Support at Home Program 

The Support at Home program is a new government program starting in November 2025. It will bring together current programs, such as Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care, into a single, simplified program. The aim is to help clients live independently at home for longer.

Support at Home begins on 1 November 2025, replacing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will join no earlier than 1 July 2027.

The change is based on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care. Support at Home will: 

• Give clients better access to services, equipment and home modifications. 

• Strengthen client rights, so people know what to expect from aged care. 

• Give clients more choice and control over their services, including how and when they are delivered. 

Current clients will keep their services. They will move across to the new program with the same level of funding. Any unspent funds from their Home Care Package will carry over.

Clients on Home Care Packages or waiting on the National Priority System will transition automatically. Clients can ask for a reassessment if their needs change.

Key changes include: 

• Quarterly budgets instead of annual budgets. 

• A clear list of approved services. 

• No separate administration fees — management costs are included in the budget. 

• Care management capped at 10% of the budget. 

• Extra funding set aside for equipment and home modifications. 

Yes. Clients will have access to: 

• A Restorative Care Pathway to support independence. 

• An End-of-Life Pathway with extra care in the final months of life. 

Clients can choose different approved services to match their budget and changing needs.

Clients can stay with their current provider if that provider registers for Support at Home.

You will continue to receive Home Care funding at your current level. Under the Government’s “no worse off” rule, your co-contributions will be the same or lower if you were assessed or approved for a Home Care package on or before 12 September 2024.  

• Service prices are increasing, which means that more will be deducted from your package to cover the cost of services.  

• The government will fully fund clinical care, such as nursing and physiotherapy. You will not be required to contribute for these services.  

These funds will carry over into Support at Home. Clients can use them for extra services, equipment or home modifications.

Under Support at Home, providers cannot charge separate package management fees. These costs are included in the service price.

The government will not set price caps until 1 July 2026. Until then, providers will set their own prices, but the Department of Health and Aged Care will monitor and audit providers.

Self-managing clients will still have 10% of their funding set aside for care management. This covers service coordination and regular check-ins.

Support at Home introduces eight levels of support (instead of the current four). Each level has a set quarterly and annual budget. Clients can roll over up to $1,000 or 10% of their budget (whichever is higher) into the next quarter.

You can find information about the Support at Home program and how the changes affect you by: 

• Contacting OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) on 1800 700 600 for free, independent, and confidential support. 

• Calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visiting their website (www.myagedcare.gov.au)