23 Jun 2026

What Happens During the MAC My Aged Care Assessment Process - Each Step Clearly Explained

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Key Takeaways

• Applying starts the process: Contacting My Aged Care or applying online is the first step to understand what services may be suitable for you or your loved one.
• Assessment details are confirmed before the visit: My Aged Care will check key information and arrange the assessment around your or your loved one's situation and support needs.
• Preparation makes the assessment clearer: Gathering medication lists, health details, daily routine notes, and current support information can make the conversation easier.
• The assessment looks at daily life, not only health: The assessor will discuss health, safety, mobility, routines, preferences, and current assistance to understand the full picture.
• The outcome explains approved support: The Notice of Decision and support plan help you or your loved one understand eligibility, recommended services, and next steps.
• Referral codes connect you with providers: Sharing your or your loved one's referral code allows your or your loved one's chosen provider to view the support plan and begin organising care.
• Care planning turns approval into real support: A provider like The District Nurses can help you or your loved one build a practical care plan based on needs, routines, and preferences.

Applying for aged care can feel confusing when you’re unsure what will happen next. If you or your loved one needs support at home, the My Aged Care assessment is usually the first step toward understanding eligibility and suitable services.

Knowing each stage can make the process feel less overwhelming, so the steps below explain what to expect before, during, and after the assessment.

Step 1: Contact My Aged Care or Apply for an Assessment

The process begins by applying for an assessment through My Aged Care. You or your loved one can do this online, by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or by getting in-person assistance through Services Australia.

During this step, My Aged Care collects basic details about age, current needs, and contact information. This helps determine whether an assessment should be arranged and what type of support may be suitable.

It can help to have key information ready, including a Medicare card, contact details, current health concerns, and any existing assistance already being provided by family, carers, or health professionals.

Step 2: My Aged Care Checks Your Details and Arranges the Assessment

After the application is submitted, the assessment organisation will contact you or your loved one about the next steps. This may include confirming details, discussing current needs, and arranging a suitable time for the assessment.

The assessment is often arranged so the assessor can understand daily life, current supports, and the home environment. You or your loved one can also ask for support during the process, including having a family member, carer, registered supporter, or nominated support person involved where appropriate.

This step helps make sure the assessment reflects real circumstances, not just information on a form.

Step 3: Prepare Information Before the Assessment

Preparing before the assessment can make the conversation clearer and less stressful. It gives you or your loved one a chance to think about what feels difficult, what support is already in place, and what would make daily life safer or more manageable.

Useful details may include:

• Medication information: current medications, routines, and any concerns
• Health history: recent hospital stays, health changes, or GP notes
• Daily tasks: activities that feel harder, including showering, dressing, cooking, or cleaning
• Mobility and safety: balance concerns, falls, equipment, or home safety risks
• Existing support: assistance from family, carers, friends, or community services

Good preparation helps the assessor build a fuller picture of what support is required. It also helps you or your loved one feel more confident explaining what matters most.

Step 4: Complete the Assessment Conversation

During the assessment, the assessor will talk with you or your loved one about health, lifestyle, daily tasks, safety, memory, current support, and personal preferences. They may also discuss family, community, cultural activities, and whether you or your loved one's GP or other health professionals should be involved.

This conversation is designed to understand the whole situation. It is not only about medical needs. It also looks at how well you or your loved one is managing day-to-day life and what could help maintain independence.

Before starting, the assessor will ask for consent to complete the assessment. They may also ask permission to speak with people who support you or your loved one, including family members or carers.

Step 5: Receive the Assessment Outcome and Support Plan

After the assessment, you or your loved one will receive an assessment outcome letter called a Notice of Decision. This letter explains whether you’re eligible for government-subsidised services. If eligible, you’ll also receive a support plan that outlines the services available.

The support plan records what was discussed and agreed upon during the assessment, including strengths, difficulties, goals, preferences, and the services that may best assist. It may also include support designed to help regain confidence and resume daily activities.

If you’re still waiting for an outcome, My Aged Care notes that the assessment organisation reviews the information to determine eligibility. You can check progress through your My Aged Care Online Account or by calling My Aged Care.

Step 6: Choose a Provider and Share Your Referral Code

If you or your loved one is approved for services, the assessment outcome will include a referral code. This code is used to connect with a chosen provider. With the code, a provider can view the client record and support plan, accept the referral, and start organising services.

This is the stage where you or your loved one can compare providers and ask practical questions. It can help to ask about services, staff, costs, communication, waiting times, and how care plans are reviewed.

Choosing a provider should feel clear and comfortable. The right provider should help turn the assessment outcome into practical support that fits daily life for you or your loved one.

Step 7: Build the Care Plan and Begin Support

The assessment is not the end of the process. It is the point where approved support begins to become a practical care plan shaped around needs, routines, preferences, and goals.

The District Nurses provide support at home services across Tasmania. Its Community Nurse Navigator works with clients to develop a care plan that reflects what is important to them, including likes, needs, and preferences. The District Nurses also coordinate Support At Home packages through Registered Community Nurse Navigators and employs its own nurses and community support workers in Northern and Southern Tasmania.

If you’re unsure what to do after your assessment, a conversation can help you understand your options. The District Nurses can guide you or your loved one through the next step with care and clarity.