call us on 1300 144 144 (option 2, then 1)

Book a free Support at Home consultation

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