How to Navigate the My Aged Care Website: A Guide into some of the more important features
Navigating aged care in Australia can feel overwhelming—especially when you're just getting started; like where do you even start!? Whether you're an older Australian, a concerned family member, or a carer, the My Aged Care website can be a very handy official starting point for accessing government subsidised support and services. But where do you begin?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the five important areas of the My Aged Care website—plus three bonus tips that make the experience smoother. Each section includes direct links to help you find exactly what you need, faster.
1. Registering for Aged Care Services Online
Before you can receive government-funded aged care services, you need to apply for an assessment. This is the first step in the process, and it can be done entirely online.
You’ll be asked to provide:
Your Medicare card
Basic personal details
Your GP or health professional’s contact
Information about your current care needs
Once submitted, My Aged Care will contact you (or your nominated representative) to book a face-to-face or phone assessment. If you’re not confident filling out the form yourself, a family member, friend, or advocate can assist—or you can call the My Aged Care Contact Centre on 1800 200 422.
Have a look at another one of my blogs titled ‘Navigating Aged Care: Understanding the ACAS Assessment Process’ for some tips here.
2. Finding a Provider That Meets Your Needs
After you’ve been assessed and approved for services, the next step is to choose a provider. My Aged Care’s “Find a Provider” tool lets you search by:
Location
Type of service (e.g. home care, respite, aged care homes)
Specialised support (e.g. for dementia, cultural needs)
Fees and availability
Each listing includes contact details, services offered, and reviews from clients. Tip: Make a shortlist of providers and reach out to them directly to ask questions and get a feel for their approach.
3. Understanding Home Care Packages and the Waitlist
If you're approved for a Home Care Package, you’ll be assigned one of four levels based on your needs—from basic (Level 1) to high-level care (Level 4).
You’ll be placed in a national queue, and wait times can vary. You can:
Track your progress in the queue
Receive interim services while you wait
Get notified when a package becomes available
Make sure your contact details are always up to date and keep your referral code handy—you’ll need it when choosing a provider.
4. Estimating Service Costs with the Support at Home Fee Estimator
🔗 Support at Home fee estimator
Wondering how much you’ll pay for services? The Support at Home fee estimator is a quick and easy tool that helps you budget.
It asks for basic details about your income and care needs, then provides an estimate of:
The basic daily fee
Any income-tested care fees
This tool gives you a clearer idea of what to expect, so there are no surprises once your services begin.
5. Linking My Aged Care to Your MyGov Account (not really My Aged Care website related directly- but just as important)
🔗 Access your client record online
Once you’ve set up services, linking My Aged Care to your myGov account can make everything more manageable.
Benefits of Linking:
Access Your Client Record: View assessments, approvals, referrals, and aged care needs
Update Your Details: Keep contact info and preferences current
Manage Services: See referral codes, provider details, and service status
View Correspondence: Access letters and notifications from My Aged Care
See Your Package Details: Quickly check your package level and waitlist status
Convenient Online Management: One secure place to manage all your aged care information. If a mailed piece of paper goes missing- don’t worry. You can access it through your linked MAC account.
Bonus Section 1: Managing Your Services After Approval
Once you're approved for services, you'll receive referral codes and package information. Through the client portal, you can:
Track your assessment outcomes
Check the status of referrals and provider acceptance
See what services you’ve been allocated
Update your contact or health details as needed
Tip: Log in regularly to stay informed and avoid missing important updates.
Bonus Section 2: Help for Carers, Families, and Representatives
Supporting a loved one through the aged care process? My Aged Care has dedicated tools and resources for carers, including:
Acting on someone’s behalf as a legal representative or nominated person
Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a carer
Guidance on how to attend assessments and manage services for someone else
This section is especially helpful for adult children helping ageing parents navigate the system.
Keep an eye on this section with the new Act Care Act commencing in November. The current process of this will change. I’ll update when more information is known.
Bonus Section 3: Translated Resources and Culturally Inclusive Support
Aged care should be inclusive and accessible for everyone. My Aged Care provides:
Translated fact sheets, brochures, and videos in over 20 languages
Access to interpreters via TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service)
Specialised support for:
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
LGBTI+ older Australians
When applying or calling, you can request support in your preferred language or ask for culturally appropriate services.
Final Thoughts
The My Aged Care website has a wealth of information—but knowing where to start makes all the difference. Whether you’re registering for the first time or helping someone else, this guide is designed to make the process a little easier.
📌 Bookmark this article or share it with someone who might need support.
📅 Ready for personalised help? Book a free 15min aged care support chat
📝 Want a printable version? Let us know, and we’ll send you a handy checklist.
You don’t have to do this alone—support is just a click or call away.
