15/10/2026
Juniper welcomes the Government's decision to release further information about how the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) works, publish draft rules for an escalation pathway, and commission an independent review of the assessment system.
Earlier this year, in our submission to the inquiry into the transition from the Commonwealth Home Support Programme to Support at Home, Juniper raised concerns that algorithm-driven assessments could result in funding decisions that do not accurately reflect an older person's care needs. We also called for greater transparency around how assessment decisions are determined and the role of clinical judgement in the process.
While these announcements from the Government are positive steps, the information released to date reinforces concerns that the assessment model may not adequately recognise clinical complexity, including dementia and other complex health conditions, and places limited weight on professional judgement.
The proposed escalation pathway also appears focused on exceptional circumstances where an older person’s situation is significantly different from another’s at the same classification level. While this may provide an important safeguard for some older people, it remains unclear whether it will address broader concerns about people being consistently under-classified by the assessment model.
Russell Bricknell, CEO of Juniper, said greater transparency and independent scrutiny of the assessment system were welcome, but older Australians needed confidence that the system was identifying their needs accurately and providing timely access to support.
“The release of the algorithm, the proposed escalation pathway and the announcement of an independent review are important steps forward, and we certainly thank the Government for listening and responding to our concerns,” Mr Bricknell said.
“However, reviews take time. Older Australians really need assurance that the assessment system is accurately identifying their care needs now.
“Getting these decisions right matters. When people do not receive the level of support they need at home, the consequences extend beyond the individual. It can accelerate declining health, increase demand on hospitals and place further pressure on the broader health and aged care systems.
“Many older Australians cannot wait until the review reports in 2027 to have confidence they are being assessed fairly and receiving support that reflects their needs.”
Juniper is calling on the Government to ensure the review leads to practical improvements to the assessment system, including stronger recognition of clinical complexity, greater weighting of professional judgement, and a clear mechanism for assessors to intervene when a classification does not accurately reflect an older person's care needs.
