Government to tighten oversight of home care spending under new Support at Home program
The federal government has released a new assurance framework outlining how it will monitor spending and prevent misuse of funding under the upcoming Support at Home aged care program.
Elderly couple reviewing life insurance policy documents, planning their future finances together on the sofa
The federal government is introducing stronger oversight of how home care funding is used as Australia prepares for the rollout of the new Support at Home program.
A newly released government assurance framework outlines how authorities will monitor the integrity of the program, which is expected to support around 1.4 million older Australians to remain living at home by 2035.
The framework, published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, sets out how the government plans to ensure funding is used appropriately as the aged care system transitions to the new model created under the Aged Care Act 2024.
Checking how funding is used
Support at Home replaces the existing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs from November 2025, with the Commonwealth Home Support Program expected to transition later.
Given the scale of the reform and the billions of dollars involved, the government says stronger assurance measures are needed to protect both older people and taxpayers.
The framework outlines several ways the department may review providers, including analysing program data and examining records such as:
- invoices and service agreements
- participant monthly statements
- evidence supporting claims for services delivered.
These reviews are designed to confirm that services billed to the program were actually delivered and that funding is being used for its intended purpose.
Officials say the assurance activities will help minimise errors, prevent misuse of funds and detect potential fraud.
Risk-based reviews
The department plans to use a range of assurance activities, including ongoing rolling reviews of providers, deeper investigations into specific risk areas and targeted surveys of providers and participants.
The approach will be risk-based, focusing resources on areas where there is the greatest potential for misuse or financial errors.
The government says this approach is intended to balance stronger oversight with minimising administrative burden on providers.
Protecting the integrity of the system
The framework forms part of broader changes introduced through the new Aged Care Act, which shifts the aged care system toward a rights-based model that places older people at the centre of care.
Under the reforms, people receiving aged care services have the right to:
- independence and freedom of choice
- safe and high-quality care
- privacy and respect for personal information
- the ability to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will act as the “System Governor”, responsible for overseeing the operation and integrity of the aged care system, while the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission remains responsible for regulating provider quality and safety.
Opportunity for improvement
Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, the framework emphasises collaboration with providers and continuous improvement across the sector.
Where issues are identified, the department says the priority will be to work with providers to resolve problems and improve practices before escalating compliance action.
However, repeated or deliberate non-compliance could result in regulatory action or referral to other agencies.
As the new Support at Home program rolls out, the government says effective oversight will be critical to maintaining public trust and ensuring funding delivers meaningful support to older Australians who want to remain living independently.
