My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s front door to funded aged care. It is where you register, get assessed and find approved providers for support at home, short-term care or residential care. If you are helping a parent or partner who is finding everyday life harder, it is usually the first call to make.
This guide explains what My Aged Care is, what it does and doesn’t cover, and how to register. As an allied health clinic, we also look at where speech therapy and occupational therapy (OT) fit alongside other services, because these are often the least understood parts of a plan.
What is My Aged Care?
My Aged Care is the national gateway to government-subsidised aged care in Australia. It runs through the website myagedcare.gov.au and a phone line on 1800 200 422. It is not a care provider itself. It registers you, arranges your assessment and helps you find providers.
Through My Aged Care, you can be assessed for:
- Support at Home: In-home support for people with higher needs. It replaced Home Care Packages for new participants from 1 November 2025.
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Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): Entry-level help for people who need only a little support.
- Short-term and respite care: Temporary support, including time-limited restorative care.
- Residential aged care: Care in an aged care home.
The system is generally for people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Some younger people on a low income, or at risk of homelessness, may also be eligible. Many people under 65 with a disability will instead access support through the NDIS.
What Does My Aged Care Cover?
My Aged Care covers the assessment process, and the programs it leads to fund a defined list of services. For in-home support, Support at Home groups those services into three categories: clinical supports, independence supports and everyday living supports.
- Clinical supports: Nursing care and allied health, including occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics and psychology.
- Independence supports: Help with personal care such as showering and dressing, respite, and support to stay active and connected.
- Everyday living supports: Domestic help such as cleaning and laundry, meal preparation, gardening, transport and social support.
Each participant is assigned one of eight classification levels after assessment, and that level sets the budget for their care. Equipment and home modifications, such as grab rails or ramps, are funded through a separate assistive technology and home modifications scheme, which usually starts with an assessment.
What you contribute depends on the category. Clinical supports are generally government funded, so you typically don’t pay a contribution for them, although the cost still comes out of your budget. Contributions for independence and everyday living supports depend on an income and assets assessment through Services Australia. Rules and amounts are updated from time to time, so confirm current details at myagedcare.gov.au.
Where Do Speech Therapy and OT Fit in?
Speech pathology and occupational therapy both sit within clinical supports. They can be funded when they relate to your assessed needs and are included in your support plan. They are not extras, but they are often left out simply because no one asked for them.
Here is how the main allied health services compare:
How can a speech pathologist help?
A speech pathologist assesses and treats communication and swallowing difficulties. In older adults, these often follow a stroke, or come with Parkinson’s disease, dementia or other neurological conditions. Treatment can include therapy for aphasia (difficulty finding or understanding words), slurred speech, voice changes and swallowing problems known as dysphagia.
Swallowing is a good example of why this matters. Coughing during meals, a wet or gurgly voice after eating, food avoidance or unexplained weight loss are all reasons to ask for a swallowing assessment. Left unaddressed, swallowing problems can lead to chest infections and poor nutrition.
How can an occupational therapist help?
An occupational therapist focuses on what a person needs to do each day and how to keep doing it safely. That might mean reviewing the bathroom for falls risks, recommending equipment, adjusting how someone showers, dresses or prepares meals, or building routines that support memory. OTs also often provide the assessments that support equipment and home modification funding.
Why are they worth raising at your assessment?
What Doesn't My Aged Care Cover?
My Aged Care and its programs do not cover everything, and the exclusions often surprise families. In general, funding does not extend to the following:
- Everyday living costs such as rent, mortgage payments, groceries and utility bills
- Holidays, entertainment and general leisure expenses
- Services already funded elsewhere, such as GP visits, hospital care and medicines through the PBS
- NDIS-funded supports, because you generally can't receive both for the same support
- Allied health or other services that aren't linked to your assessed needs and support plan
- Fees above the amount in your budget, which you may need to pay yourself
How Do I Register for My Aged Care?
You can register online at myagedcare.gov.au or by phone on 1800 200 422, which is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Keep your Medicare card nearby. A family member or someone you trust can also register or call on your behalf.
- Gather your details. You will need your Medicare card, contact details and a few notes about how you manage day to day.
- Register online or by phone. Answer questions about your situation. The screening is short, and you don't need an online account to complete it by phone.
- Request an assessment. The outcome of this screening decides what type of assessment you receive.
- Attend the assessment. An assessor, usually at your home, talks through your needs and goals. It is free, and you are welcome to have a family member or carer present.
- Receive your outcome. You will be told which programs you are approved for and given a support plan.
Try to describe your harder days rather than your best ones. An assessment that reflects your real needs is more likely to result in the right support.
What Happens After You Register?
After registration, you are assessed and, if approved for Support at Home, you wait for funding to be assigned. This depends on your priority level, so waits vary. Once funding is assigned, you generally have 56 days to enter a service agreement with a provider.
If you will be contributing to your care costs, you will also complete an income and assets assessment through Services Australia, which you can start on 1800 227 475. You then choose a provider, and the My Aged Care find a provider tool lists registered options.
When you choose a provider, ask specific questions:
- Do they offer speech pathology and OT, and do they visit your home or work from a clinic?
- How do they charge for allied health, and how will it show on your statements?
- Who coordinates your care, and how do referrals to allied health work?
Can I See a Speech Pathologist or OT Without My Aged Care?
Yes. My Aged Care is one pathway to funded allied health, not the only one. Depending on your circumstances, other options may include:
- Medicare rebates. A GP can assess whether you are eligible for a chronic disease management plan, which may provide rebates for a limited number of allied health visits each year.
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Private health insurance. Many extras policies include speech pathology and OT, subject to your cover and annual limits.
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Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). Eligible veterans may have allied health funded through DVA.
- Private payment. You can book directly, without waiting for an assessment or funding.
If you are waiting for an assessment or funding, private or Medicare-supported allied health can be a way to start sooner. Speech Pathology Australia and Occupational Therapy Australia both list accredited practitioners, which helps you confirm a clinician’s qualifications.
Where to Start
If you have been putting it off, registering now is worthwhile even if you don’t need much help yet. It creates a record that makes it faster to get assessed when your needs change. A short call to 1800 200 422 is enough to begin.
If you are unsure whether swallowing, communication or daily-living difficulties are something an allied health professional can help with, a conversation with a speech pathologist or OT is a sensible next step. You’re welcome to contact our team to ask your questions.
William Huynh is a senior speech pathologist and the director of NDIS-registered provider Brighter Futures Allied Health. He has over a decade of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs, including disability, dysphagia, and acquired language impairments. William has completed specialist training in approaches such as Key Word Sign, LAMP Words for Life, Grid 3, and Hanen’s More Than Words. He also supervises speech pathologists and student placements, supporting evidence-based and family-centred practice.
