About the Assessment and MACIA

Understanding the assessment process is the first step to getting a fair outcome. MACIA helps you prepare clearly, answer honestly, and avoid the common pitfalls that lead to lower support.

What is the assessment tool?

When you apply for aged care support through My Aged Care, an assessor visits and works through a standard set of questions. This tool is officially called the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT). It replaced the older ACAT/ACAS system and is now the gateway to government-funded aged care support in Australia.

The assessment covers 10 sections including daily function, cognition, health, psychosocial wellbeing, and carer arrangements. It is often completed in a single face-to-face visit of around 60 to 90 minutes.

Why MACIA exists

MACIA (My Aged Care Assessment Assistant) exists because the process is opaque. Most people are not shown how questions are interpreted or how answers influence support levels.

MACIA is not about exaggeration. It helps people communicate their real day-to-day needs clearly so the assessment reflects reality.

How the process works

The assessment follows a staged path from intake through to support allocation.

1

Triage

Initial intake through My Aged Care collects key information and determines whether a full assessment is required.

2

Comprehensive Assessment

An assessor works through all assessment sections and enters your responses into a weighted, threshold-based scoring model.

3

Support Plan

Classification plus assessor judgement determines your support level, funding range, and service options.

The stoicism problem

Many older Australians understate difficulty by saying they manage fine, even with pain, fatigue, falls risk, or heavy reliance on family.

The computer cannot guess what you don't say. If support needs are not described, they are usually not counted.

Describe your worst day, not your best day.

Classification outcomes

The assessment generally classifies people into one of these outcome groups:

Ineligible

May be referred to alternative community services.

CHSP

Entry-level supports for lower-level needs.

Support at Home: Levels 1-4

Low to moderate care needs.

Support at Home: Levels 5-8

Higher and more complex care needs.

Useful resources

How to Use MACIA

My Aged Care

Official Australian Government aged care portal.

OPAN

Older Persons Advocacy Network (free and independent support).

Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission

Complaints, quality standards, and rights.

Department of Health

Aged care policy, reform, and legislation.

Documents

'Stuff of nightmares' — The Guardian

The Guardian Australia article (Feb 2026) that inspired MACIA. Reports a 50% surge in calls for help after the IAT launch, with assessors unable to override clearly wrong outcomes.

Read on The Guardian Download PDF

IAT User Guide v2.4

The official 411-page Integrated Assessment Tool User Guide (November 2025) used by assessors. Contains all 409 questions and response options.

Read on health.gov.au

Aged Care Act 2024

The full authorised legislation (Compilation No. 1) that establishes the IAT as the prescribed assessment tool and defines classification methodology.

View on legislation.gov.au Download PDF

Ready to prepare properly?

Use the guide and tools to understand each assessment section before your assessment.

Browse the Guide Start Your Assessment