How To Series

In Australia, an ACAT assessment (Aged Care Assessment Team assessment) is required because it determines a person's eligibility for government-funded aged care services. The assessment evaluates an individual's health, mobility, daily living needs, cognitive function, and support requirements to identify the most appropriate level of care.

An ACAT assessment is generally needed to access higher-level aged care services such as:

• Residential aged care (nursing homes) 
• Home Care Packages 
• Respite care in an aged care facility 
• Transition Care and some other specialised programs 

The assessment helps ensure that government-funded support is directed to people who need it most and that the services provided match their care needs and circumstances.

Following the assessment you will be issued with a document called an ACAT Support Plan. Both the date of assessment and support plan information is needed when entering residential aged care.

If you do not have a copy of the document you will need to download a copy via My Gov. 

You will need to be listed with My Aged Care as a supported decision maker if you are doing this on behalf of your loved one.

Detailed instructions on how to download reports are included in our step by step instructions guide below.