How do I register for My Aged Care?

Call 1800 200 422 (free, Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–2pm) or register online at myagedcare.gov.au. A family member can call on your behalf. You do not need a GP referral, though a GP letter about your health helps the assessment process.

How long does My Aged Care registration take?

The initial phone registration takes 20–30 minutes. After that, allow 4–8 weeks for the face-to-face assessment and written outcome letter. The full process from first call to services starting is typically 2–3 months, though urgent situations can be expedited.

Is My Aged Care registration free?

Yes. Registration, the phone screening, and the home assessment are all free. You do not need to pay anything at any stage of the registration process.

Can a family member register for aged care on behalf of a parent?

Yes. A family member, carer, or support person can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 on behalf of the person needing care. They’ll need to answer questions about that person’s daily life, health, and support needs.

Do I need a GP referral to register for aged care?

No. You can self-refer by calling My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422. However, asking your GP to write a brief letter about your health and care needs before the assessment can strengthen your case and help the assessor understand your situation.

What happens after I register with My Aged Care?

After registration, you’ll be referred for a face-to-face assessment at home by a nurse, social worker, or occupational therapist. Based on the assessment, you’ll receive a written letter with your eligibility and classification (Support at Home funding level 1–8). You then choose a provider and services begin.

How to Register for My Aged Care — Step-by-Step Guide

The Big Picture

The full registration process has 7 steps. Most people complete it in 2–3 months. Here’s the rough timeline:

Call + ScreenDay 1

Wait for assessor1–4 weeks

Home assessment60–90 min

Outcome letter4–8 weeks

Choose + start2–4 weeks

ⓘ Urgent situations (hospital discharge, safety risk) can be fast-tracked. Tell My Aged Care if this applies when you call.

Before You Call: 3-Minute Prep

📋 What to Have Ready

Medicare card — you’ll be asked for the number

GP’s name and phone number

A rough list of daily tasks you find difficult — showering, cooking, getting out of the house, etc.

Current address and whether you live alone

Any current supports — e.g. a cleaner, meals on wheels, family help

💡 You don’t need to have everything perfectly memorised. The staff member will guide you through the questions.

Call My Aged Care — or register online

⏱ Day 1 · 30 min

This is the starting point for everything. You can call, go online, or have someone do it for you.

📞 Call 1800 200 422 (free, Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–2pm)
🌐 Register online at myagedcare.gov.au
A family member, carer, or support person can call on your behalf
Your GP can also refer you directly — ask at your next appointment
Interpreters are available — ask when you call

💬 What to say when you call

“Hi, I’d like to register for My Aged Care. I’m finding it harder to manage at home and I’d like to understand what support might be available.”

The phone screening

⏱ 20–30 minutes · same call

This is not a formal assessment — it’s a guided conversation. A staff member will ask questions about:

What daily tasks you find difficult (bathing, cooking, getting around)
Your health conditions and medications
Your living situation — who else is at home, your housing type
What support you currently receive
Any safety concerns or urgent needs

Be honest about what you find hard. People often minimise their difficulties when speaking to a stranger — this can result in a lower assessment than they need.

💡 There are no wrong answers. The more clearly you describe your daily difficulties, the more accurately you’ll be matched to the right level of support.

Referral for assessment

⏱ 1–4 weeks waiting

Based on your screening, you’ll be placed in one of two pathways:

Home assessment pathway — a face-to-face assessor visits you at home (for moderate to higher needs)
Entry-level services — referred directly to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for simpler, lower-level help

You’ll receive an SMS or letter with your referral code and next steps. Wait times for assessment vary by location — metropolitan areas are typically faster.

⚠️ If your situation is urgent — you’ve just left hospital, you’re at fall risk, or you’re a carer in crisis — say so when you call. This can significantly reduce waiting times.

The home assessment

⏱ 60–90 minutes

An assessor — typically a nurse, social worker, or occupational therapist — visits you at home (or in hospital if you’re currently admitted).

📋 What to Prepare for the Visit

A list of your medications

Any recent medical reports, specialist letters, or hospital discharge summaries

Think through which tasks you struggle with — and don’t minimise them

Have a family member or support person present if possible — they can fill in details you might downplay

A GP letter or specialist report (not required, but strengthens your case)

The visit is a conversation about your goals and your daily life — not a test. The assessor wants to understand what would genuinely help you.

💬 You can have an advocate present — OPAN provides free advocacy support. Call 1800 700 600 to arrange one.

Receive your classification letter

⏱ 4–8 weeks after assessment

After the assessment, you’ll receive a written letter (by post or online) with:

Your Support at Home funding level (Level 1–8, from ~$11,000 to ~$78,000/year)
Or your eligibility for residential aged care, if that was assessed
Information about what to do next
Your right to appeal if you disagree with the outcome

Keep this letter — you’ll need the information when choosing a provider.

⚠️ Disagree with the result? You can request a review. See our full appeals guide or call OPAN on 1800 700 600 for free support.

Choose a provider

⏱ Take your time — no rush

You choose your own provider. No one can choose for you — and you can change providers if things aren’t working.

Use the Find a Provider tool at myagedcare.gov.au/find-provider
Or call 1800 200 422 and ask for help finding options near you
Contact 2–3 providers — ask about the services they offer and how they work with clients
Ask about wait lists — some providers in some areas have queues
Ask who will be your regular care worker

💬 Questions to ask a provider

“What services do you offer in my area? How much of my funding goes to administration vs direct care? How do I contact someone if there’s a problem?”

Services begin

⏱ Usually within 2–4 weeks of choosing a provider

Once you’ve accepted a provider, they’ll contact you to:

Discuss and create your care plan (what services, when, how often)
Introduce you to your care worker(s)
Explain how billing and statements work
Set up a review schedule — your plan should be revisited regularly

Your care plan is not locked in. As your needs change, so can your services.

✅ You’re done! If your needs change — or if you ever need more support — call My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and ask for a reassessment. You don’t need to start over.

Common Questions

No. You can call My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422 and self-refer. However, asking your GP to write a short letter describing your health and care needs before your home assessment can significantly strengthen your case and help the assessor understand your situation.

Yes. A family member, carer, or support person can call 1800 200 422 and register on behalf of the person who needs care. They’ll need to answer questions about that person’s daily life and support needs. Ideally, the person themselves should also be available to speak, but this is not always possible.

You can request a review if you disagree with an eligibility or classification decision. Call My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and ask about the internal review process. Free advocacy support is available through OPAN on 1800 700 600. See our appeals guide for the full step-by-step process.

Yes. If you have lower-level needs, My Aged Care may refer you to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for entry-level services (cleaning, meals, transport) while you wait for a full assessment. Ask the staff member when you call if this is an option for your situation.

No. Registration, the phone screening, and the home assessment are all completely free. You don’t pay anything until services begin, and even then, costs depend on your income assessment and the services you choose.

Tell My Aged Care when you call. Urgent situations — hospital discharge, fall risk, carer in crisis — can significantly reduce wait times. If someone is in hospital, the ward social worker can also arrange an assessment during the admission, which can fast-track the entire process.

📚 Sources & Further Reading

My Aged Care — How to register (myagedcare.gov.au)
My Aged Care — About assessments (myagedcare.gov.au)
Department of Health and Aged Care — Support at Home Program (health.gov.au)
Services Australia — Aged care assessments and means testing (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) — free support through the registration and assessment process (opan.org.au)

Important: This guide provides general information only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Aged care policy in Australia changes regularly — always verify current information with My Aged Care (1800 200 422) or your GP. This is not a government website. Information is current as of October 2026 and subject to change.