My Aged Care – Key Terms
Key Term Description
ACAT/ACAS Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs, or ACAS in Victoria)
conduct face-to-face Comprehensive Assessments to determine a
Client’s eligibility for care types under the Aged Care Act 1997 (the
Act), with approval subject to a decision by an ACAT Delegate.
Administrator Administrators are responsible for setting up the organisation in
the portal, including managing outlets, service information and all
(Organisation staff user accounts.
Administrator)
People assigned an Administrator role at an organisation level can
view and manage information for the entire organisation in the
portal.
People assigned an Administrator role for one or more outlet(s) in
the organisation will only be able to view and manage information
for the outlet(s) they have been assigned.
Aged Care Act The Act is the legislative basis for the Australian system of aged
1997 care. Commonwealth-subsidised aged care is provided under the
Act as either residential, home care, or flexible care. The Act also
enables the Minister to make Principles required or permitted
under the Act, or necessary or convenient to carry out or give
effect to Parts or sections of the Act (see section 96-1 of the Act).
Apply for an Apply for an assessment online is a service for consumers to
assessment request their first aged care assessment for themselves or on
online behalf of their family or friend. This service can be accessed via
the My Aged Care website (https://myagedcare.gov.au/apply-
online).
Approval Approval by an ACAT Delegate (following Comprehensive
Assessment) for a client to receive care types under the Act.
Carer A person who has a role in supporting a person with their ongoing
needs. A carer can also be a client in their own right.
For more information refer to the Carer Recognition Act 2010,
Part 1, Section 5.
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Client Record The My Aged Care client record includes client details (and carer
or representative details), details about assessments and resulting
support plan/s information about service/s(s) received, and a Client
Summary tab.
The Client Summary tab is a consolidated dashboard overview of
the key details contained in the Client Record. Clients and their
representatives can view similar information within their record on
the My Aged Care Client Portal, accessed via myGov.
Commonwealth As an ‘entry-level’ program, the CHSP is designed to help frail
Home Support older people who need support to live independently in their
Programme homes and communities as long as possible as they get older. The
(CHSP) program aims to them:
• stay independent and safe in their own homes
• focus on working with them, rather than doing things for
them
• give a small amount of help to a large number of people.
• stay socially active
• stay connected with their community
It supports carers by providing respite services to give carers a
break.
CHSP operates in every State and Territory across Australia and
funds a large variety of organisations (called service providers) to
deliver care and services. The program aims to build on people’s
individual strengths and abilities to help them remain living
independently and safely at home.
CHSP Grandfathered clients are those clients who were already receiving
Grandfathered services (through the former Commonwealth Home and
Client Community Care, National Respite for Carers Program, Day
Therapy Centres Program or Assistance with Care and Housing
for the Aged Program) prior to the Commonwealth Home Support
Programme (CHSP) commencing in July 2015.
Comprehensive An assessment that considers a client’s restorative, physical,
Assessment medical, psychological, cultural and social needs that require the
provision of care. Comprehensive Assessments are undertaken by
ACATs for aged care services under the Act.
The outcome of the assessment is sent to a Delegate for review
and approval of care types under the Act (Permanent Residential
Care, Low/High Residential Respite, Home Care Packages
Program, Transition Care Programme, Short-Term Restorative
Care).
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Consent Agreement by an authorised party for something to happen,
something to be done, or information to be held and shared.
Customer Staff employed at the My Aged Care contact centre (CSS). They
Solutions are responsible for providing information to consumers, registering
Specialists clients and undertaking screening to determine the correct
(CSS) pathway that will meet the client’s needs. They also assist
assessors and service providers with My Aged Care system
issues.
Decision A set of rules that have been built into the National Screening and
Support Assessment Form (NSAF) which generates recommendations for
the assessment workforce based on a client’s identified needs.
Find a Provider A search function available on the My Aged Care website that
tool allows an individual to search and view information about
government funded aged care services.
Flexible Care Flexible care acknowledges that the needs of aged care recipients
may require a different care approach than that provided through
mainstream residential and home care. Flexible care includes care
provided through the:
• Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Program
• Transition Care Programme
• Short-Term Restorative Care Programme, and the
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged
Care Program.
Home Support A face-to-face assessment to determine a client’s needs, goals,
Assessment and eligibility to access entry-level aged care services.
Home Support A person qualified to undertake Home Support Assessment, and
Assessor part of the Regional Assessment Service (RAS).
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Home Care The Home Care Packages Program (HCP) helps older Australians
Packages with complex care needs to live independently in their own homes.
Program (HCP)
Under the Aged Care Act 1997, the Australian Government
provides a subsidy to an approved provider of home care to
coordinate a package of care, services and case management to
meet the individual needs of older Australians. There are four
levels of support:
• Home Care Level 1 – basic care needs
• Home Care Level 2 – low level care needs
• Home Care Level 3 – intermediate care needs
• Home Care Level 4 – high care needs
Interim Home An Interim Home Care Package is a Home Care Package
Care Package assigned or received by a client, at a level lower than their
approved level of care. A client can choose not to be considered
for assignment of an Interim Home Care Package and can set a
minimum level for an Interim Home Care package (up to 2 levels
lower than their approved level).
Linking Support A Home Support Assessor may identify during a Home Support
Assessment that a client has complex circumstances that may be
a barrier to accessing aged care services. In these circumstances
they can provide linking support to assist the client to access
various services they require.
Make a referral An online referral form accessed from the My Aged Care website.
form Doctors, specialists, health professionals and practitioners, service
providers, assessors and community workers can use the form to
refer a person for aged care services. Submission of the form may
initiate registration, screening and referral for assessment.
Consumers can apply for an assessment using the Apply for an
assessment online form.
Multi-Purpose The MPS Program provides integrated health and aged care
Services (MPS) services for small regional and remote communities, allowing
Program services to exist in regions that could not viably support stand-
alone hospitals or aged care homes.
My Aged Care My Aged Care is the main entry point to the aged care system in
Australia. My Aged Care aims to make it easier for older people,
their families, and carers to access information on ageing and
aged care, have their needs assessed and be supported to find
and access services.
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January 2020
Key Term Description
myGovID myGovID is a secure digital identity provider managed by the
Australian Taxation Office. myGovID is used in conjunction with
the Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) service, authorising
individuals to use participating government online services on
behalf of a business.
National The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged
Aboriginal and Care Program funds organisations to provide culturally appropriate
Torres Strait aged care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Islander close to home and community.
Flexible Aged
Care Program
National A form that supports CSS to undertake screening, RAS to
Screening and undertake Home Support Assessment, and ACAT to undertake
Assessment Comprehensive Assessment. It ensures that questions are
Form (NSAF) appropriate to each level of assessment and that there is a
nationally consistent and holistic screening and assessment
process.
National The way in which clients approved for the Home Care Packages
Priority System program will be prioritised for assignment of a home care package.
This national process is managed by the Department of Health
based on the outcomes of assessments and approvals for home
care as completed by ACATs.
New A New Assessment will be undertaken when there is a significant
Assessment change in a client’s needs or circumstances which affect the
objectives of the existing Support Plan.
Changes to the priority for home care will need a New Assessment
by an ACAT to inform the ACAT delegate of the evidence that
constitutes the need for a new decision around priority.
Non-funded Services not directly funded by a Commonwealth Aged Care
Service programme.
Notes CSS, assessors and service providers and hospital staff can add
different types of notes about clients through the My Aged Care
portals.
Outlet An outlet is how different aged care organisations are represented
in the My Aged Care portals. An organisation can have multiple
outlets in the system. Electronic referrals are sent to individual
outlets.
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Primary contact First point of telephone contact for the My Aged Care contact
person centre, assessor, and service providers. This can be a carer,
family member or a client themselves.
Priority A rating generated by decision support – or set by a CSS or
assessor – that identifies a client’s level of priority to access
assessment and/or services. The priority rating has associated
timeframes attached that identifies the urgency in which a client
should be assessed and/or provided with services.
A priority for home care services is the outcome of an ACAT
delegate decision for the purposes of prioritising a home care
client for assignment of a home care package.
RAS The My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will
conduct a face-to-face Home Support Assessment for clients
seeking access to CHSP services.
Reablement Reablement involves time-limited interventions that are targeted
towards a person’s specific goal or desired outcome to adapt to
some functional loss or regain confidence and capacity to resume
activities. Support could include training in a new skill or relearning
a lost skill, modification to a client’s home environment or having
access to equipment or assistive technology.
Referral code A code given to the client (by a CSS or an assessor) to allow them
to visit different service providers to discuss their needs prior to
choosing their preferred provider and enables the provider to
access the client’s record. Referral codes are generated for
individual services.
Clients can choose to have a referral code given to them or
choose an electronic referral method.
Home Care clients will receive a referral code when they are
assigned a Home Care Package.
Referral for A referral sent by the My Aged Care contact centre to an aged
assessment care assessment organisation requesting an assessment (Home
Support Assessment or Comprehensive Assessment) for a client.
ACAT assessors are also able to self-refer clients for assessment.
Referral for A referral sent by either the My Aged Care contact centre or
service assessors to a service provider requesting a service for a client.
Referrals can be sent electronically, or a client can be issued a
Referral code.
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Registration The process undertaken to record a Client or Representative in the
My Aged Care system for the purpose of accessing aged care
services, or representing someone accessing aged care services.
Remote Access Access to My Aged Care and aged care services for those who
live in remote and very remote locations.
Representative Clients can nominate one or more representative(s), (e.g. a carer),
to speak and act on their behalf. The My Aged Care system
enables a representative to be classified as regular or authorised.
If an older person is capable of providing consent for someone
else to speak and act for them, they can set up someone else as
their regular representative.
If an older person is not capable of providing consent for someone
else to speak on their behalf, they will need an authorised
representative. Authorised representatives need to provide My
Aged Care with legal documentation to show that they can legally
act in this role.
Residential Residential care is provided in a residential facility to people who
care can no longer live at home. This type of care is provided on either
an ongoing or short-term (respite) basis and includes appropriate
staffing, services and support to meet the daily care needs of the
person.
Screening A discovery process undertaken by the CSS to identify the client’s
most appropriate assessment referral pathway. In certain
circumstances, the screening can result in referrals for urgent
services where appropriate.
Seeking This is an indicator of a client approved for home care and their
services (home preference for accessing a Home Care Package. If the client is
care only) approved for a Home Care Package and seeking home care
services they will be added to the National Priority System to await
assignment of a Home Care Package.
Sensitive Information about a client in the form of a note type that has
Information (in restricted visibility to users. This is dependent on role type.
client record)
Service The area where an organisation delivers services. This can be
delivery area from a specified location (provider location) or to an area where
the service is provided to clients in their own home (at client
location).
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Short-Term STRC provides a range of care and services for up to eight weeks
Restorative to help prevent or reduce difficulties older people are having with
Care (STRC) completing everyday tasks. It can be accessed from the
community and is designed for people not currently receiving a
home care package, residential care, or transition care. It aims to
improve wellbeing and independence to help people continue
living in their own home.
Support Plan A plan developed by the RAS or ACAT with the client. The Support
Plan identifies the client’s needs, goals and service preferences.
Assessors and service providers can view a client’s Support Plan
via the My Aged Care Portals. Clients and their representatives will
be able to view this information on the My Aged Care Client Portal
via myGov.
Support Plan An evaluation of a client’s Support Plan undertaken by the RAS or
Review ACAT. A review can be requested by the client, service provider,
or scheduled by an assessor. The review may result in a change in
services, or a New Assessment.
Team Leader A person who is assigned the Team Leader role for an outlet in the
Assessor and Service Provider Portals will be responsible for
managing referrals (accepting, rejecting or revoking) and assigning
referrals to staff.
Transition Care Transition care provides short-term, time limited and goal
orientated care that seeks to optimise the functioning,
independence and confidence of older people after a hospital
admission. It seeks to enable more people to return home after
hospital admission rather than prematurely enter a residential aged
care facility. Transition care can only be accessed directly upon
discharge from hospital.
Wallet check A wallet check is a method of client identity verification that
involves sighting two documents that identify the client and noting
this on the client’s record.
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January 2020
Key Term Description
Wellness A philosophy that focuses on whole-of-system support to maximise
a client’s independence and autonomy. It is based on the premise
that even with frailty, chronic illness, or disability; people generally
have the desire and capacity to make gains in their physical,
social, and emotional wellbeing and to live autonomously and
independently.
Wellness emphasises prevention, optimising physical function and
active participation. It focuses on finding the service solutions to
best support each individuals aspirations to maintain and
strengthen their capacity to continue with their activities of daily
living, social and community connections.
