Private Home Care Services

 Support that starts on your terms – no package, no waiting.

Private home care gives you the freedom to arrange support at home directly with Dovida, without going through My Aged Care or waiting on government funding. 

Whether you’re supporting a parent after a hospital stay, want care to begin sooner than a Support at Home outcome allows, or simply prefer to organise things privately, our caregivers can be with you in days, not months. There’s no assessment, no waitlist and no restriction on the services you choose – just care built around what you and your family actually need.

What is private home care

Private home care (also known as self-funded or fee-for-service care) is support you arrange and pay for directly with Dovida, rather than through a government subsidy. It sits outside the My Aged Care system entirely, which means there’s no ACAT assessment, no means testing and no waiting period to navigate.

Private care can stand on its own or work alongside a Home Care Package or Support at Home budget. Many families use it to top up funded hours, cover services outside a package’s scope, or bridge the gap while an application is being processed.

Who is private home care for?

Private home care could be a good fit if you or someone you love:

• Doesn’t qualify for a government subsidy, or would prefer not to go through an assessment
• Is waiting on a Support at Home outcome and needs support in the meantime
• Wants to top up an existing Home Care Package or Support at Home budget with extra hours or services
• Needs care to start quickly, such as after a hospital discharge or a sudden change in health
• Wants complete choice and control over caregivers, scheduling and the type of support provided

Why choose private home care?

For many families, private home care offers something a funded pathway can’t always provide: support that begins on your timeline, shaped entirely around what matters most to you. There’s real reassurance in knowing care can start within days, without waiting on an assessment outcome or working within the limits of an approved budget.

Families often turn to private care in the days after a hospital stay, when a parent needs a little extra help while they recover at home. Others choose it while waiting on a Support at Home outcome, so support doesn’t have to pause while the paperwork catches up. And for those who already have funded care in place, private home care can add extra hours or specialised services that a package doesn’t quite stretch to cover.

Private care also means stepping around the Support at Home assets test. There’s no need to disclose your income and assets, or gather the supporting documents that process usually calls for, so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on the support that matters.

Whatever the reason, private home care puts you in the driver’s seat, with full choice over your caregivers, your schedule and the type of support you receive.

Private Home Care vs. a Government-Funded Home Care Package

Both pathways can lead to great care, they just work differently. Here’s how they compare:

A quick note on terminology: private home care is different to “self-managing” a Home Care Package or Support at Home budget. Self-management refers to choosing your own workers within funding you already hold. Private home care sits outside the government system altogether. If you’re looking to understand your government-subsidised options, our Support at Home page can help.

Private home care doesn’t need to stand alone. Many Dovida families use it alongside a Home Care Package or Support at Home budget, adding extra hours, exploring additional services, or simply bridging the gap while funding is being finalised. Because private care sits outside the government system, it can flex around whatever funding you already have, rather than compete with it, meaning you’re never limited to what a package covers. You can top up with the exact type and amount of support that suits your circumstances, for as long as you need it.

What’s Included in Dovida’s Private Home Care

Our private services cover the same breadth of support as our funded care, including:

• Personal care
• Companion care
• Home help
• Transport
• Live-in care
• Hospital-to-home support
• Overnight and 24-hour care
• Dementia care

Your local Care Manager can help you build a plan that draws on any (or all) of these, shaped around your circumstances rather than a set list of inclusions.

How Much Does Private Home Care Cost?

Because private care is arranged directly with Dovida, pricing is transparent and depends on the type of support, the number of hours and your location. There’s no funding formula to navigate and no contribution assessment through Services Australia, you simply pay for the care you receive.

Private care isn’t usually cheaper per hour than a subsidised package, but it removes the wait times, eligibility criteria and funding restrictions that can come with government support. For many families, that flexibility and speed is worth the difference.

For a detailed breakdown, visit our Pricing page or speak with your local office.

How to Get Started

Getting started with private home care is straightforward:

1. Contact your local Dovida office to talk through your situation.
2. Enjoy an obligation-free consultation with a Care Manager, in person or over the phone.
3. Receive a personalised care plan, built around your needs, preferences and budget.
4. Care begins, often within days.

Ready to explore your options? Contact your local Dovida office for an obligation-free consultation, or find the office nearest you.