Support at Home
From November 2025, The Government is changing their Home Care Package (HCP) program. The new Support at Home program is designed to help older people remain living independently at home for longer.
About Support at Home
The Australian Government is making positive changes to aged care. These changes – known as the aged care reforms – will improve aged care in Australia now and into the future.
The Support at Home program will improve access to services, products, equipment and home modifications to help older people remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community. The new program will also seek to reduce waiting times and make it easier to understand the services available from providers.
From November 2025, the Support at Home program replaces the Home Care Packages program. This was initially planned to come into effect from 1 July 2025, however it was announced in June 2025 that this has been postponed and will now start in November 2025.
As part of the new program, anyone on an existing Home Care Package, will be transitioned into an equivalent package under Support at Home.
As one of Australia’s largest Home Care Package providers, Dovida will continue to provide services under the Support at Home program.
Services
Support at Home offers a wide range of services so you can continue to live well at home. These services are grouped into three categories:
- Clinical care – such as nursing care, occupational therapy and continence care.
- Independence supports – such as help with showering, getting dressed, taking medications, transport or respite care.
- Everyday living supports – such as cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation.
To be eligible for services, you will need to have an aged care assessment which will outline the services you are approved for to help you meet your needs and goals. You will be supported by your provider to choose the services that best meet your needs within your budget.
Budgets and Funding
Your aged care assessment will determine which classification level (from 1 to 8) of services you are eligible for. This will provide you with a quarterly budget to use for services. Support at Home quarterly budgets range from:
- Level 1: $2,750 per quarter, or $11,000 annually
- Level 8: $19,500 per quarter, or $78,000 annually.
Care Management:
In addition to the ongoing services you will receive under Support at Home, you will also require Care Management services from your provider. This helps to plan and coordinate your services, ensures your support plan meets your needs and goals whilst monitoring your budget. 10% of your quarterly budget will be set aside for care management delivered by your service provider.
Unspent Funds:
Under Support at Home, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) as unspent funds.
For people on an existing Home Care Package (HCP), when you transition into a classification level on the Support at Home program, you will retain any accrued unspent funds from your Home Care Package. You can use these unspent funds for services, home modifications or assistive technology in the Support at Home program.
Personal Contributions
Under the Support at Home program, individuals will be expected to contribute to the cost of some the services they receive. How much you contribute will be based on your income and assets. The higher your level of need, the larger your support package may be and the more the government will contribute to your care.
The amount of contribution varies depending on the services being used:
- Clinical care (eg. nursing care) – The government will fully cover the cost of this, with zero contribution required.
- Independence supports (eg. showering, transport) – will be between 5% and 50% depending on your income
- Everyday living supports (eg. cleaning) – will be between 17.5% and 80% depending on your income
For people currently on a Home Care Package (HCP), known as grandfathered participants, contributions for services will not change. These will continue to be between 0% and 25%.
Additional Funding Available
In addition to an ongoing Support at Home budget, short-term funding pathways are also going to be available:
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM): Up to $15,000 to spend on both assistive technology and home modifications over 12 months.
- Restorative Care Pathway: Up to $6,000 for 16 weeks of intensive allied health and/or nursing services to maintain and improve health and wellbeing.
- End-of-Life pathway: $25,000 for people with less than 3 months to live, to support with palliative care at home for 12-16 weeks.
Why Choose Home Care
Why staying at home where you feel comfortable, familiar, and empowered to live independently is the best option for older people or people living with a disability who need additional care.
Is Support at Home program the same as the Home Care Package program?
From November 2025, the Support at Home program replaces Home Care Packages (HCP). Under the new Support at Home program, there will be improved access to services, products, equipment and home modifications to help older people to remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community. People on existing HCPs will be transitioned into an equivalent Support at Home package.
Who is eligible for Support at Home?
The Support at Home Program is available to individuals who:
- Are aged 65 or older (50 or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, or people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness).
- Need help with daily tasks such as personal care, household chores, or accessing health services.
People on existing Home Care Packages (HCP) will be transitioned into an equivalent Support at Home package when the program commences in November 2025.
How do I find out if I am eligible for a Support at Home package?
The first step to access government-funded aged care services is to check your eligibility for an assessment. You can do this online at My Aged Care, or by calling 1800 200 422.
If you are eligible, you will be referred for an aged care assessment.
Assessments are done in person, at your own home. When assessed as eligible for the Support at Home program, you will receive a notice of decision and an individual support plan that you can share with us, and we can help you design a care plan that fits your specific needs, goals, and preferences.
How will my care be organised and managed?
Your dedicated and experienced Care Manager will ensure that your services meet your individual circumstances, needs and goals. They will also ensure they align with your assessed care needs in your plan.
Your Dovida Care Manager will be your single point of contact for all your care needs. They work in partnership with you, your family and other health professionals to create a Circle of Care that ensures your needs and goals are met.
Can I change my Support at Home provider?
Under the Support at Home program, you can change providers at any time. If you decide to change provider, your approval for services and budget will move with you to your new provider.
To get started, notify your existing provider that you are moving and agree an exit date. You should also inform them of your new provider as this will enable information sharing to ensure the continuation of
appropriate care.
How much will I pay for my care under Support at Home?
Your Support at Home classification for ongoing services and approval for short-term pathways, assistive technology and/or home modifications is determined during your aged care assessment. This assessment informs a quarterly (3-monthly) budget.
Contribution rates will vary by the type of service received and your income and assets. The Age Pension means test will be used to determine the means tested percentage contribution, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders will pay lower contributions than other self-funded retirees.
You will make no contribution for clinical support services (such as nursing and physiotherapy).
What happens if I am currently receiving a Home Care Package (HCP)?
If you were already receiving a Home Care Package (HCP), on the National Priority System or assessed as eligible for a package on 12 September 2024, you will be no worse off under Support at Home. You will make the same financial contributions, or lower, than you would under the Home Care Packages Program. You will also be able to enter residential care under the current fee system, regardless of when you need to enter residential care.
If you were assessed for a Home Care Package between 13 September 2024 and 30 June 2025 you will are considered a ‘transitional participant’ – you will receive a Support at Home package to the same value as current Home Care Package, and some contributions for non-clinical services will apply.
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