Life in Australia Guide

To access government-subsidised aged care in Australia, every service goes through a single gateway called My Aged Care. You register online (myagedcare.gov.au) or by phone (1800 200 422), and free interpreting (TIS National, 131 450) is available, so families who have been putting it off because of limited English can start right away. The new Aged Care Act took effect on 1 November 2025, significantly reforming the assessment system and home support programs (this guide reflects the post-reform arrangements; details may continue to be adjusted).

The process runs in this order: ① register with My Aged Care → ② assessment → ③ approval and support level decision → ④ search for and choose a provider (find-a-provider) → ⑤ start services and agree on costs. The person can register themselves or a family member can act as a representative, and registering on someone's behalf requires their consent.

Government-subsidised aged care is generally for people aged 65 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). You must be living in Australia, and the range of services available may vary by visa type and permanent residency status, so it is most accurate to confirm individual eligibility directly with My Aged Care.

• Age criteria: 65 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) — knowing the process in advance, even before reaching the age threshold, lets you act quickly in a crisis
• Disability support for people under 65 is handled by the NDIS — NDIS applications must be made before turning 65, so check urgently if you are near that age boundary
• For detailed conditions by visa and residency status, such as parent visas, check with My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and official guidance

Government-subsidised care comes in four main types. Whichever type you use, the starting point is a My Aged Care assessment, and moving between types (home to facility, facility to home) is possible as circumstances change.

Many families delay applying out of fear of the costs, but the basic structure is simple: the government covers a large share, and your contribution is set according to your capacity to pay. The points below are an overview to help you understand the structure only — actual amounts are confirmed solely through a means assessment by Services Australia. This guide is not financial advice.

• The basic structure of residential aged care costs: three layers — a basic daily fee + additional means-tested contributions + accommodation costs
• For Support at Home, the government's share varies by the nature of the service and your contribution is based on capacity to pay — detailed rates and caps may be adjusted after the reforms, so check the latest on official sites
• The means assessment is handled by Services Australia — do not finalise costs with a provider before the assessment outcome is known
• If your capacity to pay is low, you can apply for financial hardship assistance, so no one is excluded from care for lack of money
• Services Australia's free Financial Information Service (FIS) can explain the cost structure impartially — recommended before any major decision

Misconceptions about aged care delay applications and wear families out. Care recipients' rights are guaranteed by a statement of rights set out in law (the Statement of Rights), and if problems arise you can lodge a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and use OPAN's free advocacy. Here are the most common misconceptions, corrected.

• The myth that "you have to pay for everything yourself" — government subsidy is the default structure, your contribution is set by capacity to pay, and financial hardship assistance is also available.
• The myth that "once you enter a facility, that's it" — moving between facilities and returning home are both possible. Entering residential care is simply a choice matched to the needs of that moment.
• The myth that "if family provides the care, there's no support" — carer payments such as Carer Payment and Carer Allowance (Centrelink) and respite care exist separately.
• Putting it off because of limited English — free interpreting (TIS 131 450) can be requested throughout registration, assessment, and complaints, and there are also specialised services for multicultural communities.
• Relying only on a particular company's advertising or word of mouth — compare providers using the official My Aged Care find-a-provider tool and Star Ratings, and confirm services and costs in writing before signing any agreement.