An ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment is the gateway to government-funded aged care in Australia. It determines your eligibility for home care packages, residential care, and other services — at no cost to you.
From first contact to receiving your package.
Contact My Aged Care
Call 1800 200 422 or apply at myagedcare.gov.au. A phone screen assesses your situation.
Schedule your visit
An ACAT assessor contacts you to arrange a home visit at a time that suits you.
The assessment visit
A nurse, social worker, or allied health professional visits your home for 1-2 hours.
Receive your result
A written result arrives within 2-4 weeks outlining what services you are approved for.
Join the queue
If approved for a home care package, you are placed on the national queue.
Find a provider
When your package is assigned, you choose an approved provider. WithSally can help.
The more information you share, the better the assessor understands your needs.
Daily living
Showering, dressing, cooking, cleaning, medications
Health
Diagnoses, hospital stays, mobility, falls risk, continence
Cognition
Orientation, decision-making, signs of dementia
Social
Loneliness, carer support, safety at home
Goals
What matters to you and your preferences for care
In VIC the assessment is called ACAS — same process, different name.
The assessment is just the beginning. Understanding what happens next — and what your options are while you wait — helps families plan ahead and avoid being caught off-guard.
After your assessment, you will receive a written letter from My Aged Care outlining whether you have been approved and — if so — what type of care you are approved for. The letter will state the specific services or package levels you are eligible for, including whether you qualify for home care packages, residential care, respite care, or a combination.
Being approved does not mean care starts immediately. For home care packages, approval places you in a national queue — care does not start until a package is assigned to you.
Once approved, you join the national queue for a home care package. Wait times have improved significantly under the Support at Home 2025 reforms and are generally shorter than the 12–18 months experienced under the previous system. Your position in the queue is based on your approval date and assessed need — higher levels of need are generally prioritised.
Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for current wait time estimates, as these change regularly.
Interim support while you wait: CHSP
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) provides entry-level support for older Australians while they wait for a home care package — or for those who only need low-level assistance. CHSP can cover services like help with meals, transport, social support, and some domestic assistance. You can apply through My Aged Care (1800 200 422) regardless of whether you have had an ACAT assessment. CHSP does not replace a home care package but can provide meaningful support in the interim.
Your right to review
If you disagree with the outcome of your ACAT assessment — either because you were not approved, or because the level of approved care does not reflect your needs — you have the right to request a review. You should do this within 28 days of receiving your result letter. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to initiate a review. You can also request a reassessment later if your condition changes.
Assessment
ACAT home visit
Result letter
2–4 weeks
National queue
Wait for assignment
Package assigned
Notification by MAC
Choose provider
WithSally can help
Care starts
Within 56 days
The assessment is national — but it goes by different names in different states. The process, eligibility criteria, and outcomes are identical everywhere in Australia.
In Victoria, the assessment is called the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS). In every other state and territory, it is called the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Despite the different name, ACAS assessors follow the same national guidelines, use the same criteria, and produce the same approved outcomes that flow through to the same national queue. You access both through My Aged Care — regardless of where you live.
| State / Territory | Assessment name | How to access |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| QLD | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| SA | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| WA | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| TAS | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| NT | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| ACT | ACAT | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
| VIC | ACAS (Aged Care Assessment Service) | My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 |
The assessment is free regardless of which state you live in. There are no fees for the assessment visit, the result letter, or the appeal process.
A not-eligible outcome does not mean you cannot receive support. It means your current assessed need does not meet the threshold for a government-funded home care package at this time.
Request a review within 28 days
You have the right to challenge the outcome. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to request a formal review. Provide any additional medical evidence or documentation that may support your case.
You may be referred to CHSP
If you do not qualify for a package but still need some support, the assessor may refer you to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme — which provides lower-level services such as meals, transport, and domestic help.
Reapply when your condition changes
Eligibility is based on your current assessed needs — not your diagnosis. If your health, cognition, or circumstances change, you can request a new assessment. There is no waiting period before reapplying.
An important distinction: diagnosis vs assessed need
A common source of confusion is the belief that a significant diagnosis automatically means eligibility. This is not the case. Eligibility is based on your current assessed functional need — how well you are managing daily activities at home, your safety, and your support situation. A person may have a dementia diagnosis but still be managing safely at home with family support, and therefore not currently meet the threshold for a package. Conversely, a person without a formal diagnosis but with significant functional difficulties may be approved at a high level. If you believe the assessment does not reflect your actual situation, a review is the right step.
WithSally helps families understand what to expect, prepare for their assessment, and find the right provider once their package is assigned. Always free.
Talk to us — free