Aged Care and Health Services Through Services Australia | 2026 Guide
If you’re looking into aged care or health support for yourself or a family member, it’s easy to get confused about which government website actually helps with what. Services Australia, My Aged Care, and healthdirect all play different roles, and this guide breaks down exactly what each one does and how they connect, so you know where to go for what you need.
Services Australia’s Role in Aged Care and Health
Services Australia, through Centrelink and Medicare, handles the payments and financial support side of ageing and healthcare. This includes income support payments for seniors, health care cards, and Medicare-funded services, but it doesn’t assess or arrange actual aged care services, that’s handled separately through My Aged Care.
Payments and Support for Older Australians
Through Centrelink, Services Australia manages several payments relevant to seniors:
- Age Pension – ongoing income support once you reach pension age
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – for self-funded retirees who don’t qualify for the Age Pension, giving access to cheaper medicines and some bulk-billed services
- Carer Payment and Carer Allowance – for people caring for an older family member with a disability or medical condition
- Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement – additional ongoing payments for eligible pensioners
Eligibility depends on your age, income, assets, and residency status, so it’s worth checking your specific situation through your Centrelink online account.
Medicare’s Role in Health Care for Seniors
Your Medicare card remains just as important as you get older. Medicare covers GP visits, specialist appointments, many hospital services, and works alongside the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to reduce medicine costs. Seniors with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or Pensioner Concession Card often receive additional discounts on prescriptions and some health services.
What Is My Aged Care?
My Aged Care is a separate government service, run by the Department of Health and Aged Care, that helps you access aged care services such as:
- Home care packages and in-home support
- Residential aged care (nursing homes)
- Short-term restorative care
- Aged care assessments
My Aged Care is not part of Services Australia, but the two connect closely. For example, Services Australia’s income and assets assessment is often used by My Aged Care to work out how much you’ll pay for aged care services and whether you qualify for government-subsidised support.
Official website: myagedcare.gov.au
What Is healthdirect?
healthdirect is an independent, government-funded service that provides free, trusted health advice and information. It’s not part of Services Australia either, but it’s a genuinely useful resource if you need:
- General health advice or symptom guidance
- Help finding a nearby doctor, pharmacy, or health service
- Access to the healthdirect helpline for urgent (non-emergency) health questions
Official website: healthdirect.gov.au
How to Get an Aged Care Financial Assessment Through Services Australia
If you or a family member is applying for aged care, an income and assets assessment is usually required to determine costs. Here’s how it generally works:
- Sign in to my.gov.au and select Centrelink.
- Go to the Aged care section of your Centrelink online account.
- Complete the Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care form (SA457), either online or on paper.
- Submit supporting documents, such as bank statements or asset details.
- Services Australia sends the assessment outcome to both you and My Aged Care.
This assessment helps determine your fees for home care packages or residential aged care.
How Services Australia, My Aged Care and healthdirect Work Together
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- Services Australia (Centrelink and Medicare) – handles your pension, health care cards, Medicare benefits, and the financial assessment for aged care costs
- My Aged Care – arranges and manages the actual aged care services, such as home support or residential care
- healthdirect – provides general health advice and helps you find local health services
Knowing which one to contact saves you time and gets you to the right place faster.
Common Questions People Have
Many people searching for aged care support aren’t sure where their query fits. If you’re asking about pension payments, health care cards, or Medicare, that’s Services Australia. If you’re asking about arranging home care, a nursing home, or an aged care assessment, that’s My Aged Care. If you’re after general health advice or finding a nearby service, that’s healthdirect.
FAQs About Aged Care and Health Services
Q: Is My Aged Care the same as Centrelink?
No, My Aged Care is run separately by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Services Australia handles related payments and financial assessments, but not aged care service arrangements themselves.
Q: Do I need a Centrelink assessment before applying for aged care?
Usually yes, an income and assets assessment through Services Australia helps determine your aged care costs and any government subsidy you may be eligible for.
Q: Can I get health advice through Services Australia?
Not directly. For general health advice, healthdirect.gov.au is the appropriate service, while Services Australia covers Medicare benefits and payments.
Q: What payments are available for older Australians through Centrelink?
Common payments include the Age Pension, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Carer Payment, and various pensioner supplements, depending on your circumstances.
Q: How do I contact My Aged Care or healthdirect?
Both have their own official websites and phone lines. Visit myagedcare.gov.au or healthdirect.gov.au directly for accurate, up-to-date contact details.
Conclusion
Aged care and health support in Australia involves a few different government services, each with a specific role. Services Australia looks after your pension, health care cards, and Medicare benefits, while My Aged Care arranges aged care services and healthdirect offers general health advice. Understanding how they connect makes it much easier to get the right support, without wasting time on the wrong website.
