Essential components of the new program
Commencing on 1 July 2025, the innovative Support at Home program will supersede both the Home Care Packages Program (HCP) and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme. This groundbreaking initiative will offer a range of comprehensive services, including
- upfront supports aimed at promoting independence, such as allied health services, assistive technology, and home modifications.
- new classification and budget levels tailored to better address the individual aged care needs of each participant.
- price caps and participant contributions determined by the government.
Furthermore, effective no earlier than 1 July 2027, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will seamlessly transition into the Support at Home program. Until this transition occurs, the CHSP will continue to operate as a distinct program, catering to both existing clients and new clients with low-level care requirements. This strategic approach ensures a smooth and efficient transition for all participants involved.
Accessing services
Single Assessment System
As Support at Home launches on 1 July 2025, the Single Assessment System for aged care will already be in place to evaluate older individuals for the program. This system ensures a seamless transition for home care recipients and STRC clients, who will maintain their current service levels when moving to Support at Home.
Additionally, older individuals on the National Priority System awaiting allocation of a Home Care Package will automatically transition to a Support at Home classification once a spot becomes available. Participants will not require a new assessment unless their needs change.
Upon assessment into Support at Home, individuals will receive a notice of decision along with an individual support plan to share with their provider. This plan will include:
- a summary of their aged care needs and goals,
- a classification with an associated ongoing quarterly budget,
- an approval for short-term supports such as
- assistive technology,
- home modifications,
- restorative care pathways,
- end-of-life pathways.
Those with an ongoing quarterly budget will have access to an approved list of services. Collaborating with an independent assessor, individuals can choose the services they wish to receive from the list, including the number of hours or units per month.
Participants have the flexibility to adjust the mix of services they access from the approved list at any time in consultation with their service provider.
Classification and budget for recurring services
Support at Home will introduce 8 classifications for ongoing services, replacing the previous 4 Home Care Package levels. Each classification will come with a designated budget that participants can utilize to access services tailored to their needs.
Upon assessment, a new participant’s classification and budget will be determined based on their requirements. Existing Home Care Package clients and individuals on the National Prioritisation System will not undergo reassessment into the new classifications once the program commences. Instead, they will be assigned a budget corresponding to their current Home Care Package level or the level they have been approved for while awaiting access.
In the event that a participant’s needs escalate in the future, they will be reassessed into a new Support at Home classification with a higher budget allocation. The annual Support at Home budgets will be divided into quarterly (3-monthly) budgets.
Participants will have the option to carry over unspent funds, up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget, whichever is greater. The indicative budget amounts for each ongoing classification are as follows:
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
| 1 | $2,750 | $11,000 |
| 2 | $4,000 | $16,000 |
| 3 | $5,500 | $22,000 |
| 4 | $7,500 | $30,000 |
| 5 | $10,000 | $40,000 |
| 6 | $12,000 | $48,000 |
| 7 | $14,500 | $58,000 |
| 8 | $19,500 | $78,000 |
The budget amounts for home care recipients transitioning to Support at Home are as follows:
| Transition home care recipient | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
| 1 | $2,708 | $10,833 |
| 2 | $4,762 | $19,049 |
| 3 | $10,365 | $41,460 |
| 4 | $15,713 | $62,853 |
The final budget amounts for all participants will be confirmed before the commencement of the program.
Service provider
Starting on July 1, 2025, every participant will be assigned a dedicated Support at Home service provider. This provider will have the important task of ensuring that:
- each participant receives services that are tailored to their specific needs while staying within their quarterly budget,
- the provider will be responsible for coordinating and acquiring any necessary assistive technology or home modifications through the Assistive Technologies and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme, whether it be through purchases or loans.
Furthermore, Home Care Package providers will seamlessly transition into this new program and will have the opportunity to continue providing services to their current care recipients under the Support at Home initiative.
Self-management
Participants in the Support at Home program have the opportunity to take control of their care and services, allowing them to make choices that best suit their needs.
This includes the ability to independently select and hire care workers, with the approval of their service provider. This empowers participants to have a more active role in managing their own care, promoting independence and personalized support.
Ongoing services
Service list
Support at Home will offer a defined service list available to participants. This service list will clearly outline the various support options that individuals can access through the Support at Home program.
Care management
Due to the ever-changing nature of care management needs, funding for care management will be consolidated at the service provider level. This approach will allow providers to address care management needs as they arise, ensuring participants receive the necessary support.
A portion of 10% of each participant’s quarterly budget will be allocated for care management services provided by their service provider. Care management services include:
- planning and coordinating services,
- regular check-ins with participants to ensure they are well-supported,
- offering clinical advice and practical support to address changing needs or issues, providing necessary support and education.
In addition to the allocated funds, service providers will receive extra funding for participants
- who have been assisted by a care finder,
- older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals,
- individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness,
- care leavers,
- veterans with mental health conditions recognized by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) as related to their service.
Service providers will be expected:
- to conduct a minimum number of check-ins with each participant
- will have the flexibility to provide additional support when needed.
This structured approach ensures that participants receive the necessary care management support tailored to their individual needs.
Short-term assistance
Participants in the Support at Home program will have access to a range of valuable services, including
- short-term support to promote independence and reduce reliance on ongoing services,
- end-of-life support in the comfort of their own homes.
Assistive technology and home modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
Commencing on July 1, 2025, the AT-HM Scheme will provide participants with access to assistive technology and/or home modifications without the need to accumulate funds from their individual budgets.
During the assessment process, assessors have the authority to approve participants for assistive technology and/or home modifications and assign a funding tier for this support.
The funding tiers are as follows:
- Low: Under $500
- Medium: Up to $2,000
- High: Up to $15,000
Final budget amounts for all participants will be confirmed before the commencement of the program. The funding will encompass prescriptions from allied health professionals, when necessary, along with wraparound supports to ensure the item is utilized safely and effectively.
Participants have the option to access assistive technology that exceeds the maximum of $15,000 with a valid prescription from a health professional. A comprehensive list of items covered by the AT-HM Scheme is currently being developed.
The AT-HM Scheme will also allow older individuals with progressive conditions to easily exchange equipment as their condition evolves. Additionally, a new Assistive Technology Loans Scheme is being developed in collaboration with states and territories, with a trail currently underway in New South Wales before a nationwide rollout under Support at Home.
Restorative care pathway
Participants will be granted access to the Restorative Care Pathway, a program that emphasizes allied health services to enhance participants’ strengths and abilities.
Support will be provided for a duration of up to 12 weeks, with the possibility of a 4-week extension, marking an increase from the previous 8-week support offered by the STRC Program.
An assessment will be conducted to determine eligibility for the Restorative Care Pathway. Participants who are currently receiving ongoing services may also qualify for this program.
We will conduct evaluations of the Restorative Care Pathway to ensure that participants are receiving the necessary support to improve their independence and functionality, enabling them to continue living at home.
End-of-life pathway
The newly introduced End-of-Life Pathway offers individuals with a life expectancy of 3 months or less the opportunity to access enhanced in-home aged care services. The primary goal of this pathway is to support these individuals in remaining in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.
Any older individual can be referred for a high-priority assessment to determine their eligibility for the End-of-Life Pathway. It is not a requirement for them to already be a participant in the Support at Home program.
Participants in the End-of-Life Pathway will have access to funding of up to $25,000, which must be utilized within a 16-week period. This financial support aims to provide necessary resources and assistance to individuals during this challenging time.
Contribution from participants
The Support at Home program will prioritize government funding towards care needs that enable participants to remain in their homes and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Following the recommendations of the Aged Care Taskforce, participants will be required to contribute more towards items they have traditionally paid for themselves.
Participant contributions will be calculated based on a set percentage per hour or unit of service for each type of care. This means that participants will pay a specified dollar amount determined by the percentage, while the government will cover the remaining cost as a subsidy to the service provider. The contribution rate will vary depending on the type of service received:
- No contribution will be required for clinical support services, such as nursing and physiotherapy, as these will be fully funded by the government.
- Moderate contributions will be expected for independence services, like personal care, and for products and equipment under the AT-HM Scheme, which are crucial in preventing hospitalizations and residential aged care placements.
- The highest contributions will apply to everyday living services, such as domestic assistance and gardening, as these are typically not funded by the government for individuals at other life stages.
Individual contribution rates will be determined based on the participant’s age pension status:
- Full pensioners will make the lowest contributions.
- Part pensioners will be required to make moderate contributions.
- Self-funded retirees will have the highest contribution rates.
To support self-funded retirees with lower incomes, participants holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) will benefit from reduced contribution rates compared to those without the card. This lower rate will apply regardless of whether the individual has applied for a CSHC.
To ensure the financial security of individuals receiving aged care services for an extended period, a lifetime cap of $130,000 will be implemented for contributions. This cap will encompass both clinical and non-clinical care contributions in residential aged care settings.
Transitional arrangements will be in place for the following groups:
- Home care recipients
- Older individuals who were already approved for a care package as of September 12, 2024
- Older individuals who were already approved for a Home Care Package and were on the National Priority System as of September 12, 2024.
Payment structures for service providers
Invoicing for Services Rendered
Upon completion of services, a Support at Home provider will submit an invoice to Services Australia. The invoice must clearly detail the hours or units of each service provided and/or the cost of any products delivered to the individual.
Services Australia will compensate the provider from the participant’s budget in one of two ways:
- A set price per unit of service, with any applicable participant contributions deducted
- The cost of the product, with any applicable participant contributions deducted
The government will establish price caps for each service based on recommendations from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA).
Providers are required to adhere to these price caps, which are designed to cover administrative expenses, eliminating the need for additional charges for package management.
Providers have the option to invoice on a daily basis to ensure a steady cash flow.
Thin market grants
The department will offer grants to eligible providers who meet the following criteria:
- Operate in thin markets, including rural and remote areas (MM3 to MM&)
- Specialize in serving specific participant groups
These grants aim to bridge the gap between operational expenses and revenue generated from the program’s capped service prices. Initially, grants will be awarded for a 2-year term through a competitive application process. This initiative is designed to support providers in underserved areas and those catering to specialized populations.
Support at home pooled funding trial
Starting on July 1, 2025, we will be launching a pooled funding trial specifically designed for older individuals residing in group settings, such as retirement villages. This trial aims to provide participants with the opportunity to utilize a portion or all of their funding to access services in a more flexible and as-needed manner. For instance, they may choose to use their funding for services like a mini-bus service.
In the upcoming months, the department will be inviting providers to apply for participation in this trial through an expression of interest process. Stay tuned for more information on how to get involved.
In-home support services for elderly individuals from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
It is imperative that older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals have access to culturally safe, trauma-aware, and healing-informed aged care services within or near their communities.
Support at Home aims to cater to the diverse and evolving needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals by offering culturally safe care services, such as assistance in engaging in cultural activities and connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals. Additionally, a supplement will be provided to care providers who offer extra hours of care management to support older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.
The department is collaborating with older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities, and service providers to ensure that Support at Home effectively meets their needs.