ACAT Assessment — What It Is and What Actually Happens
The ACAT or IAT assessment is the first real step in getting any government-funded aged care support. Not the phone call, not the GP visit — this is the visit that actually opens the door. Here’s what happens, what the assessor is looking for, and how to make sure the result reflects reality.
ACAT is now called IAT. Since November 2025, the official name is the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT). But everyone — GPs, hospitals, families — still says ACAT and everyone knows what they mean. This page uses both terms interchangeably.
What the ACAT assessment actually is
The ACAT is a home visit from a trained assessor — usually a nurse, social worker, or allied health professional — who talks with the person needing care about what they’re finding difficult. The assessment determines two things: whether someone is eligible for aged care support, and what level of support they need.
It is the gatekeeper to every government-funded aged care service in Australia. Without a completed assessment, you cannot access Support at Home or residential aged care through My Aged Care. The assessment is free, and it does not commit you to anything — being assessed doesn’t mean you have to accept any services.
💡 The assessment is not a test. People sometimes worry about saying the wrong thing or coming across as too capable. The assessor is not trying to catch you out — they’re trying to understand your real situation. Honest answers that reflect a hard day, not your best day, will lead to a more accurate result.
What the assessor is actually looking for
The assessor works through a structured conversation covering several areas. Understanding what they’re assessing helps you make sure nothing important is missed.
Activities of daily living — showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating. Can these be done independently, with difficulty, or not at all?
Instrumental activities — cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, managing medications, paying bills, using transport. These matter just as much as personal care.
Safety — fall risk, night-time safety, ability to call for help, wandering risk if memory issues are present.
Social connection — isolation, existing support network, carer stress if family members are involved.
Medical background — current conditions, medications, recent hospitalisations, any specialist involvement.
The assessor is building a picture of what a typical difficult day actually looks like — not the best day, not a hypothetical worst day, but real life.
How to prepare — the things that make a difference
✅ Before the assessor arrives
A brief letter summarising current conditions, medications, and what’s becoming harder day-to-day gives the assessor important clinical context before they arrive. It can directly influence the classification level.
Not the best day, not a special occasion — a regular day when things are difficult. What gets skipped? What takes much longer than it used to? What causes anxiety or worry? Written notes you can refer to during the visit prevent the common problem of understating difficulties under pressure.
Or photograph the pill bottles. The assessor will ask, and having an accurate list ready makes the visit smoother.
A family member or friend who knows the real day-to-day picture can fill in what the person being assessed downplays or forgets. People commonly present better to strangers than they actually function at home. That’s not dishonesty — it’s a very human response to someone watching.
What happens after the assessment
The assessor writes up their findings and a recommendation. This is sent to My Aged Care and to you by letter, usually within 2–4 weeks of the visit.
The letter will state what you’re approved for — a Support at Home funding level (1 through 8), residential care, or both. It doesn’t mean you have to take any of it. You can accept all, some, or none, and you can revisit the decision later.
If the result doesn’t reflect the actual situation — the funding level seems lower than the need warrants — you have the right to request a review. The notes you made before the visit become your evidence. Contact My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and ask for a review of the assessment outcome.
💡 Don’t wait for the letter to start researching providers. The wait between assessment and result (2–4 weeks) is the best time to compare Support at Home providers. When the letter arrives, you’re ready to move immediately rather than starting from scratch.
When the situation is urgent
If someone is in hospital and can’t be safely discharged home, or if a fall or health crisis has made the situation suddenly urgent, ask specifically for an urgent assessment when you call My Aged Care. This can happen within days rather than weeks. The hospital social worker can also initiate this directly from the ward.
Once someone is discharged from hospital, the window for Transition Care — a bridging program between hospital and home or residential care — closes. If Transition Care is relevant, it must be arranged before discharge. Mention this when you call.
→After a fall or hospital stay — the urgent placement guide covers Transition Care and the full fast-track pathway.