Our independence
Independent aged care advice — and why it matters
When you're choosing an aged care home for someone you love, the advice you rely on should have one loyalty only: your family. Here's what independent advice actually means, and how to tell it apart from a referral service.
What 'independent' means here
MyAgedCareAgent is not owned by, affiliated with, or paid by any aged care provider. We never receive commissions, referral fees or other financial benefits from aged care homes. The only people who pay us are the families we help.
That matters more than it might sound. Some placement services are free to families because they're paid by the homes they recommend — which means the homes you hear about are the ones paying to be heard about.
What we actually get paid
Our fees are simple and published openly on our pricing page: a one-off placement and assistance fee of $6,000 + GST, and an optional ongoing support and advice service at $100 per month + GST. The first consultation is always free.
Because no home pays us anything, there's nothing to disclose and no conflict to manage. When we suggest a home, it's because we believe it suits your loved one — full stop.
How to check whether advice is really independent
- Ask directly: does this service receive any payment, commission or benefit from aged care providers?
- Ask whether they're restricted to a panel or list of 'partner' homes.
- Ask who pays for the service, and read any service agreement before signing.
- Be cautious of recommendations that arrive before anyone has asked about your loved one's needs, preferences and budget.
What independent advice looks like in practice
We start with your loved one, not with a list of homes. We ask about care needs, culture, faith, food, language, location and budget. Then we shortlist homes — from across the whole market, not a partner panel — and explain the trade-offs honestly, including when the right answer is to wait for a place at a particular home.
We're also upfront about what we're not: we're not a government service, and we're separate from My Aged Care, the Australian Government's free starting point. Many families use both — My Aged Care for assessments and eligibility, and us for hands-on help navigating the market.
Talk it through with someone independent
Your first consultation is free and there's no obligation. We never take commissions from aged care homes, so our advice is based only on what's right for your family.