Support at Home reform

Support at Home reform is reshaping in-home aged care across Australia. If you want consistent carers, transparent health updates and a premium, worry-free experience for your parents, this guide breaks down what’s changing, how it affects you, and how to choose aged care providers who can deliver.

What is the Support at Home program?

The Support at Home program is the Australian Government’s new home program designed to help older Australians live independently for longer. It will replace the Home Care Packages / home care package program and Short-Term Restorative Care from 1 November 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (Commonwealth Home Support Programme) will move across no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Under the new system, people will be placed into eight levels (called “ongoing classifications”) with a quarterly budget to spend on approved services based on assessed needs. There are also short-term pathways for restorative care and an end-of-life pathway. The highest ongoing level is flagged at around $78,000 per year, showing a clear path to greater support at home for those who need it.

Price settings are shifting, too. Providers will set their own home pricing at first, with government price caps to apply from 1 July 2026.

What’s changing vs CHSP and Home Care Packages?

Eligibility, assessments and the single assessment system

A new assessment model, known as the single assessment system, is being introduced so older people don’t have to repeat their story or switch assessors as needs change. It’s built to reduce delays and create a simpler path into in-home care services.

If you’re on the national priority system waiting for a home care package, you’ll transition to the Support at Home priority process and receive an equivalent budget once a place is available. Existing home care package recipients will automatically transition and keep any unspent funds when the new support at home model starts.

What the budget can cover: three categories

Support sits under three clear categories that map to day-to-day life:

• Clinical care: nursing, occupational therapy, wound care.
• Independence support: personal care, medication prompts, mobility.
• Everyday living: domestic assistance, meal preparation, cleaning, shopping, gardening and transport.

These categories are central to how the aged care sector will plan and report care under the new Aged Care Act.

Short-term pathways and the AT-HM scheme

Two short-term pathways sit beside ongoing support:

• Restorative Care Pathway: time-limited support to regain function after a setback.
• End of Life Pathway: extra funding for end-of-life care at home for up to 12 weeks.

There’s also a dedicated Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme so people can access assistive technology and home modifications without saving up their quarterly budget. Tiers exist for equipment and a separate home modifications scheme, with a defined list of items.

Price transparency and value

With home pricing visible and price caps coming in 2026, families can weigh financial means and assessed needs against service levels. For self-funded retirees, new settings around non-clinical care costs (often called everyday living costs) and means testing are evolving in line with Aged Care Taskforce advice to the government. The Taskforce signalled ongoing advice on pricing across home and residential aged care, with attention to fairness and viability.

Costs, fees and funding levels

• Funding levels: the eight levels determine your quarterly budget for ongoing support; short-term pathways add extra funds when needed. Annual amounts are published, with the top level near $78,000.
• Home pricing: providers set prices at first; government price caps apply from 1 July 2026. Prices must include the non-clinical care costs that sit behind a visit (travel, admin).
• Means testing: contributions for everyday living and some services will reflect financial means, aiming for fairness across the system. Policy settings are shaped by the Aged Care Taskforce and the Australian Government.
• Unspent funds: people coming from home care packages keep their unspent funds after transition.

Tip: Ask providers for a written home pricing schedule that spells out hourly rates, travel, after-hours, and any care management fee.

Step-by-step: getting started without the stress

1. Start the aged care assessment

Begin with My Aged Care to organise an aged care assessment under the single assessment system. There may be a wait to get the assessment. You’ll be assessed for eligibility, priority and assessed needs. The outcome determines your classification, funding level and any short-term pathways like short-term restorative care. Once your care needs are determined, you then go on the national waiting list to be assigned a home care package. This can take anywhere from 6 - 12 months.

If you are mid-process under the home care packages model, the national priority system position will carry across to the new support at home priority list.

If you’re after premium private care, there are no waiting periods.

2. Build a practical plan

With your provider, co-create a weekly schedule that covers everyday living tasks (domestic assistance, meal preparation), clinical care, and allied health services (e.g., occupational therapy). Include falls prevention, social visits to keep someone socially connected, and assistive technology or home modifications where needed.

3. Lock in continuity

Ask for the roster up front. Make sure the same faces arrive on time, every time. Agree on a care management rhythm: monthly check-ins, quarterly reviews, and a standing plan for end-of-life care if required.

4. Track costs and results

Review invoices against your quarterly budget. Query any extras at once. If needs rise, request a new assessment so the budget better matches reality.

Melbourne focus: what families should watch

• Availability: High-demand postcodes can book fast, and many government providers are experiencing staffing challenges. Private home care providers like Acquaint do not have these issues. Start early to match rosters with your preferred days and times.
• Allied health depth: Local access to occupational therapy and physiotherapy underpins a strong restorative care pathway.
• Home modifications: Older homes benefit from targeted tweaks, rails, step-down fixes, and lighting, funded through the AT-HM scheme based on assessed needs.

The new Aged Care Act: what it means in practice

The new Aged Care Act is slated to start on 1 November 2025. Expect stronger rights, clearer standards, a stronger focus on user pays for those with the means to contribute to the cost of care and closer oversight across home and residential care. Providers will need solid systems to evidence aged care quality under the Act. For families, that means more transparency and a firmer way to raise concerns.

How we fit your brief for premium care

• Availability: we can commence services quickly.
• Consistency: a small, dedicated team, no constant rotation.
• Reliability: no guessing games as to when staff arrive. At Acquaint, our staff turn up as per the agreed schedule.
• Care management: proactive reviews, with fast updates after hospital visits.
• Transparency: simple dashboards and weekly notes so you always know what’s happening.
• Clinical depth: registered nurses with strong relationships with occupational therapy and allied health support for rehab, safety and independence.
• Choice: flexible mix of services across everyday living, independence support and clinical care as needs change.

Get premium support at home

Chat with our friendly care team in Melbourne today on 03 9267 9090. We’ll map out a plan, match a steady team, and start services quickly, so you stop worrying about day-to-day needs and your parents get safe, reliable support at home.

Support at Home Reform FAQs

When does the Support at Home program start?

The Support at Home program begins on 1 November 2025 for home care packages and short-term restorative care; the Commonwealth Home Support Program follows no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Will my parent keep their current budget and unspent funds?

Yes, people with home care packages, or those on the national priority system, will move across with equivalent budgets and keep unspent funds.

How many funding levels are there?

There are eight levels for ongoing support, plus short-term pathways for restorative care and end of life care. Funding is set as a quarterly budget.

What does the AT-HM scheme cover?

The AT-HM scheme funds assistive technology and home modifications through defined tiers, so people don’t have to save from their ongoing budget.

Will I pay more under the new program?

Contributions depend on means testing and policy settings for everyday living and care costs. The Aged Care Taskforce provides advice to the Australian Government on pricing and contributions. Self-funded retirees may be required to contribute up to 50 - 80% of the costs of some home-based services. This contribution will reduce the amount the government pays.

Ask providers for clear home pricing and check My Aged Care for updates.

Talk to your financial advisor to determine the best options for your situation.

_{Last updated: September 2025}

You might also like