Apply for RAD approval

To apply for approval, you need to:

• complete both the application form and the data sheet
• provide any supporting documents, as indicated in the application form.

To submit your application:

• submit the original completed form (not a scanned copy) and all supporting files
• email the completed form to applications.accommodation@ihacpa.gov.au 

Please note:

• Each email should not exceed 30MB. You can send several emails if required.
• You will receive an automatic reply once we have received your email. If you do not receive an automatic reply, please call us on (02) 8215 1100 (press option 2). 

Access the RAD approval application form

IHACPA complies with the Privacy Act 1988 and is committed to the protection of personal information. Photographs must not contain personally identifiable images or information of residents, visitors, contractors or staff. Please redact faces, names and other identifiable personal items from photographs before submission.

Information submitted in an application is considered ‘relevant information’ and may be considered ‘protected information’ as defined under the Aged Care Act 2024. ‘Relevant information’ and ‘protected information’ will only be used or disclosed in accordance applicable legislation.

All information will be stored securely and used in accordance with IHACPA’s Privacy Policy.

Requests for information

We may contact you if we have questions about your application to ensure we have all the information required to commence assessment.

During the assessment process, we may contact you in writing through a request for information (RFI) notice to help us determine the outcome of your application, in accordance with section 290(4) of the Aged Care Act 2024.

Under section 290(5) of the Act, if the requested information is not given within the required period, your application will be automatically withdrawn.

Under section 290-25(7) of the Aged Care Rules 2025 (the Rules), the 60-day period for IHACPA to assess an application is paused for the period a request for information is being sought. 

Decision

We will send you a decision letter within 60 days of receiving your application, but the time period may be extended if we have issued you with any request(s) for information. 

We will send you either:

• a decision letter stating your application is approved
• a decision letter stating your application is not approved
• a decision letter stating that your application is conditionally approved (when you have met all conditions, we will send you a final approval letter called Satisfaction of Conditions).

If the delegate does not approve your application, or part of your application, you can: 

• apply again after 4 months
• request a reconsideration of the decision within 28 days of receiving the letter.

Non-conditional approval

If you have received approval, you must publish the new price before you start charging it to new residents. 

The approval is for the maximum price. You can charge the approved price or less than the approved price. However, you cannot charge more for a room than the amount you have advertised on My Aged Care, your own website and any published materials for residents. 

Conditional approval

If you receive a conditional approval you: 

• cannot publish the conditionally approved amount on your website, My Aged Care or in any written information provided to prospective residents
• must not charge residents the conditionally approved amount until you receive a Satisfaction of Conditions letter from IHACPA. 

Requests for a reconsideration of a decision

The decision not to approve a higher maximum accommodation payment amount is a reviewable decision under section 558 of the Act. 

You may request a reconsideration of this decision, in accordance with section 559 of the Act, by providing a written request to applications.accommodation@ihacpa.gov.au within 28 days of receiving the decision letter, setting out your reasons for making the request.

Notice of intention to affirm the reviewable decision

If the delegate is considering affirming the original decision, applicants will be provided with a notice of intention to affirm the reviewable decision.

The notice will outline reasons for the intention to affirm the original decision, and will provide an opportunity for the applicant to respond, and provide further evidence in support of their application. 

When your approval expires

Approvals are valid for 4 years from the date of the approval letter. Find out what your options are before the expiry of your RAD approval.