Registered supporters in aged care: helping someone make their own decisions

Published 12 October 2026 · Aged care · Source checked 12 October 2026

Under the new Aged Care Act you can choose who supports you. Here is what a registered supporter is, what they can do and how to set it up.

Choosing who supports you

Many older people want someone alongside them when dealing with aged care: a partner, a child, a friend or a neighbour. Under the new Aged Care Act you can choose who supports you, and that person can be formally registered as your supporter if you want or need that.

What a registered supporter can do

A registered supporter can help you communicate your wishes to My Aged Care, assessors, providers and other organisations. They can support you to make decisions about assessments, referrals and everyday aged care choices, and they can ask for, see and receive information about you, including helping keep your details up to date.

The role is about helping you make and communicate your own decisions, not about making them for you.

How it is set up

There are several ways to register a supporter, including through the My Aged Care contact centre, an online form, your online account, a printed form, at an assessment, with a specialist officer at Services Australia or while applying for an assessment. Both people will need to provide some information. Declaring a conflict of interest does not by itself stop an application.

You can see your supporters in your online account and ask to change or remove them.

Different from a legal decision-maker

A registered supporter is different from a person who has been formally appointed as a decision-maker under a legal arrangement. If you are unsure which applies to you, ask My Aged Care or an advocate before relying on either. This is general information, not legal advice.

Keeping the person in charge

If you are a supporter, start with what the person wants. Explain choices in plain language, give them time and check that what is decided is what they actually want, not what is easiest for others. If you have a personal interest in a decision, say so openly.

Keep notes of what was discussed and decided, and make sure the person knows what you have access to. Review the arrangement from time to time and update it if their wishes or circumstances change.

Frequently asked questions

What is a registered supporter in aged care?

Under the new Aged Care Act you can choose who supports you, and that person can be formally registered as your supporter if you want or need that. The role is about helping you make and communicate your own decisions, not about making them for you.

What can a registered supporter do?

They can help you communicate your wishes to My Aged Care, assessors, providers and other organisations, support you to make decisions about assessments, referrals and everyday aged care choices, and ask for, see and receive information about you.

How do I register a supporter?

There are several ways, including through the My Aged Care contact centre, an online form, your online account, a printed form, at an assessment, with a specialist officer at Services Australia or while applying for an assessment. You can see your supporters in your online account and ask to change or remove them.

Is a registered supporter the same as a legal decision-maker?

No. A registered supporter is different from a person who has been formally appointed as a decision-maker under a legal arrangement. If you are unsure which applies to you, ask My Aged Care or an advocate.

Keep learning

Aged care rights and how to make a complaint: Under the new Aged Care Act, older people have a Statement of Rights. Here is what it means and what to do if something is not right.
Support at Home explained: how in-home aged care works: Support at Home is the program that helps older people stay in their own homes. Here is how it works, from approval to choosing a provider.
Getting an aged care assessment: what to expect: The assessment is the first step to government-funded aged care. Here is how to apply, what the assessor does and what to do while you wait.
Aged care costs: what you may be asked to contribute: What you pay depends on the type of care, the provider, your finances and the services you receive. Here is how to make sense of it and what to ask.

More in our aged care support guide, our step-by-step guides, or the aged care providers listed on the My Aged Care register.

Official sources

Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.