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The assessment
What an ACAT/ACAS assessment involves
The real issue
Families navigating aged care for the first time often underestimate the complexity of the ACAT process — and overestimate how automatically support is assigned. The assessment is a formal gatekeeping process. How well you communicate the person's daily needs, what they can and cannot do safely, and the impact on family carers directly shapes the outcome. A poorly prepared assessment can result in an approval for less support than is actually needed.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who conducts it | A team of health professionals — typically a nurse, social worker, or allied health professional. They may visit at home, in hospital, or at a facility. |
| What they assess | Physical health, cognitive function, ability to perform daily activities (washing, dressing, cooking, mobility), social situation, carer support, and safety at home. |
| What it determines | Eligibility and approval type: Home Care Package (Levels 1–4), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), Residential Aged Care, Short-Term Restorative Care, or Transition Care Programme. |
| How to refer | My Aged Care: myagedcare.gov.au · 1800 200 422. A GP can also refer directly. Hospital social workers arrange referrals for patients being discharged. |
| Cost | Free. ACAT assessments have no charge to the person being assessed or their family. |
| Timeframe | Non-urgent assessments are typically completed within 2–6 weeks. Urgent situations (discharge from hospital, immediate safety concern) can be expedited. |
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Before the visit
How to prepare — what the assessor needs to know
The assessment visit is usually 1–2 hours. The assessor will ask questions and observe the person's abilities. Being prepared to clearly describe daily challenges — with specific examples — is the most important thing you can do.
| Prepare to describe | Specific examples to have ready |
|---|---|
| What they cannot safely do alone | Not just "they struggle with cooking" — but "last Tuesday they left the stove on and didn't notice" or "they fell twice in the bathroom this month." Specific incidents carry weight. |
| The impact on the carer | If a family member is providing care, describe the hours per week, the physical demands, and the impact on the carer's own health and employment. Carer burnout is a legitimate factor in assessment outcomes. |
| Medical conditions and medications | Bring a list of all diagnoses and current medications. Include recent hospital stays, falls, or incidents. |
| What the person wants | The person's own wishes — to stay at home, to move closer to family, to have help with specific tasks — are central to the assessment. Make sure their voice is heard, even if they need help expressing it. |
You have the right to have a support person present at the assessment. This can be a family member, friend, or an aged care advocate. An advocate can help ensure the person's needs are clearly communicated and their rights are upheld. Find an independent aged care advocate through the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN): opan.org.au · 1800 700 600 — free.
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After assessment
After the assessment — approvals, packages, and what happens next
| Outcome type | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Home Care Package (Level 1–4) | Government funding to support staying at home. Level 1 = basic care needs; Level 4 = high care needs. You choose your own home care provider. | Register for a package through My Aged Care. Note: waitlists for higher levels can be significant. Request an interim CHSP service while waiting. |
| Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) | Entry-level home support: help with domestic tasks, transport, meals, social activities. Lower cost, entry-level. Usually faster access than Home Care Package. | My Aged Care coordinates referrals to CHSP service providers in your area. |
| Residential Aged Care approval | Approved to enter a residential aged care facility. Does not guarantee a place — you must apply to facilities directly. | Search and apply to facilities through My Aged Care or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website. |
| Not approved | The assessor determined needs do not currently meet the threshold for approval at the requested level. | You have the right to appeal — see next section. You can also be re-referred if needs change. |
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Appeal
Disagreeing with the assessment outcome — your appeal rights
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Request the written assessment report | You are entitled to a copy of the full assessment report. Ask for it in writing. Review the assessor's notes on what they observed and concluded — this shows whether key information was accurately captured. |
| 2. Request an internal review | Contact the ACAT team leader or manager and request a review of the assessment. Provide additional information or documentation (GP letter, specialist report, carer statement) that was not captured in the original assessment. |
| 3. Contact OPAN for independent advocacy | The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) provides free, independent advocacy. An advocate can review the decision, identify grounds for appeal, and assist with the review process. opan.org.au · 1800 700 600. |
| 4. Appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) | For formal appeals of aged care funding decisions. The AAT reviews whether the decision was made correctly under the legislation. Applications can be lodged online at aat.gov.au. Filing fee may apply (waiver available on hardship grounds). |
If care needs are urgent and the appeal will take time, ask your GP to contact the ACAT directly and document the urgency in writing. A GP letter stating that the current situation presents a safety risk can trigger an expedited review or interim support arrangements while the appeal is processed.