New reforms make entry to aged care easier

According to National Aged Care Alliance (NACA), one of the reforms is the introduction of a new Single Assessment System workforce which will bring together and replace: 

• Regional Assessment Service 

• Aged Care Assessment Teams 

• independent Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment organisations.  

 Under the Single Assessment System workforce, assessment organisations will be funded to conduct:   

• all aged care needs assessments (both home support and comprehensive) for in-home aged care, flexible aged care programs, residential respite and entry into residential aged care, and/or    

• residential aged care funding assessments to determine an older person’s AN-ACC classification. 

State and territory governments will continue to deliver hospital-based assessments.   

What does this mean for older people? 

This will simplify and improve an older person’s experience as they enter and progress through the aged care system by:   

• providing a single assessment pathway for older people so they don’t have to change assessment providers as their needs change   

• ensuring access to assessments in regional, remote and rural areas   

• reducing wait times over time to access an aged care assessment.  

NACA is working closely with new, continuing and exiting assessment organisations to support a smooth transition to the Single Assessment System workforce and ensure minimal impacts on older people.

There should be no disruptions for anyone currently waiting for an assessment.  

Aged care needs assessments will continue to be done face-to-face at an older person’s home. If they need an assessment while staying in hospital, once referred, the person will be allocated the next available assessor.  

There will be no changes to:   

• aged care eligibility requirements   

• in-hospital assessments   

• referrals to aged care assessments, urgent services, and reassessments  

Visit the My Aged Care website for advice on how to refer older people for an assessment. 

 NACA also have a fact sheet for older people – please share with your networks to support older people to learn about the Single Assessment System and what this reform will mean for them.