What the new Support at Home program means for you

Big changes are coming to aged care in Australia. Starting 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will roll out the Support at Home program as part of aged care reforms designed to simplify and improve how older Australians receive care at home.

If you or a loved one currently has a Home Care Package and receives services offered by home care providers, or you're on the waitlist, this blog post will help you understand what’s changing, who it affects, and how it could benefit you.

Why Support at Home?

The current aged care system can be complex and fragmented. Support at Home aims to fix that by:

Combining the Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs into one streamlined system.
Offering more flexibility in how care is funded and delivered.
Improving access to services, equipment, and home modifications.

What’s New? Here are the key changes you’ll see under Support at Home:

One Program: No more juggling between HCP and STRC—everything is under one roof.
Quarterly Budgets: Funding is based on your needs and delivered every three months.
Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM): Up to $15,000 available for mobility, safety, and communication aids.
Tailored Support: Eight new funding levels replace the old four-tier system.
Special Pathways: Includes Restorative Care and End-of-Life support options.
Fair Contributions: Fees based on income and assets, with protections for existing participants.

Service Categories

Support at Home services are grouped into three easy-to-understand categories:

Clinical Care – Nursing, allied health, nutrition.
Independence – Personal care, transport, social support.
Everyday Living – Cleaning, home maintenance, meals.

New Funding Classifications

Here’s a quick look at the new eight levels of support:

Level	Qrtrly Funding*	Annual Funding*	Examples
1	$2,674	$10,698	Light housework, meal delivery
2	$3,995	$15,982	Dressing assistance, medication reminders
3	$5,480	$21,920	Personal care, transport
4	$7,386	$29,545	Daily care, allied health
5	$9,884	$39,535	Nursing, complex coordination
6	$11,989	$47,957	High-level clinical support
7	$14,531	$58,122	Intensive weekly support
8	$19,427	$77,709	End-of-life care

*Funding figures a are approximate amounts effective from 1 November 2025 and are subject to change in March and September each year in line with indexation.

How does it compare to Home Care packages?

Feature	HCP	SAH
Funding Levels	4 fixed levels	8 flexible classifications
Budget Type	Annual	Quarterly
Assessment	ACAT	Single Assessment System
Flexibility	Limited	High – choose services
Assistive Tech	Limited	Up to $15,000 available
Care Management Fees	Variable	Capped at 10%

Who’s Affected?

Grandfathered Participants

Approved before 12 Sept 2024
Automatically transitioned
Keep current funding and services
Protected by “no worse off” guarantee

Transitional Participants

Approved between 12 Sept 2024 and 31 Oct 2025
Continue under HCP rules until Nov 2025
Then move to Support at Home with quarterly budgets

New Participants

Approved after 1 Nov 2025
Start directly under Support at Home
Assessed using the new system

FAQs

Will I lose my current services?

No. Grandfathered participants retain their services and funding.

Can I choose my provider?

Yes. You can continue to choose and change providers.

What happens to my unspent funds?

You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget.

Will I pay more?

No. The “no worse off” principle ensures you won’t pay more than you currently do.

What is the AT-HM scheme?

A funding stream for assistive technology and home modifications.

What is the Restorative Care Pathway?

Short-term support to help regain independence.

What is the End-of-Life Pathway?

Up to $25,000 for care in the final three months of life.