What is Support at Home

While Support at Home services are subsidised by the Australian Government, you may still be asked to contribute toward the cost of your care depending on your financial situation. There are three types of fees you might pay:

Care and Support Contribution

You’ll contribute a means-tested percentage of the service cost, based on your income and assets. There is no fixed daily fee under Support at Home (from Nov 2025). Some clinical services remain fully funded, while everyday living supports have moderate to higher co-contributions.

Independence and Everyday Living Contribution

This is a percentage-based contribution toward the cost of independence and everyday-living services where the amount depends on your income and assets. This contribution replaces the old “income-tested care fee” from the Home Care Package system

Additional fees

For extra services outside the package funding (e.g., higher-end equipment or private services).

Types of packages available

Australia has simplified in-home aged care. From 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care. If you were already on a Home Care Package, you moved across automatically; your services and any unspent funds continued under the new rules. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) continues for now and is expected to transition later (no earlier than 1 July 2027).

Support at Home services are designed to help older Australians stay independent at home for as long as possible. Depending on your needs and the package level you’re approved for (Level 1 to Level 8), services can include:

• Personal care (help with showering, dressing, grooming)
• Cleaning, laundry, and household help
• Meal preparation
• Transport to appointments or social activities
• Shopping assistance
• Nursing or allied health support (e.g., physiotherapy, podiatry)
• Help with medication and health monitoring
• Garden maintenance and home safety modifications

Tailored packages
You can tailor your package to suit what matters most to you. Your provider will work with you to create a care plan that reflects your preferences and priorities.

Support at Home: What’s changing?

Australia is simplifying in-home care. From 1 November 2025, the new Support at Home program replaces Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care.

The help itself is familiar — personal care, help around the house, nursing and allied health, equipment and home modifications — but Support at Home brings clearer service categories, published price lists and more regular plan reviews so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.

If you already have a Home Care Package

You don’t need to re-apply. You’ll move across automatically on 1 November 2025. Your budget will be aligned to your current package level and any unspent funds will carry over. Your provider should contact you beforehand to review your goals, explain how their prices map to the new categories and update your service agreement. If something no longer fits, ask about alternatives under the new rules.

If you use the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

Nothing changes yet. CHSP continues for now and is expected to transition to Support at Home later (no earlier than 1 July 2027). Keep using the services that work for you and stay in touch with your provider about timing.

What services are provided?

Home Care Package services are based on your individual needs. Your provider coordinates the care and services to support you at home and these are agreed between you and your provider. The services may include:

• Transport for shopping or appointments
• Social support by taking you shopping, banking or just providing company for a chat
• Domestic assistance for household jobs like cleaning, clothes washing and ironing
• Personal care assistance with bathing or showering, dressing, hair care and going to the toilet
• Home maintenance for minor general repairs and care of your house or garden
• Home modification ie installing safety aids such as alarms, ramps and support rails
• Nursing care where a qualified nurse comes to dress a wound or provide continence advice
• Food services such as providing meals at a community or day centre, preparing and storing food and delivering meals to your home
• Help with taking your medications

The Government will outline in your care plan what services you would be able to receive through a home care provider, which needs to be organised with that provider as well. You can learn more about your care plan in our article, ‘What is a home care plan?‘

What you can't use your package for

All services you receive need to be providing you care or help around the home.

There are a number of things that you are not allowed to spend package funds on, no matter the level of your package.

This includes:

• Using the package funds as a source of income for yourself
• Purchasing food, unless you have enteral feeding requirements
• Paying for your accommodation, like home purchases, mortgage repayments or rent
• Payment of fees and charges for other types of care funded by the Australian Government
• Any home modifications or capital items that don’t assist any of your personal care needs
• To fund your personal holidays, including travel and accommodation
• Paying for entertainment activities like club memberships or buying tickets to sporting events
• Paying for services and items that are already covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Gambling habits

Anything that isn’t assisting you to live healthy and well at home can not be funded by your package.

How would a Home Care Package benefit you and help you stay at home independently for longer? Tell us in the comments below.

Related content:

Why choose private home care?
How much can home care cost?
What is an aged care assessment and how does it work?