The new aged care assessment system is here

Did you know the Government’s new aged care assessment system is now in effect? 

As part of the ongoing Government reforms there is now a Single Assessment System. 

• This system has combined and replaced: 
• the Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
• the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) 
• independent Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment organisations 

Assessment organisations now receive funding to handle all aged care assessments. This includes in-home and community based care, restorative care, residential respite and entry into residential aged care. 

This means older people are more likely to have the same provider for their second assessment as they had for their first. 

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended changing the assessment system. This change aims to make it easier for older people to access care. 

The new system also changes the language used. Southern Cross Care staff may now call the steps for accessing Government-funded care an "aged care assessment". This is different from the old term, "ACAT assessment", which was used before. 

The aged care eligibility requirements have not changed and neither has the process for referrals. 

Residential aged care funding assessments are also still done once an older person has settled into residential aged care. 

If you have any questions please ask our friendly team; you can call 1800 852 772 for support. 

If you or a loved one are navigating the aged care system, it’s important to familiarise yourself with this new assessment process. It can help you to feel more comfortable with the assessment and to have more understanding of how to access care. 

For more information on the new assessment system you can visit the Department of Health website by clicking here. 

For more information about applying for an assessment you can visit the My Aged Care website by clicking here. 

If you need to speak with someone about accessing care please call our friendly team on 1800 852 772.