How to Apply for Home Care in Australia
Applying for government-funded home care involves a few formal steps, but it's more manageable than it looks once you know what's coming.
- Contact My Aged Care. Call 1800 200 422 or apply online. You'll need some basic details about the person needing care and a general picture of their day-to-day needs.
- Complete an assessment. An assessor — either in person or over the phone — will ask about mobility, health, safety at home, and what kind of support would make the most difference. This assessment determines the funding classification.
- Be patient with the wait, it will take time. This is the step families most often underestimate. Industry reporting — including from The Weekly Source, which tracked the issue for months before it received broader media attention — has highlighted that assessment and funding wait times have been a persistent pressure point through the Support at Home transition, with well over 100,000 people waiting for either an assessment or a package at various points during the rollout. The government has been progressively releasing more funded places, and wait times have been trending down, but it's genuinely worth checking current figures on My Aged Care rather than assuming the wait will be quick.
- Complete an income assessment (if applicable). Services Australia will assess whether you need to make an income-tested contribution. This step matters — skipping it can mean you're charged the maximum applicable fee by default.
- Choose your provider. Once approved, you'll have a window to select a provider. This is where it's worth comparing not just cost, but genuine service coverage in your area, communication style, and reviews.
- Start services. Your provider builds a care plan with you and services begin.
A practical tip while you wait: if your needs are more immediate, privately funded care (without going through the government assessment process) can start much faster — see our Self-Managed vs Provider-Managed article, or get in touch to discuss privately funded options directly.
