Need help urgently? Call 1800 200 422 (My Aged Care, free call) or 000 for emergencies.
If you’re reading this, something has probably happened — a fall, a diagnosis, a conversation that made you worry. That’s okay. You don’t have to figure it all out right now.
Aged care in Australia is government-funded, which means there’s a system in place to help. You won’t be doing this alone. The process has clear steps, and we’ll walk through them together.
The family doctor is your best starting point. They can assess the situation and, if appropriate, suggest that you contact My Aged Care for an assessment. Having a GP on board early makes the whole process smoother.
If you have an upcoming GP appointment, use our checklist below to make the most of it.
Tick the items you want to bring up. Print this page to take with you.
⚠️ A note on this checklist: This is not medical advice. It’s simply a list of things many families find useful to discuss with their doctor. Your GP will assess the situation and advise what’s right for your circumstances.
My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s official entry point into the aged care system. You can call them, or apply online. They’ll guide you through the process.
When you call, they’ll ask some questions about the person who needs help — their age, where they live, what they’re finding difficult. This is called a registration. You can also apply for an assessment online.
💡 Tip: You can call on behalf of someone else. You don’t need to be the person who needs care. Spouses, children, and carers call all the time.
After you register, My Aged Care will arrange for a trained assessor to visit. This usually happens at home. The assessor will have a conversation about daily life — what’s easy, what’s hard, what help would make a difference.
This is not a test. There are no wrong answers. The assessor is there to understand the situation and work out what support is available.
After the assessment, you’ll be told what level of support you’re eligible for. Since 1 November 2025, this is done through the new Support at Home program, which has eight levels of funding.
💡 Tip: Be honest about the hard days, not just the good ones. Many families say “oh, they’re managing fine” during the assessment, then realise they didn’t mention the things that actually worry them. It helps to write down your concerns beforehand.
Once you know what support you’re eligible for, you get to choose who provides it. There are many aged care providers across Australia — some are large national organisations, some are local community groups.
You can compare providers using the Find a Provider tool on the My Aged Care website. Look at their services, their prices (these are now published), and their star ratings for residential care.
💡 Tip: You’re allowed to change providers if you’re not happy. You’re not locked in. The new Aged Care Act gives you the right to choose.
Once services start, the person receiving care has clear rights under the new Aged Care Act. These include the right to safe and quality care, the right to make decisions about their own life, and the right to raise concerns without fear.
If something doesn’t feel right, you can get free, independent help from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN). They’re not part of the government or any provider — they’re there solely to support older people and their families.