What is the difference between an RAS assessment and an ACAT assessment?
Navigating the System & Eligibility
Assessments
Start with My Aged Care guidance
In short...
RAS and ACAT were the former names for different assessment pathways. Australia now uses a Single Assessment System, although people may still hear the older terms. The assessment you receive depends on the level and type of support you may need.
The details...
What is the difference between an RAS assessment and an ACAT assessment?
RAS and ACAT were the names previously used for two different levels of aged care assessment.
At a high level:
an RAS assessment was generally for people needing entry-level support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program
an ACAT assessment was generally for people with more substantial, complex or ongoing care needs.
The assessment system has since changed. Australia now uses the Single Assessment System, so people are no longer expected to work out whether they need an RAS or ACAT assessment before applying.
My Aged Care reviews the person’s circumstances and arranges the appropriate type and depth of assessment.
What was an RAS assessment?
RAS stood for Regional Assessment Service.
An RAS assessment was generally used when someone needed a relatively small amount of practical help to remain independent at home.
This could include help with:
cleaning
gardening
meals
transport
shopping
social support
minor home maintenance
basic personal care
some allied health or short-term support.
An RAS assessment commonly resulted in approval for individual services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, rather than an ongoing individual care budget.
For example, an older person who is mostly independent but can no longer safely clean the bathroom, mow the lawn or drive to appointments may be suited to this level of assessment.
What was an ACAT assessment?
ACAT stood for Aged Care Assessment Team. In Victoria, these teams were often called the Aged Care Assessment Service, or ACAS.
An ACAT assessment was a more comprehensive assessment for people with greater, more complex or ongoing care needs.
It could assess eligibility for:
ongoing funded support at home
residential respite care
permanent residential aged care
transition or restorative care programs
more complex combinations of clinical, personal and practical support.
An ACAT assessment was generally completed by a clinician or multidisciplinary team and considered areas such as:
physical health
mobility and falls
personal care
cognition and dementia
medication and clinical needs
safety at home
carer stress
the person’s ability to remain living independently.
For example, a person experiencing falls, memory changes, difficulty showering, medication problems and increasing dependence on family may require a comprehensive assessment.
What happens under the current system?
Under the Single Assessment System, assessors use one Integrated Assessment Tool for both home-support assessments and comprehensive assessments.
A home-support assessment is generally appropriate where the person needs limited or entry-level assistance.
A comprehensive assessment is used where needs are more substantial, complex or may involve:
Support at Home funding
residential respite
permanent residential aged care
complex clinical or safety concerns.
The assessor can explore issues in greater depth when the person’s responses indicate that a clinical assessment is required.
Do I need to request a particular assessment?
No. You do not need to decide whether to request an RAS, ACAT, home-support or comprehensive assessment.
Apply through My Aged Care and describe what is happening in practical terms, including:
which daily activities have become difficult
any falls, hospital admissions or health changes
memory or judgement concerns
personal-care or medication difficulties
how much assistance family members currently provide
whether the person’s carer is becoming overwhelmed
any immediate safety concerns.
My Aged Care and the assessment organisation will determine the appropriate assessment pathway.
Can the assessment change if more serious needs are identified?
Yes. The Single Assessment System is intended to reduce the need for people to repeat their story or move between separate assessment organisations.
If more complex needs become apparent, the assessment can be expanded or involve an appropriately qualified clinical assessor.
Similarly, if someone was originally approved for limited help but their health or circumstances have since changed, they can request a reassessment or support plan review.
The simplest way to understand the difference is:
RAS generally meant entry-level home help. ACAT generally meant a comprehensive assessment for ongoing or more complex care. Today, both sit within one assessment system, and the person is directed to the appropriate assessment based on their actual needs.
What should I do next?
Apply through My Aged Care and describe honestly what is becoming difficult, including any safety concerns, carer strain or recent health changes.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
Takeaways
- RAS and ACAT are legacy terms still commonly used.
- My Aged Care now arranges assessments through the Single Assessment System.
- The depth of assessment depends on your needs.
About Local Home Help
How Providers Are Listed
How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.
Independence Statement
Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.
Quality Signals
What to look for when choosing a provider Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.
About the Author
Local Home Help Editorial Team
This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.
Our content is based on publicly available information from:
-
My Aged Care
-
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
-
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
-
Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.
Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.
Important information
Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.
Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.
Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.
Source data
Last reviewed
20/7/26, 9:08 pm