What is My Aged Care, and what do they do?
My Aged Care is the Australian Government's starting point for accessing government-funded aged care. It helps you understand your options, apply for an assessment, receive an assessment outcome and connect with providers, but you still choose which provider you want to use.
Key points
- My Aged Care is the government entry point to aged care, not the organisation that delivers your care.
- You do not need to know which program you need before you apply.
- An assessment determines what government-funded support you may access.
- You still choose which provider you want to use.
My Aged Care is the Australian Government's main entry point for people who want to understand or access government-funded aged care. It does not provide the care itself. Its role is to help you enter the system, arrange an assessment and understand what support you have been approved to receive.
Explore only what you need
Start with the sections that feel useful now. You can come back to the others later.
01Guide sectionWhat does My Aged Care actually do?
- Explains your options: My Aged Care provides information about help at home, short-term support and residential aged care.
- Lets you apply for an assessment: An assessment is the usual first step before you can access government-funded aged care services.
- Arranges your aged care assessment: An assessor looks at what you can still do independently, where you are having difficulty, your health and safety, and the support that may help.
- Provides your assessment outcome: If you are approved, you receive information about the services or program you can access and what to do next.
- Helps you connect with providers: You can use My Aged Care's provider search or call My Aged Care for help finding organisations that deliver the services you have been approved for.
02Guide sectionWhat happens when I first contact My Aged Care?
You do not need to know which aged care program you need before you apply. You can start by applying for an assessment online or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. The online application generally takes around 15 to 20 minutes and you will usually need your Medicare card.
A family member, friend or other support person can help you with the application if you want them to. The important thing is to explain what is becoming difficult in day-to-day life rather than trying to diagnose which program you think you should receive.
03Guide section1. Apply for an assessment
My Aged Care gathers some basic information about you, your living situation and the kinds of things you are finding difficult.
04Guide section2. Have an aged care assessment
An assessor talks through your needs in more detail. The assessment is about your circumstances and what support could help you remain safe and independent.
05Guide section3. Receive your outcome
Your outcome may approve you for the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), Support at Home, residential aged care or another aged care pathway, depending on your assessed needs.
06Practical action4. Choose a provider
Approval does not mean you have chosen a provider. You can compare providers, ask about availability, services and fees, and decide who you want to use. For some services, there may be a wait before a provider has capacity or funding becomes available.
07Guide sectionWhich home care programs might My Aged Care approve?
For help at home, the two main programs are:
- CHSP: generally for entry-level support when you need a smaller amount of help, often one or two services.
- Support at Home: for people who need more coordinated, ongoing or complex support at home.
08Guide sectionWhat My Aged Care does not decide for you
My Aged Care determines access to government-funded aged care, but you still have choices. You can ask questions, compare providers and decide whether a provider's services, fees, availability and approach suit you before agreeing to receive care.
09Guide sectionWhat should I do next?
If you think you or someone you care for may need help, you can apply for an assessment even if you are not sure what type of support is appropriate. If you are already approved and are trying to work out what the decision means, Liz can help you interpret the next steps and understand what to ask potential providers.
10Guide sectionHelpful Local Home Help resources
Apply for an aged care assessment if support is becoming necessary, or use Liz to work through what your assessment outcome means.
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