ACAT aged care assessment in Australia: what it is and how to access it
What is ACAT?
ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) — called ACAS (Aged Care Assessment Service) in Victoria — is a federally funded multidisciplinary team that carries out comprehensive assessments of older people’s care needs. Assessments are free of charge.
An ACAT team typically includes doctors, nurses, social workers and allied health professionals. They assess physical health, cognitive function, daily living capacity, living environment and personal goals to determine what services and level of support are appropriate.
When is an ACAT assessment required?
An ACAT assessment is required before you can access:
- Residential aged care (nursing homes / aged care facilities) — both short-term and long-term.
- Home Care Packages (HCP) — higher-level in-home support for complex needs (previously Levels 1–4; from November 2025 transitioning to Support at Home — confirm current requirements with My Aged Care).
- Transition Care Programme — short-term recovery support after a hospital stay.
- Residential Respite Care — short-term residential care to give carers a break.
When is an ACAT assessment NOT required?
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) — basic in-home services (cleaning, meals, transport): a standard My Aged Care intake assessment (not a full ACAT) is sufficient.
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Contact My Aged Care Call 1800 200 422 (Monday–Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au.
My Aged Care will take an initial registration, screen for the right assessment type and arrange a referral.
Step 2: Assessment is scheduled My Aged Care forwards the referral to the local ACAT team. The team contacts you to arrange a time.
Step 3: In-home (or hospital) assessment The assessment takes place at the older person’s home, or at the hospital if they are currently admitted. The assessor interviews the person and/or carer about daily living needs, health conditions, cognitive function, home environment and care preferences.
Step 4: Receive the written outcome ACAT provides a written assessment outcome stating which services have been approved. The older person and family have the right to appeal the decision if they disagree.
Waiting times
Wait times vary by region — from a few days to several weeks. If the older person is in hospital and needs discharge support, ask the hospital’s social worker to request an urgent ACAT assessment — hospital-based referrals are typically expedited.
Language support
ACAT assessments can be conducted with an interpreter. Request one when you call My Aged Care. Free interpreting services are available via TIS National: 131 450, which can be used for calls to My Aged Care and other government services.