How Does Aged Care Work in Australia?

Aged care in Australia predominately occurs through community home care packages, retirement villages and residential aged care facilities. Retirement villages are for people aged over 55 who have stopped working full-time. Government subsidised community home care packages, residential aged care places and short-term respite require you to be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (known as ACAT). ACAT determines the level of care you require, the type of care you will receive and what services you are eligible for.

Community home care packages are delivered to people in their own homes, including in retirement villages. Residential aged care is provided in facilities such as nursing homes. Short-term respite primarily occurs either by the care recipient moving into a residential aged care facility for up to 63 days in a financial year (although in certain situations this can be extended by 21 days at a time subject to further approval), by a support worker coming into a persons’ home for a couple of hours a week, or by the care recipient attending a day centre.

Community home care packages, short-term respite, and government approved residential aged care facilities are governed by the Federal Government under the Aged Care Act 1997. There are also non-government funded aged care facilities in NSW. Retirement villages come under State jurisdiction. In NSW retirement villages are governed by the Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW).

Any information on this website is general in nature and should not be taken as personal legal advice. We recommend that you speak to a lawyer about your personal circumstances.