What to expect at a RAS assessment

Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment will look at your home and care support needs

You need to have a regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment to access government subsidised through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is for people who need a little bit of help with everyday tasks or activities, or a burst of care for immediate needs.

A RAS assessor will contact you to make an appointment within 2-3 weeks of your referral by My Aged Care (MAC). Find out how to get a referral for an assessment.

What happens at an assessment

A member of the RAS team will visit you in your home. They will work with you to identify your strength, any areas of difficulty, and your goals. Your assessor will do this as an "active" assessment which means they will look at your:

• Daily tasks - they'll want to see how you are doing them now, and where you might be facing challenges
• Carers and community - to understand your support system and needs
• Goals and aspirations - what's important to you?
• health and wellbeing - do you have any health concerns? 

After this, your RAS assessor will develop a home support plan. This plan is tailored to your individual needs. It will send out the types of services; short term or long term, that will best help you live independently. Additionally, RAS assessors liaise with your service providers, General Practitioners (GPs) and specialists, and community support network on your behalf to make sure your goals can be achieved.

What you should know

Getting a RAS assessment is completely free, and ensures that you are able to access funded supports to help you continue to live independently at home. Your assessor can give you options for services in your area so that you can choose the right care for you. 

If you want RDNS to provide these services, you will need to request your referral code from your assessor.  The assessment will take between 45 minutes and 2 hours. 

You can:

• Have a friend, relative or carer present if you would like
• Ask My Aged Care for an interpreter to be present 

Before your face-to-face assessment, you should make sure you have all the documentation and information prepared for the visit. 

This includes:

• A Medicare card 
• A form of ID proof – like a driver’s license, healthcare card, passport or Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) card 
• Copy of referrals from your doctor 
• If you wish, ask a support person to be there for your assessment 
• Any information about previous aged care services you have received 
• Contact details for your GP or other health professionals 
• Information on any support you receive from family, Neighbour's or the community 

Some of the questions they will ask you will relate to your personal situation, lifestyle, and health, and will inquire into whether you are receiving any other types of support. 

To find out if you are eligible for CHSP services contact My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422 to request a RAS assessment.

Alternatively, you can also pay privately for aged care services that you need. Private services allow you to receive the care you need without waiting for an assessment for government funding.