Getting started with home care

How to apply

Contact My Aged Care

Visit My Aged Care or phone them on 1800 200 422 to request an assessment, or contact our friendly team for a referral.

Assessment

My Aged Care will contact you with a time and date for your assessment. This will determine if you're eligible for a Home Care Package and which level of funding meets your support needs.

Approval

You’ll receive a letter from My Aged Care to confirm the outcome of your assessment. If approved you’ll be placed on the national waitlist until your package becomes available.

Choose

Once your Home Care Package is assigned, you can choose a provider like Australian Unity to deliver your services. We’ll work with you to develop a plan and package of services to meet your needs and goals.

When to contact Australian Unity

Three months before receiving access to your package, you will get a ‘Readiness letter’ from My Aged Care.

This is an important letter as it will contain some paperwork you will need to complete. Call us when you receive this letter on 1300 160 170 and we can help you complete the paperwork.

At this time, we can also start planning your support, so you are ready to receive services when your package becomes available.

Helpful articles

Understanding Home Care Packages

When the time comes to apply for a Home Care Package, knowing the ins and outs of the various levels of funding is important. Australian Unity’s Funding Manager, Claire Watson, outlines how each funding level can impact the support you’ll receive.

Learn more

The benefits of a Home Care Package

Home care customer Coleen Flynn is enjoying more support and extra time to herself, thanks to services funded through her Home Care Package and provided by her Australian Unity care team.

Learn more

New to home care?

If you’re new to home care, a great place to start is with an assessment to confirm if you’re eligible for government subsidised services.

You could be a candidate for basic services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, or be approved for a Home Care Package, which provides funding for more comprehensive support.