By Steve Hadfield, AgedCareActionPlan.au · Last updated: May 2026
Key facts at a glance
Many families approach the assessment thinking they need to convince someone of something, or that being too honest about difficulties will lead to a worse outcome. The opposite is true.
The assessor's job is to build an accurate picture of your needs — not to catch you out, and not to minimise your funding. Their tool, the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), covers 12 areas of daily function and wellbeing: things like mobility, cognition, communication, self-care, managing daily tasks, social connection, and carer capacity. The tool adapts as the assessor works through it — if you indicate difficulty in one area, the tool branches into more detailed questions about that area.
Your classification — and therefore your annual government funding — is determined by what the IAT captures. Classification 1 provides approximately $10,731 per year. Classification 8 provides $78,106 per year. A more complete picture of genuine needs almost always leads to a higher classification and more support.
The most common preparation mistake
People perform their best on assessment day — they tidy the house, dress carefully, manage tasks they would normally struggle with, and answer questions based on their good days rather than their typical days. The assessor leaves with an inaccurately positive picture of capacity, and the classification comes back lower than the person's actual needs warrant. Prepare to describe your usual days, not your best days.
For a complete overview of how the assessment process works — from referral through to outcome — see the aged care assessment guide.
The assessment is a conversation, not a form-filling exercise. But having the right documents available means the assessor can spend their time on your needs — not chasing information that should have been on the table.
Identity and Medicare
Medical history
Current support
Carer information
You do not need every document on this list for the assessment to proceed. Missing paperwork will not cause the assessment to be cancelled. But the more context the assessor has, the less time is spent filling gaps — and the more accurate the outcome.
The IAT covers 12 areas. The assessor will ask questions about daily function, health, cognition, and social circumstances. Most people answer based on what they can do — not what they typically struggle to do, or what they have stopped doing because it has become too difficult or unsafe.
The areas where under-reporting is most common — and most costly:
Mobility and falls
If you have had falls in the past 12 months — even minor ones — mention them. Include near-misses. If you have changed your behaviour to avoid falling (stopped going out alone, stopped using stairs, stopped showering without someone present), say so. The assessor needs to know about risk, not just incidents.
Cognition and memory
If you find it harder to remember appointments, manage medications, follow complex conversations, or handle financial matters, say so — even if you have developed workarounds. Workarounds indicate difficulty, not capacity.
Tasks you have stopped doing
If you used to cook and no longer do, used to manage your own bills and now rely on someone else, or used to drive and have stopped — mention these changes. They indicate a reduction in function that the assessment is designed to capture.
Pain and fatigue
If pain or fatigue limits what you can do or how long you can do it, describe this in concrete terms. Not 'I get tired sometimes' but 'after I shower I need to rest for an hour before I can do anything else.'
Carer burden
If a family member or partner is providing significant unpaid care — and especially if that is taking a toll on them — this is relevant to the assessment. Carer capacity and sustainability is one of the 12 areas the IAT covers.
Describe typical days, not good days
Assessment day is often a higher-energy day — the person being assessed has often prepared, rested, and is presenting their best. If a family member or carer is present, gently prompt the person to describe a typical day rather than the current moment. "Tell the assessor about what Tuesday was like" is more useful than "describe how you're managing."
The carer statement is a written account of what the person being assessed can and cannot do in daily life — written by someone who sees them regularly, usually a family member or primary carer.
It is not a form provided by the assessment service. You write it yourself, bring it to the assessment, and give it to the assessor. It is read as part of the assessment record and can directly influence the classification.
The reason it matters: the person being assessed often underestimates their own difficulties — particularly around cognition, carer burden, and tasks they have quietly stopped doing. The assessor can only observe what happens in front of them during a visit of typically 45–75 minutes. The carer statement gives the assessor a window into what the other 167 hours of the week look like.
What an effective carer statement covers
If you don't have a carer or family member who can write this
You can write the statement yourself. Describe your own typical days — what you find difficult, what you have stopped doing, what a bad day looks like. The important thing is that it is written down and handed to the assessor before or during the visit, so it becomes part of the assessment record. A neighbour, friend, or regular volunteer who sees you often can also write it on your behalf.
A well-written carer statement is one of the few direct actions available to families before the outcome is decided. It costs nothing and takes under an hour — but the difference in classification it can produce translates to thousands of dollars in annual funding.
Write a stronger carer statement in under an hour
The assessment prep tool walks you through each section of the carer statement with plain-language prompts — so nothing important gets left out.
Prepare the carer statement →Step-by-step prompts · Takes under an hour · Covers all 12 IAT areas
The assessment visit typically takes between 45 and 75 minutes, depending on the person's situation and how many areas the IAT branches into. Complex situations — multiple health conditions, cognitive impairment, or communication difficulties — can take longer. It usually takes place at home, though it can occur in a hospital or residential facility if needed.
The assessor is a qualified health professional — typically a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, or allied health clinician — working under the Single Assessment System. In Victoria, the service is still commonly referred to as ACAS (Aged Care Assessment Service), though it operates under the same national framework.
A family member or carer can — and should — be present during the assessment. You do not need to request permission. Their presence means they can prompt the person being assessed to mention things they might otherwise downplay, and they can contribute directly to the parts of the assessment about carer capacity and home support.
If English is not your first language
Interpreter support is available at no cost. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to be connected to My Aged Care (1800 200 422). You can request an interpreter for the assessment visit itself — raise this when the assessment organisation calls to confirm your appointment.
For more detail on who conducts assessments and how the assessment team works, see the aged care assessment team guide.
Once the assessment is complete, you will receive two separate letters — and it is important to understand what each one means.
Two letters — two different clocks
Letter 1 — Outcome letter (Notice of Decision): Arrives within 2 to 4 weeks of your assessment visit. Confirms your classification and your annual funding level. This is when your 28-day review right begins. It does not mean funding is available yet.
Letter 2 — Funding allocation letter: Arrives separately, when a funded package at your classification becomes available. For lower classifications (1–2) this can be relatively quick. For higher classifications (3–8), you may wait several months. The 56-day clock to find a provider and sign a service agreement runs from this letter — not the outcome letter.
Understand your outcome letter
Your outcome letter (Notice of Decision) states your classification and the annual funding amount attached to it. Read it carefully. If the classification seems lower than the person's needs warrant, you have 28 days from this letter to request a review. Your 28-day review window starts now — do not wait.
Act within 56 days of your funding allocation letter
Once your funding allocation letter arrives, you have 56 days to enter a service agreement with a provider and start services. If you need more time, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 before the 56 days expire to request a 28-day extension — this gives you a total of 84 days. If you do not act in time, your funding is withdrawn and you will need to re-join the waiting list.
While you wait for funding — ask about interim support
If your wait for a funded Support at Home package will be several months, you may be eligible for lower-level support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) in the meantime. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to ask what interim support is available while you wait.
Know your review right
If the classification is wrong — or if new information came to light after the assessment — you can request an internal review within 28 days of the Notice of Decision. Complete the Request for Internal Review of a Decision form (available on the Department of Health website, or contact details are in your outcome letter) and submit it to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing by email or post. Do not call My Aged Care — the formal review is a written process to the Department, not a phone call. A carer statement not submitted at the original assessment can be included with the review.
For a full walkthrough of the outcome, classification levels, and what your funding means in hours of care, see the aged care assessment levels guide.
Can a family member come to the assessment?
Yes — and they should. A family member or carer can attend the assessment without needing to request permission. Their presence is valuable because the person being assessed often underreports difficulties, particularly around cognition and carer burden. The family member can prompt the person to describe typical days rather than good days, and can contribute directly to the parts of the assessment that ask about home support and carer capacity.
Do I need to prepare anything before the assessor arrives?
The most useful preparation is a written carer statement, a current medication list, and any recent GP or specialist letters. The assessment will proceed without these, but having them ready means the assessor can spend the visit on needs rather than gathering background information. Do not tidy the house to a standard that doesn't reflect typical conditions — the assessor's job is to see how the person lives, not to inspect.
What if the person is having a good day and doesn't seem to need much help?
This is the most common assessment problem. The person being assessed often presents their best on assessment day — rested, dressed, and managing tasks they would normally struggle with. If you are a carer, describe this to the assessor directly. Tell them about a typical Tuesday, not today. A written carer statement submitted before or during the visit is the most reliable way to ensure the assessor sees the full picture, not just assessment-day performance.
How long does the assessment take?
Most assessment visits take between 45 and 75 minutes. More complex situations — multiple health conditions, cognitive impairment, or cases where the IAT branches into detailed follow-up questions — can take longer. The assessor will not rush the process.
What happens if the assessment outcome is too low?
You can request an internal review within 28 days of receiving your outcome letter (Notice of Decision). Complete the Request for Internal Review of a Decision form — available on the Department of Health website, or the contact details are in your outcome letter — and submit it to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing by email or post. The review considers whether the original assessment accurately captured the person's needs. A carer statement not submitted at the original assessment can be included as new information.
Can I request a specific assessor or a female assessor?
You can make requests through My Aged Care (1800 200 422), and the assessment service will try to accommodate them. Cultural or gender considerations are taken seriously. If you have specific needs — for example, an assessor who speaks a particular language, or a female assessor for reasons of cultural safety — raise this when the assessment organisation calls to confirm your appointment.
What if the person being assessed has dementia or cannot communicate well?
The assessor is trained to conduct assessments with people who have cognitive impairment or communication difficulties. A family member or carer should be present to provide context and to help communicate the person's needs. A written carer statement is particularly important in this situation — it allows the assessor to build an accurate picture even if the person being assessed cannot describe their own difficulties in the moment.
Do I need to contact My Aged Care to arrange the assessment, or does my GP do this?
Either path works. Your GP or specialist can make a referral directly to the Single Assessment System. Alternatively, you can contact My Aged Care yourself on 1800 200 422 (Monday–Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm AEST) to register and request an assessment. Someone from the assessment organisation will then contact you within 2 to 6 weeks to confirm your needs and arrange the assessment visit.
Is the assessment the same across all states?
Yes — the Single Assessment System has operated nationally since 9 December 2024, replacing the previous state-based ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) system. The same Integrated Assessment Tool is used nationwide. In Victoria, the assessment service is still commonly referred to as ACAS (Aged Care Assessment Service), but it operates under the same national framework and uses the same IAT.
What if I'm in hospital and need an urgent assessment?
If you are in hospital, assessments are typically prioritised and can be arranged much faster — sometimes within a few days. Tell the hospital social worker or discharge planner that you need an aged care assessment before you can be safely discharged. They can arrange the referral directly. Do not wait until after discharge to start this process.
Is an interpreter available if English is not my first language?
Yes, at no cost. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to be connected to My Aged Care (1800 200 422). You can also request an interpreter for the assessment visit itself — raise this when the assessment organisation calls to confirm your appointment.
Aged care assessment: the complete guide
How the Single Assessment System works, what happens at each stage, and what your outcome letter means.
Aged care assessment levels — what Classifications 1–8 mean
How the eight classification levels translate to annual funding, what each level typically reflects in terms of need, and how to understand your outcome.
What to expect at an aged care assessment
A step-by-step account of what happens on assessment day — from the assessor's arrival to the end of the visit.
Who conducts aged care assessments
The qualifications and role of assessment workers under the Single Assessment System, and what they are trained to assess.
Getting into the aged care system — the complete first guide
From noticing early signs through to assessment, classification, and first services — the full entry pathway explained.
The assessment is coming. The carer statement could change the outcome.
The assessment prep tool walks you through each section of the carer statement with plain-language prompts — covering all 12 areas the assessor will examine. Takes under an hour. Nothing important gets left out.
Prepare the carer statement →Step-by-step prompts · Covers all 12 IAT areas · 30-day money-back guarantee
Free preparation tool
In 15 minutes, you'll have a written statement to hand the assessor at the door.
Walk through all 8 IAT domains. The tool writes the carer statement for you — ready to print before the assessor arrives.
Start the free preparation tool →This guide is for information only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Verified against the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Check myagedcare.gov.au for current rates and rules.