How to Register for My Aged Care — Step-by-Step Guide for Families

My Aged Care is the single gateway to all government-subsidised aged care services in Australia. Whether your parent needs a few hours of home help or comprehensive daily support, registration here is the mandatory first step. No registration, no assessment, no funding.

How to Register

There are two ways:

By phone — Call 1800 200 422 (weekdays 8am–8pm, Saturdays 10am–2pm local time). This is the better option if an adult child is managing the process, because you can establish Registered Supporter status during the same call.

Online — Visit myagedcare.gov.au and create an account using a myGov login. The online portal handles basic registration but doesn't let you set up supporter access as smoothly.

During registration, My Aged Care collects:

• The applicant's full name, date of birth, and Medicare number
• Current address and living arrangements
• A brief description of care needs and daily struggles
• Whether informal support (family, friends) is currently in place
• Emergency contact details

Setting Up Registered Supporter Status

This is the step most families miss — and it causes problems for months afterward.

If you are an adult child managing your parent's care, request to be added as a Registered Supporter during the initial call. This gives you legal permission to:

• Receive all correspondence from My Aged Care
• Access your parent's records through the My Aged Care portal
• Speak with assessors, providers, and government agencies on their behalf
• Make care decisions and manage service bookings

Without Registered Supporter status, My Aged Care cannot share information with you — even if your parent is present and consenting verbally. The formal registration locks it in.

Your parent needs to provide verbal consent during the call (or written consent if registering online). If the parent has lost cognitive capacity and no Enduring Power of Attorney is in place, this process becomes significantly harder — you may need to apply to the state Guardianship Tribunal.

What Happens After Registration

Once registered, My Aged Care conducts a screening assessment over the phone. Based on the applicant's described needs, they'll take one of two paths:

Basic needs → referral to a local Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) provider. Services can often start within weeks.

Complex or escalating needs → referral to the Single Assessment System (SAS) for a comprehensive in-home assessment. This is the pathway to Support at Home funding (the program that replaced Home Care Packages).

The triage decision depends on what you describe during the screening call. If your parent has experienced falls, hospital admissions, cognitive decline, or if informal care arrangements are breaking down, say so explicitly. These are the triggers that route the referral to the comprehensive assessment pathway rather than basic CHSP.

Tips for the Registration Call

Describe worst days, not average days. Parents who "manage most of the time" get triaged as low priority. Parents who "fell twice last month and can't shower safely without someone present" get assessed faster.

Mention carer strain. If you're the primary caregiver and your capacity is declining — due to your own employment, health, distance, or family obligations — state it clearly. Carer burnout is a recognised escalation trigger.

Have the parent present if possible. They'll need to provide verbal consent for supporter registration, and the screening representative may want to speak directly with them briefly.

Keep notes on the reference number. After registration, you'll receive a My Aged Care reference number. Write it down — you'll need it for every future interaction.

For a full preparation framework that extends from registration through assessment, provider selection, and budget management, see the Australia Home Care Guide.

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