Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n Some people previously receiving home support packages \u2013 who required reassessment because their health deteriorated \u2013 said the IAT classified them at a lower level than before<\/a>, leaving them with less funding and support despite greater needs<\/a>, with assessors unable to override the outcome.<\/p>\n Henderson said members of the working group had been sworn to confidentiality while developing the assessment, and had believed it would continue to rely on an assessor\u2019s judgment.<\/p>\n After the assessment questionnaire was handed to the government for trial, she said she felt proud of the work they had done, though she expected some refinements.<\/p>\n Lynda Henderson (right) and her partner Veda Meneghetti, who died two years ago with dementia<\/p>\n \u201cBut neither we in the working group or the health consultancy company that ran it knew the government were going to be using an algorithm to score each question and assign categories,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not the assessment or the questions that is the problem. It\u2019s the absolutely ridiculously simplistic scoring algorithm that\u2019s been applied to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018I am so terrified\u2019<\/p>\n Henderson\u2019s partner, Veda Meneghetti, died two years ago with dementia. Since then, her own health has declined.<\/p>\n Asked how she feels about the assessment she helped to develop now, Henderson said: \u201cI really, really need more home support, and my case manager agrees.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I am so terrified about applying for a reassessment and having all my support cut if it [the IAT] under-assesses me that I\u2019m not going to go ahead with that assessment in the immediate future.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that says a lot, really.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she feels \u201cfury and frustration\u201d about what the assessment has become. \u201cThe worst thing the government did was to disallow assessors to override it.\u201d<\/p>\n The department did not respond to questions about when the decision was made to introduce the algorithm and who developed it. But Guardian Australia understands the rationale was to create a consistent, national approach to assessing care needs and reduce variation in outcomes. The information collected through the IAT is then used by the algorithm to determine eligibility and support levels.<\/p>\n Quick GuideContact us about this storyShow The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know.<\/p>\n If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods.<\/p>\n Secure Messaging in the Guardian app<\/p>\n The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.<\/p>\n If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a>) and go to the menu. Select \u2018Secure Messaging\u2019. <\/p>\n SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post<\/p>\n If you can safely use the Tor network without being observed or monitored, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772750109_922_4000.jpg\")
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