Aged care in Australia runs on acronyms, and most of them are never explained to the people who have to use them. These are the ones you are most likely to meet, in plain English.
Several terms changed on 1 November 2025 when the Aged Care Act 2024 commenced. Where that has happened, the old term is noted, because a lot of information still in circulation uses it.
A to C
ACAT An Aged Care Assessment Team. This term is now out of date. Assessments are handled by a single assessment workforce, and the current term is simply an aged care assessment, carried out by an aged care needs assessor. You will still see ACAT used widely, including by some providers.
Aged care assessment The government assessment that determines what subsidised care someone is eligible for. It is free, it happens at home, and almost nothing government funded proceeds without it.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission The regulator. It handles complaints about providers and can take action against them.
AN-ACC The funding model used to work out how much the government pays an aged care home for a particular resident's care. It affects the provider's subsidy, not directly what the resident pays.
Basic daily fee The standard fee everyone pays in residential aged care, covering meals, laundry, cleaning and utilities. It is set at 85 per cent of the single Age Pension and changes when the pension does.
CHSP The Commonwealth Home Support Programme. Entry level help at home for people who need a small amount of support. It still operates and was not replaced by Support at Home.
Comprehensive assessment The more detailed of the two assessment types. Required for Support at Home, residential aged care and residential respite.
D to M
DAP A Daily Accommodation Payment. Paying for an aged care room as a daily amount rather than a lump sum.
Home support assessment The lighter of the two assessment types, used for entry level services through CHSP.
Home Care Package The former home care funding programme. It closed to new applicants on 1 November 2025 and was replaced by Support at Home. People who already had one were moved across automatically.
Means assessment The income and assets assessment run by Services Australia that determines how much someone contributes towards their own care.
MPIR The Maximum Permissible Interest Rate. The published rate used to convert a lump sum accommodation payment into a daily one. It changes quarterly.
My Aged Care The government entry point to subsidised aged care, on 1800 200 422. It arranges assessments and lists providers. It does not deliver care, handle complaints, or run the means assessment.
N to Z
No worse off principle A protection for people who were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, ensuring they pay the same or less under Support at Home.
OPAN The Older Persons Advocacy Network, on 1800 700 600. Free, independent advocacy. Not connected to providers and not selling anything.
RAD A Refundable Accommodation Deposit. A lump sum paid for a room in an aged care home, refunded when the person leaves, less any amounts the provider is permitted to deduct.
Registered provider A provider approved to deliver government subsidised aged care. Replaced the older term approved provider.
Registered supporter A person formally recorded as helping someone make their own decisions about aged care. Introduced by the Aged Care Act 2024.
Respite care Short term care so a usual carer can take a break. Available at home, in the community, or in an aged care home.
Statement of Rights The set of rights held by people receiving aged care, set out in the Aged Care Act 2024. It replaced the Charter of Aged Care Rights on 1 November 2025.
Star ratings A rating out of five published for residential aged care homes on My Aged Care. There is no equivalent rating for home care providers.
Support at Home The programme that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. It funds help at home through eight classifications, each with a quarterly budget.
If a term is missing
Tell us and we will add it. Send it to hello@agedcarehq.com.au and say where you came across it, which helps us explain it in the right context.