The Weekly SOURCE has interviewed two former aged care assessors from the Single Assessment System (SAS), who have spoken out about corner-cutting, inadequate training, and unrealistic workload expectations – issues they say ultimately forced them to quit their roles.
The former assessors, who wish to remain anonymous to protect their future careers, say their clinical skills are being downgraded under the SAS, which was introduced from 1 January 2025 and meant to streamline assessments and make it easier for older people to access Government-funded aged care services.
One assessment organisation that is only conducting phone or online assessments is also requiring assessors to sign 'Application for Care' forms on behalf of clients, even though the form stipulates the assessor is only to sign in "exceptional circumstances".
Delegators approving lower levels of care
The assessors told The Weekly SOURCE that delegators – who have the final say on approved care – often downgrade their clinical recommendations, approving lower levels of care than advised. They also revealed they are expected to complete two assessments per day, even when this involves driving hundreds of kilometres, while inadequate buddy systems and burdensome online training add to the pressure.
Both assessors, who each have more than 20 years' clinical experience, are no longer in their roles.
"The problems needs to be known and things need to change because there are people that are going to die," said one. "You're dealing with very, very vulnerable people."
These revelations follow exclusive reports in The Weekly SOURCE that older people are being told they will have to wait nine months for an aged care assessment, and that some assessments organisations are conducting all assessments by phone or telehealth to clear significant backlogs. We also reported on an older couple being asked to assess each other’s care needs during a phone assessment.
Assessments outstanding after seven months
A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DOHDA) told The Weekly SOURCE: "Since the commencement of the Single Assessment System workforce in December 2024, the majority of aged care assessments have been conducted face-to-face.
"Assessors must make additional effort to ensure the quality of telehealth aged care assessments are not compromised and that assessment decisions remain evidence-based. Assessment organisations are required to meet key performance indicators (KPIs) for face-to-face assessments."
The spokesperson said there is still a backlog of assessments, with just under 10% of referrals as of 1 January 2025 still to be completed.
Growing recognition of SAS problems
During the week, Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne (pictured right), who will chair David Pocock's inquiry into the decision to delay aged care reforms, requested all communication since 3 May 2025 between the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Minister for Aged Care about aged care assessment wait times be released.
The deadline for the request is next Wednesday, 6 August.
There is no publicly available data on wait times for aged care assessments, but earlier this month, the DOHDA told The Weekly SOURCE that the national average wait time for an initial assessment was 44.7 days for the three-month period from 1 March to 31 May 2025. For the same period, the average wait time for a reassessment (which make up 65% of all assessments) was 50 days.
The Department is due to publish wait time data for aged care assessments from 1 November 2025 under legislative reporting requirements.
Earlier this month, SATURDAY reported Meghan Hird had been waiting 10 months for her father, who is living with dementia, to be assessed. She tells us an assessment has now been arranged.