Aged care is the support available to older Australians who need a hand to keep living well, whether that's a bit of help around the house or full-time care. The Australian Government helps pay for it, and you reach all of it through one front door called My Aged Care. Here's how the whole thing fits together.

What is government-funded aged care?

As people get older, everyday things can get harder. Government-funded aged care helps with that, from cleaning, cooking and personal care, through to nursing and full-time residential care. The government pays most of the cost, and depending on your finances you may contribute a share. You don't arrange it privately to begin with, you go through My Aged Care, which checks what you're eligible for.

The two main types of care

• Help in your own home. The main program is Support at Home, which funds services so you can stay living independently at home: things like help showering, cleaning, meals, transport, nursing and physiotherapy. For most people, this is where the journey begins. (See Support at Home: what help you actually get.)
• Moving into an aged care home. When living at home is no longer the right fit, a residential aged care home provides accommodation along with daily and nursing care. (See Moving into an aged care home.)

There are also some in-between options you may hear about: entry-level help through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, short-term care to recover after a hospital stay, respite to give carers a break, and end-of-life care at home.

Two things decide what you get and what you pay

• Your needs. An assessment works out how much and what kind of help you need. It's free and it's a conversation, not a test. (See Your aged care assessment: what will happen.)
• Your means. Your income and assets may mean you contribute towards some services, while others are free. Clinical and nursing care, for example, is fully funded for everyone. (See Fees and contributions, explained.)

Who's who

A handful of organisations come up again and again, and they're easy to mix up. Here's the quick version:

• My Aged Care is the front door. You apply, get assessed and find providers through it. Phone 1800 200 422.
• Services Australia works out your fees by assessing your income and assets.
• The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is the regulator. It checks providers and handles complaints.
• Providers are the organisations that actually deliver your care.
• OPAN gives free, independent advice and advocacy. Phone 1800 700 600.

One thing to know: the rules changed in 2025

On 1 November 2025, a new law, the Aged Care Act 2024, started.

It brought in Support at Home (which replaced the old Home Care Packages), a new Statement of Rights, and new rules about fees.

This matters because a lot of older information online still refers to the previous system.

If you read about "Home Care Packages," "ACAT teams" or the old "Charter of Aged Care Rights," it may be out of date. (See Choice, dignity, respect: your rights in aged care.)

Where to begin

Ready to take the first step? It's always the same one: a single call to My Aged Care to apply for an assessment. Our guide walks you through exactly what to say and what to ask. (See Where do I even start? Your guide to My Aged Care.)

And if any of the words are new to you, our plain-English glossary explains them all.

Quick contacts

In a nutshell

• Aged care ranges from a little help at home to full-time residential care, and the government helps pay.
• Everything starts at My Aged Care, the single front door.
• What you get depends on your needs (an assessment) and what you pay depends on your means.
• The system changed in November 2025, so be careful with older information online.

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Confirm current details on the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800 200 422.