My Aged Care

a member of an Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) will visit you to assess you.

Regional Assessment Service (RAS)

To access basic Government funded home support under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) you need to be assessed by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS). For more information about CHSP go to page 26

The RAS assessment helps to identify your needs for support and any goals for retaining or regaining skills that enable you to continue living independently in the community. It is conducted free of charge and independently from service provision which ensures assessors consider the full range of options when responding to you and your carers’ needs and goals.

Some of these needs may include assistive technology, therapeutic interventions, community care services or other support organisations.

RAS assessors liaise with other service providers, GPs/specialists and community support networks to make sure desired outcomes are achieved. If your care needs have increased the RAS can also plans and coordinate exit from the CHSP and transfer to other appropriate service systems including Home Care Packages and/or residential care if required. The service also provides care coordination if you have multiple providers or more complex needs.

Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)

If you are no longer able to manage at home without basic assistance, the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) helps you, and your carers, determine what kind of care will best meet your needs.

This may be a Home Care Package (see page 31) provided to you in your own home or residential care in an aged care home (see page 61).

ACAT assessors are generally professionals with medical backgrounds, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and other health experts.

There is no charge for the assessment as the ACAT is Government funded. Carers, relatives or close friends are encouraged to be involved in the discussion of your needs.

How the assessment works

An assessor from your local RAS or ACAT will visit you in your home or in hospital to assess your needs.

They will ask you questions about your personal situation, health, and if you’re already receiving some support. This is to work out how much and what sort of help you require with daily and personal activities, and to determine the best care option for your situation.

You might like to have some support, a partner, relative or friend, present during the assessment. If you are of non-English speaking background and require an interpreter, this can be arranged before the assessment.

With your approval, the RAS or ACAT will also contact your local doctor to gain more information on your medical history to assist with the assessment process.

The assessor will discuss the result of the assessment with you, detailing your needs and goals, what services are needed to achieve those and the options that would be most suitable for your circumstances.

If there is no package of the assessed level immediately available, you may be offered a package at a lower level or CHSP services to help you while you wait or you may want to consider private services (read more on page 26). While an ACAT cannot make recommendations about individual homes or community services, they can provide you with information to assist you to make decisions.

Referral code

Once you have been assessed and found eligible for services, whether they’re for CHSP, a Home Care Package, Transition Care or to get a place in a nursing home, you should be given a referral code.

The service provider of your choice will need this referral code to access your information and manage the referral. They’ll also be able to claim the funding allocated to you.

The referral code is linked to the type of service you are eligible to access. If you need the support of multiple services, you will need multiple referral codes, one for each service.

If you are not given a referral code make sure you ask for one so you can discuss your needs with your preferred service provider.

A provider won’t be able to start charging you fees until they begin delivering services to you or you have accepted a place in an aged care home.

If you have been found eligible for a Home Care Package there may be a wait time before a suitable package becomes available. In the meantime, you may be allocated an interim package at a lower level or choose to selffund your supports.

You will receive a letter from My Aged Care to advise you when you can start services or have been allocated an available package.

To assist you in your search, an independent information source like the Aged Care Guide publications and the linked AgedCareGuide.com.au website can help. These resources give a comprehensive overview of all care options and care providers available.

Not satisfied with the assessment?

If you are unhappy with the recommendations made by the RAS or ACAT assessor, first talk with the person in charge of the assessment team as most concerns can be resolved this way.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome you can appeal the decision and have the assessment reviewed.

To have the decision reviewed you must write to the Secretary of the Australian Department of Health within 28 days of your assessment letter arriving. The request should be answered within 90 days with a decision.

If you do not agree with the Secretary’s review, you can escalate the matter further by contacting the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

While asking for a review by the Secretary is free, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal does incur a charge.

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au for more information or if you would like to organise a RAS or ACAT assessment.

At anytime!

You can find someone to help you:

Placement consultant

Aged care advisor

Social worker

Case manager

Hospital discharge planner

These professionals know the system really well and their help can make your search much easier.

Other useful people:

Financial advisor

Health fund

Veterans' Affairs Local council