Registered Australian Aged Care Provider · Categories 1–6 · All Greater Melbourne
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Aligned with the new Aged Care Act 2024
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Aged Care · VIC
Aged Care Assessment Melbourne
- My Aged Care Assessment · Melbourne
Aged Care Assessment in Melbourne A Plain-English Guide
Before you can access funded aged care in Australia, you need an assessment. This page explains exactly what to expect, who runs the assessment, how long it takes, and how My Evervale can guide your family through every step — at no cost.
The aged care assessment in 60 seconds
Every Australian who wants government-funded aged care must first be assessed by either:
- RAS (Regional Assessment Service) — for entry-level home support (replaces CHSP under the new Support at Home Program)
- ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) — for higher-level home care, the Support at Home Program at higher classifications, residential aged care, and respite
Both assessments are free. They are organised by the federal government through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
The five steps from first call to first service
Step 1 — Register with My Aged Care
Call 1800 200 422 or apply online at myagedcare.gov.au. They take 10–20 minutes of basic details.
Step 2 — Triage call
Within a few days, My Aged Care calls back to triage you to either RAS or ACAT.
Step 3 — Assessor visits your home
An RAS or ACAT assessor visits, usually within 2–6 weeks. The visit takes 60–90 minutes. They look at how you manage daily activities, your health, mobility, cognition, and your home environment.
Step 4 — Decision and support plan
You receive a written outcome with the level of support approved (e.g. Support at Home Classification 1–8, residential care eligibility, respite eligibility).
Step 5 — Choose a registered provider
You choose any registered provider in your area like My Evervale to deliver the services. Sign a service agreement and care begins.
How long does an aged care assessment take?
From first call to first service is typically 4–10 weeks if you are not in urgent need. If a hospital is involved, ACAT can do the assessment during a hospital stay usually within 48 hours to enable safe discharge.
Who comes to your home for the assessment?
An assessor — usually a nurse, social worker or allied health professional. They are independent of any care provider. Their job is only to determine eligibility and the right level of support — they don’t sell or recommend a specific provider.
What do they actually ask?
- How you manage cooking, cleaning, showering, dressing, toileting and getting around
- Your medical conditions and medications
- Your mental health, memory, mood and any cognitive concerns
- The safety of your home environment (stairs, bathrooms, falls risk)
- Who supports you now (family, neighbours, carers) and what gaps exist
- Your goals — what you want to keep doing, where you want to live
Tip: Have a family member with you. Bring a list of medications and any recent hospital discharge summaries.
What if you disagree with the outcome?
You can request a re-assessment any time your needs change, and you can formally appeal a decision through My Aged Care. We help families do both.
How My Evervale supports you through the assessment
- We help you make the initial My Aged Care call (or do it for you with your consent)
- We brief you on what the assessor will ask so you’re prepared
- We can attend the assessment with you (advocacy role only — we don’t influence the assessor)
- Once you have an outcome, we put services in place — usually within 1–2 weeks
- We coordinate re-assessments as your needs change
Related pages
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Free, no-obligation assessment in your home. We work across all of greater Melbourne.