An algorithm-based tool called the integrated assessment tool (IAT) is now used across aged care in Australia to decide federal home support funding. But nurses and carers say it is “cruel” and “inhumane” because it removes the judgement of experienced assessors. The IAT assigns a care need level automatically, which assessors must accept most of the time. Only in very few cases can they override it. Mark Aitken, a nurse with 39 years’ experience, quit after four months using the tool. He said, “We weren’t allowed to use it (the override button), and even my manager, who had 25 years of experience in aged care assessment, wasn’t allowed to use it.” He shared examples where the IAT gave wrong care levels: a well-supported 100-year-old woman was classified as high need, while a neglected woman with dementia got low priority. "Eight times out of 10, the outcome was different to one that I would have recommended," Aitken said. He added that some assessors started entering false information just to get the correct care level. Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan also criticized the tool, calling it “robo-aged-care” and warned it strips away clinical judgement. Queensland support coordinator Linda Nicholson called the algorithm “a debacle” after her client with severe care needs was denied extra support. The Department of Health was contacted but did not respond. The controversy echoes past issues with government use of algorithms in welfare cases, raising fears about fairness and transparency in aged care decisions.