Personal care changes from 1 October: what they mean for you 

From Thursday 1 October 2026, there’s a change to the way personal care is funded under the Support at Home program. 

Personal care support, including help with showering, dressing, continence, eating and medication, is moving from the Independence category to the Clinical Supports category. For eligible participants, this means these services will no longer carry a participant contribution. 

What stays the same 

This is a change to how personal care is funded, not to the care itself. Caregivers, schedules and the way support is delivered all remain as they are, so older people receiving personal care can continue with the routines and familiar faces they know. 

Key details 

• Services delivered before 1 October 2026 still carry the usual contribution, even if they’re invoiced after that date. 

• Participants already approved for personal care don’t need to be reassessed. 

• Personal care still needs to be part of a participant’s approved services, with funding available in their budget. 

• Contributions for other Support at Home services remain unchanged. 

An opportunity to revisit support 

For some older people, the cost of contributions may have been a factor in deciding how much personal care to receive. This change could make it a timely moment to revisit those conversations, whether that means a little more help in the mornings or support that builds even more confidence at home. 

It may also ease some of the financial pressure on families and carers who help support a loved one at home. 

Learn more 

The Australian Government has produced an easy read guide explaining the change: Paying for personal care 

Talk to Dovida 

Anyone with questions about personal care, or how this change may apply to their circumstances, is welcome to reach out. Contact your local Dovida office, call 1300 008 018 or email care@dovida.com.au.