Most older Australians live in the community with the support of their family and assistance from community services. Australia has a long history of providing community care, with recent reforms aaimed at improving access and choice. Care is provided on the basis of assessed needs and can take many forms, from basic services such as transport and domestic tasks, to complex nursing care. Most people use few services to meet low level needs, with increasing use of services in the years before death. As the population ages, demand for these services is outstripping supply. We discuss the evolution of community care in Australia, and whether the current care system addresses the needs of increasing numbers of older Australians.