A government algorithm used to determine funding levels for older Australians receiving Support at Home packages was the subject of an 11th-hour change after officials discovered assessors could not legally override its recommendations, according to freedom-of-information (FOI) documents.
The Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) uses information gathered by assessors about an older person’s physical, social and personal circumstances to determine their level of government-funded home support.
As reported by The Guardian, senior Department of Health, Disability and Ageing officials had previously indicated assessors would be able to use clinical judgement to override an algorithmic decision they considered incorrect.
However, emails obtained under FOI laws reportedly show officials discovered the Aged Care Rules 2025 did not provide legal discretion to override the algorithm. The issue prompted an emergency briefing for Aged Care Minister Sam Rae and Health Minister Mark Butler shortly before the tool was introduced.
The documents also reveal concerns raised by assessment organisations following the rollout, including reports that the algorithm was under-assessing some older people.
In one email, a senior departmental official said most assessment organisations had raised concerns about the inability to override the IAT classification, with assessors providing examples where outcomes did not appear to reflect clients’ needs.
A workaround was subsequently introduced under which existing funding amounts could temporarily remain in place while a lower clinical classification was recorded.
The issue follows earlier reporting by The Guardian about concerns from aged care workers, advocates and clinicians regarding the IAT and its treatment of complex individual circumstances.
The government has indicated it will establish an escalation pathway allowing decisions to be reviewed and changed, although the current process does not restore an immediate assessor override.
The Coalition has called for human decision-making to be restored to the assessment process, while the government has maintained that the IAT provides a consistent way of determining support based on an older person’s assessed needs.
