What Is an ACAT Assessment and What Should You Expect?
If you have started looking into aged care support for yourself or a family member, you have probably come across the term ACAT assessment. For many families, it is one of the first steps in accessing government funded aged care and one of the least understood.
Here is a plain English guide to what an ACAT assessment is, what happens during one, and what comes next.
What Is ACAT?
ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team. In some states it is referred to as ACAS (Aged Care Assessment Service), but the process is the same. ACAT is a team of health professionals, including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and doctors, whose job is to assess an older person's care needs and determine what level of government funded support they are eligible for.
An ACAT assessment is required before you can access certain aged care services, including a Support at Home package. Without one, you cannot be approved for government funded home care, so understanding the process is an important first step.
Who Needs an ACAT Assessment?
You may need an ACAT assessment if you or someone you care for:
Is finding it harder to manage at home due to age, illness, or disability
Has recently been discharged from hospital and needs ongoing support
Is considering moving into residential aged care
Wants to access a government funded Support at Home package
Has been referred by a GP or health professional for an assessment
There is no specific age requirement, though ACAT assessments are generally for people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
How Do You Request One?
The starting point is My Aged Care, the Australian Government's central entry point for aged care services. You can contact My Aged Care online at myagedcare.gov.au or by calling 1800 200 422.
During the initial contact, a staff member will ask some basic questions about the person's situation and needs. If an ACAT assessment is appropriate, they will arrange for the local ACAT team to make contact and schedule a visit.
Your GP can also refer you directly to ACAT if they believe an assessment is needed.
What Happens During the Assessment?
The ACAT assessment usually takes place in the person's home, though it can also happen in a hospital or other care setting. A member of the ACAT team will visit and spend time getting to know the person's situation.
During the visit they will typically:
Ask about daily living activities and what has become difficult to manage
Discuss health conditions, medications, and any recent hospitalisations
Assess the home environment and any safety concerns
Talk about the person's goals, preferences, and what kind of support would help most
Speak with family members or carers if they are present
The assessment is not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. The goal is simply to understand what the person needs so the right level of support can be recommended.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Once the assessment is complete, the ACAT team will send a written letter outlining the outcome. This will state what services the person has been approved for and their eligibility level.
If approved for a Support at Home package, the person will be placed in a national queue. Wait times can vary significantly depending on the level of package required and the availability of funding. In regional areas like the Northern Rivers, wait times can be considerable, which is why it is worth starting the process as early as possible, ideally before a situation becomes urgent.
Once a package is assigned, the person chooses a registered provider to manage their care. This is where Sistability comes in.
What If the Outcome Is Not What You Expected?
If you disagree with the outcome of an ACAT assessment, you have the right to request a review. My Aged Care can guide you through this process. In some cases, a reassessment may be appropriate if a person's needs have changed significantly since the original assessment.
Starting the Conversation Early
One of the most common things we hear from families is that they wished they had started the process sooner. An ACAT assessment is not just for people in crisis. It is for anyone who wants to plan ahead, understand their options, and make sure the right support is in place before things become urgent.
If you are not sure where to start or what to expect, Jenn and our team are happy to talk it through with you. We know the system well and we are always happy to help families navigate it.
