Getting
Started

Aged Care

How this all works

 

Moving a loved one into accommodation more suited to their changing lifestyle needs is overwhelming. You face logistical challenges and financial complexities at a time of incredible emotional strain and uncertainty. We get it and we want to help.

Here we’ve created five simple, manageable steps, along with a list of FAQs, for you to follow to help you understand the practical and financial side of the process.

Contact us Today
  • Step 1
Complete an Assessment

The first step is to contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to organise an Aged Care Assessment. The assessment is entirely free of charge and determines the best level of care for you.

Go to Assessment
  • Step 2
Choose your Provider

Make sure you choose a provider, like Scalabrini, whose values match your own. Consider things like levels of care, sense of community, proximity to family and friends.

Read Scalabrini's Values
  • Step 3
Take a Tour

You can only learn so much online. Take a tour of your chosen facility and see for yourself. Be inquisitive and come ready with all your pre-planned questions.

Our Villages
  • Step 4
Finances & Logistics

Complete a government financial assessment to better understand what contribution you can expect. And don’t forget, we’re always happy to guide you through this.

Financial Assessment
  • Step 5
Apply for our facility

Then move in and let us take care of the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your AN-ACC Referral Codes.

Make sure you have your Care Assessment Completed by an Aged Care Assessment Team. This determines the level of care that you require.

To organise, please contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422

Enduring Guardianship and / or Power of Attorney documents.

It’s important to have these legal documents in place when you enter Aged Care.

Scalabrini has a deep and unwavering mission to provide faith-based and empathetic care, especially to migrant communities who want to maintain a close relationship to their heritage and traditions.

We passionately believe that our residents, along with their families, should always have full empowerment and control of their choices and their decisions.

Scalabrini’s role is to provide a high level of care and support when needed, and to make our residents feel at home from the very first day of their stay with us.

Remarkable Care

Our Registered Nurses are available around-the-clock ensuring all is well.

We understand the emotional upheaval you may feel when leaving your family home. Our wonderful team are there to support you during this time. They will work closely with you and your family to understand what you need and will be there every step of the way to make sure you are settled in and comfortable.

Feel at Home

The feeling of ‘home’ is such an integral part of our day to day life at Scalabrini and we encourage you to bring with you items that are dear to you, to make your space truly your own.

Our onsite qualified Chefs prepare nutritious, home-style meals that are cooked freshly for you everyday. 

With large open spaces, there is ample space to enjoy the sunshine with family and friends.

Scalabrini would not be what it is today without the love, support and spiritual guidance of our Religious Sisters and the Scalabrini Fathers. 

Across Scalabrini our sisters live and work onsite in each of our villages. They give to our residents and their families a spiritual presence and focus on care, comfort and compassion. 

Our Sisters provide spiritual programs, companionship and grief support to our residents and their families, regardless of faith.

All Scalabrini villages have an onsite chapel for prayer and worship. These peaceful spaces provide opportunities for individual and community reflection.

There are many different fees and it is like when you go into a hotel except at Scalabrini we provide a Hotel of Care.

  • Accommodation Payments relate to your chosen room at one of our villages but you get to choose how you pay:
    • Daily Accommodation Paymentbut you can avoid this if you instead pay a deposit Refundable Accommodation Deposit. Think of a Daily Accommodation Payment like rent and a Refundable Accommodation Deposit like a paying in advance in cash except you get the cash back! You can choose to pay a mix of to reduce the Daily Accommodation Payment- you decide what suits you.
  • Basic Daily Fee
    • All residents pay a government-set Basic Daily Fee to cover everyday living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry, and utilities.
  • Daily Living Contribution (Hotelling Supplement Contribution)
    • Helps cover everyday living costs such as meals, cleaning and laundry. This amount is means-tested by Services Australia:
      • Residents with higher income or assets may contribute towards these costs.
      • Residents with lower means may have this contribution partly or fully funded by the Government.
  • Non-Clinical Care Contribution
    • Covers the cost of personal and clinical care. This contribution is also means-tested and depends on your financial circumstances.
    • There is no annual cap for the Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC), but there is a lifetime cap of $130,000 and a 4-year cap, meaning you stop paying once you reach the lifetime cap or after four years of payments, whichever comes first. The $130,000 lifetime cap is a combined cap for both the non-clinical care contribution and contributions made under the Support at Home program.
  • Enhancing Your Everyday Life

    • The Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) is optional and gives residents access to an enriched daily experience – with a wider range of wellness, lifestyle, and social activities across the village. This fee is designed to provide extra comfort and choice for those who wish to enjoy more in their everyday life.

    • Residents can choose either the Base, Enhanced or Pay As You Go (PAYG) approach for individual services. These offerings form part of Scalabrini’s approach to providing enhanced daily living services, in addition to the standard care and lifestyle provisions required under the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025.

No, it’s still not compulsory to complete a Combined Assets and Income Assessment. However, we strongly recommend it if the person wishes to receive government-subsidised care or accommodation costs. If the assessment isn’t completed (“means not disclosed”), the resident will be charged the maximum means-tested care fees (i.e. NCCC and HSC) and the full accommodation price.

It can take up to six weeks to receive the letter after submitting the form to Services Australia (or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs if applicable). We recommend completing this well in advance so the information is available before admission.

The assessment is valid for 120 days from the date on the letter you receive from Services Australia. If care hasn’t commenced within that time, a new assessment may be required.

This depends upon each individuals own specific circumstances. Each individual must complete a Combined Assets and Income Assessment. This lists their assets and income and is assessed by the Department of Human Services. Depending upon your personal situation you may be classified as a ‘Fully Supported Resident’ or a ‘Partially Supported Resident’ and receive some financial assistance from the Government.

Essentially yes, from 1 November 2025 a 2% annual retention amount applies for up to five years (maximum 10%), in line with Government requirements.

Scalabrini recognise that some residents and families may want to avoid paying fees each month and instead prefer that Scalabrini takes the money from the Refundable Accommodation Deposit. This is called a drawn down option. Scalabrini will charge an interest rate on any reduction to the lump sum. This is because you are really paying a mixed Refundable Accommodation Deposit and Daily Accommodation Payment and then change it each time there is a fee to pay. The advantage is that families and residents may not have to pay fees to Scalabrini and instead use the Refundable Accommodation Deposit lump sum. If you want to look at this as an option, then please speak to a financial adviser and also Scalabrini Debtors team.

Unlike a lot of for-profit providers Scalabrini is guided by its mission and values. This means that as a not for profit we are able to provide care at a lower cost. Sometimes care can cost more than the savings. The government recognise this, and you can submit a new Combined Assets and Income Assessment. This may result in you paying less. Alternatively, you may reach what is called the lifetime cap when you have paid the maximum amount for means tested care fees. We are proud that Scalabrini do have a hardship process to cover this, but you have to apply, and it is reserved for extreme cases of hardship.

You will be required to pay the basic daily care fee and the Scalabrini service fee where these are charged by our homes. You have up to 63 respite days available in a financial year but most of our homes limit respite to two weeks at a time due to the high demand for respite. If you chose to become permanent you can still leave and this might represent better longer term security for a resident.

We always recommend that you seek financial advice from an accredited financial advisor who can guide you through the financial decisions relating to aged care. Scalabrini’s Financial Guidance Panel provides options for accredited financial advisors who have completed comprehensive training in financial advice specific to aged care. 

Not sure where to start?

We are here to help

  • 1800 722 522
  • salesenquiries@scalabrini.com.au
  • Suite 2, Level 6, 9 Help Street, Chatswood NSW 2067
  • Support Office Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | Monday to Friday