Understanding the Single Assessment System for Aged Care

8 January 2025

8 Jan 2025

From 1 July 2025, older people will be assessed for aged care services through the new Single Assessment System which will make it easier for older Australians to access aged care.

This new system allows people to adjust their care services as their needs change, creating a simpler, more streamlined process.

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In summary:

Single Assessment System will come into place 1 July 2025
The new system will replace the multiple existing pathways
An assessor will determine which services and create a personalised support plan
Wait times are expected to decrease
For more on the Single Assessment System, visit the official government page.

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The current assessment pathways

Until now, different pathways have been used for different types of care services.

Regional Assessment Service (RAS) is used for:

Commonwealth Home Support Programme

Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) is used for:

These separate assessment pathways often cause inconsistencies. People sometimes have to switch between assessment organisations as their needs change.

Why aged care assessments matter

To receive government-funded aged care services, a person first needs an aged care assessment. This assessment helps determine what level of care and support they need, as well as the specific types of services best suited to them.

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How the Single Assessment System will help

The new Single Assessment System will replace all existing assessment pathways, making the process simpler, less confusing, and easier to navigate. This change will also reduce the need for people to repeat their personal circumstances as they transition between assessment providers.

Creating a personalised support plan

During the assessment, the assessor will gather information to determine which services are needed and work with the individual to create a personalised support plan. Once approved for Support at Home, the individual will receive a notice of decision, which will include:

A summary of their aged care needs and goals
An ongoing quarterly budget based on assessed classification, and/or
An approval for short-term supports.

Short term support approval may include a budget for:

Assistive technology and/or home modifications
Short term restorative support e.g. intensive allied health services or end of life care.

Once funding becomes available, the individual will receive their budget and can begin services. With the full rollout of the Support at Home program, wait times are expected to decrease to a target of three months by July 2027.

Supporting thousands of older Australians

The Single Assessment System is expected to benefit over 500,000 older Australians each year by giving them easier access to aged care assessment services.

Would you like more information?

Learn more about the Single Assessment System.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.