Posted in Age care, Caring Hands, Community Care, Southcare Stars, Support at Home

This update is shared by our caring hands to support you as we transition to Support at Home.

The Department of Health & Aged Care’s Support at Home program is starting on 1 July 2025 and replaces the Home Care Packages (HCP) program, which ends on 30 June 2025.

This brings big changes to in-home aged care in Australia. If you or your loved one currently receives aged care support at home — or are thinking about it for the future — you’ve probably heard about the new Support at Home program. But what is it? How will it work? And what does it mean for you?

We know change can feel confusing. That’s why we’ve put together this easy-to-understand guide to answer your most common questions and help demystify Support at Home.

Of course if you still need more information, check out our frequently asked questions.

Read FAQs

Why is Support at Home coming?

The Support at Home program is designed to help older Australians live independently for longer by responding to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The new program aims to:

  • Strengthen oversight of home care providers
  • Make it easier to access services, equipment and home modifications
  • Cut down on long wait times
  • Offer more flexible and tailored care, including earlier and better support for recovery and end-of-life needs

While the full program details are still being finalised, our caring hands have pulled together a simple summary to help you understand what’s ahead.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s new way of delivering aged care services to people who want to stay living independently in their own home for as long as possible.

It’s designed to replace the current programs like:

Instead of separate programs, Support at Home brings these services together into one simplified, flexible system.

Who is eligible?

From 1 July 2025, people in the following groups will be able to access Support at Home:

  • Anyone aged 65 and over
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over
  • People aged 50 and over who are homeless or at risk of homelessness

A new Single Assessment System, using an Integrated Assessment Tool, will streamline the eligibility process and provide a more tailored approach to care planning.

Your individual needs and goals will help shape your personalised support plan.

What if you already have a Home Care Package?

If you’re already receiving a Home Care Package, there’s good news—you’ll automatically transition to the Support at Home program on 1 July 2025, and your current funding level will be maintained. That includes anyone who has been approved for a package but is still waiting for services to start.

There’s no need to reapply or be reassessed unless your care needs have changed.

Want to secure a package before the changes come in? Get in touch with Southcare and we’ll guide you through it.

If you already have a package and want to switch to Southcare, we can help with that too.

How will the waitlist work? 

The Government plans to add 300,000 additional home care places over the next decade. While current wait times are expected to remain initially, they should ease as the program ramps up.

A new prioritisation system will be introduced, where each applicant is assessed and assigned a High, Medium or Standard rating. If delays occur, eligible recipients may receive interim funding of up to 60% of their total allocation until their full funding is available.

How will costs and contributions be handled?

Support at Home will continue the model of Government funding based on your individual care needs. However, there will be changes in how contributions are calculated:

  • You’ll only pay for the services you use, either per hour or as a percentage of the item’s cost
  • Your financial situation will influence how much you contribute

There are three contribution categories:

CategoryFunded by GovernmentContribution Level
Clinical Supports Yes (100%)None
IndependencePartialModerate
Everyday LivingPartialHighest

Pensioners will continue to pay very little, while self-funded retirees may contribute more.  If you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, you may be able to access reduced fees.

To make things fair, a “no worse off” guarantee is in place: if you’re receiving care or waiting for a package as of 12 September 2024, you won’t pay more under the new system.

There’s also a lifetime cap of $130,000 on non-clinical aged care contributions.

What levels of support will be available?

Support at Home will offer eight classifications of care, compared to four under the current system.

The highest level will provide up to $78,000 annually per person, and there will also be two specialised short-term options:

  • Restorative Care Pathway: Up to 12 weeks of intensive support to help you regain independence
  • End-of-Life Pathway: Additional support during the last three months of life for those who wish to remain at home

What services will be covered?

The types of services won’t change drastically—Support at Home will still fund help with:

  • Nursing and clinical care
  • Personal care (e.g. showering and dressing)
  • Domestic tasks (e.g. gardening, cleaning)

As mentioned earlier, all services will now fall into one of three categories: Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living—each with its own contribution expectations.

From July 2026, the government will also cap service prices, so providers can’t charge more than set limits. That includes all admin fees, which must now be bundled into the hourly or item rate.

What about equipment and home modifications?

Support at Home will offer separate funding for assistive technology and home modifications through a dedicated AT-HM scheme for eligible participants.  This is a new offering under the Support at Home program.

Depending on your needs, you’ll be placed into one of three funding tiers for both equipment and modifications. The goal is to help you stay safe, mobile and independent at home.

Your Southcare care manager will work with you to ensure everything is arranged—from sourcing the right products to installation and training.

What should I do now?

  • Stay informed: Subscribe to updates from trusted providers, like Southcare, or the My Aged Care website.
  • Ask questions: No question is too small — reach out to us our caring hands are ready to help
  • Review your current plan: Understand what services you have now and what you might need in the future
  • Get support early: The more prepared you are, the smoother the transition will feel

Need more support about Support at Home?

Southcare is ready and supportive of these changes as they put the customer at the forefront of care and better define what good home care means.

The Support at Home program has lots of information and new information is coming all the time, which often brings more questions! We’re committed to walking alongside you through these changes.

Have a question about Support at Home? Not sure how it will affect you or your loved one? Contact us today — we’d love to chat.

Posted in Age care, Caring Hands, Community Care, Southcare Stars, Support at HomeTagged , , , , , , ,