Australia adopts integrated tool for enhanced aged care assessment

The IAT was tested and refined by 22 organisations during a live trial in 2023.

Australia has introduced the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) as a key step towards implementing the new Single Assessment System for aged care.

The new tool is designed to evaluate the eligibility of older people for government-subsidised aged care, allowing assessors to gather information and tailor service recommendations and referrals to an individual’s specific needs.

Moreover, it features new assessment questions and focus areas, including medical, financial, legal, social and behavioural matters.

“We're working towards a single assessment pathway, where older people will only have to tell their story once and won’t need to move to a different assessor organisation if their needs change,” Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, said.

The tool was tested and refined by 22 assessor organisations during a live trial in 2023.

This follows the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which highlighted that the assessment process was often confusing for older people and their families.