Support At Home

How can I get a Support at Home Package?

Support at Home Packages are available to:

• Older Australians who need coordinated support to help them stay living safely at home.
• Younger Australians with dementia, disability, or care needs that are not met through other specialist services.

You can apply for an assessment through the My Aged Care website.


Alternatively, our Care Partners are happy to guide you through the process — just call us on 03 9000 3590 for assistance.

What happens if you are already receiving a Home Care Package?

If you were approved before the 12th of September 2024, here’s a snapshot of some of the changes you will see.

Funding


You’ll be automatically transitioned to a Support at Home classification level that aligns to your current Home Care Package level – no reassessment needed. Additionally, you will move to the Support at Home contribution model from November 2025.

Budget


Your annual budget will shift to a quarterly budget from November 2025.

Unspent funds


Any unspent Home Care Package funds you may have will carry over to your Support at Home package.

Key Benefits of Support at Home:

• Higher funding levels – maximum annual funding increases from $61,440 to $78,107, across 8 care levels.
• Personalised care – ongoing support from your care partner (currently known as a care manager), to help design care tailored to your needs.
• Simpler pricing – no separate administrative or management fees (some exemptions apply).
• Fairer contributions – you only pay towards non-clinical services you receive.
• Reduced wait times – with a target of 3 months from July 2027.
• Assistive Technology & Home Modifications – upfront funding of up to $15,000, making it easier to access home modifications when you need them.
• Restorative Care Pathway – expanded short-term care, increasing from 8 to 12 weeks, with more places available.
• End-of-Life Pathway – up to $25,000 in additional support over 3 months to help people remain at home in their final stage of life.

We’re here to help

Whether you’re already receiving care or just starting to explore home care services, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
We’ll work with you to make sure your care continues smoothly and without interruption, so you can focus on what matters most, living well at home.

👉If you have any questions about the new Support at Home packages, or would like to understand how it may apply to you or your loved ones, please contact us on 03 9000 3590 our friendly team is always happy to help.

Am I eligible for the Support at Home program?

The Support at Home Program is designed for older Australians who may need a little extra help to stay independent at home.
You may be eligible if you:


• Are 65 years or older (or 50 years or older if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, or if you’re homeless or at risk of homelessness), and

• Need some support with day-to-day activities such as personal care, household tasks, or getting to appointments and accessing health services.

To find out if you’re eligible, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit www.myagedcare.gov.au.



Our team can guide you through the next steps and help arrange an assessment.

Services:

The Support at Home program offers a wide range of services to help you continue living safely, comfortably, and independently at home.



These services are grouped into three main categories:

Clinical Care – including nursing services, occupational therapy, and continence support.

Independence Supports – such as assistance with showering, getting dressed, transport, or respite care.

Everyday Living Supports – including help with cleaning, gardening, shopping, and meal preparation.

Your Aged Care Assessment will outline the services you are approved to receive.
Your Care Partner will then work with you to access the supports that best meet your needs and goals, all within your available budget.

Current Home Care Package care recipients

All Home Care Package recipients will move to the new Support at Home program. This means they will be automatically approved for Support at Home services and will continue to receive the same funding level, there’s nothing you need to do.
Here’s how current Home Care Package levels align with the new Support at Home funding:

Budgets and Funding

Your Aged Care Assessment will determine which Support at Home classification level (1–8) you are eligible for. This level sets the amount of funding available for your care.

From 1 November, your home care budget will move from an annual to a quarterly format.

We’ll work with you to plan the services you will receive each quarter, including all costs associated with delivering your care.


Your care plan will outline the services you will receive, and your individualised budget will show how your funds are used to support those services.

At the end of each quarter, any unspent funds can be carried over to the next quarter; up to 10% of your quarterly budget or $1,000, whichever is greater.

Unspent Funds from HCP to SaH:

If you are transitioning from an existing Home Care Package (HCP) to the Support at Home program, any accrued unspent funds from your HCP will carry over to your new Support at Home classification level.

You can use these funds to support your care, including:

• Services in your care plan
• Home modifications
• Assistive technology

This ensures that any funds you have already accrued continue to benefit your care and support needs.

Care Management:

You will be assigned a Care Partner who will work with you to plan and coordinate your services, ensuring your needs and goals are met according to your care plan.

To support this, 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated to care management services, helping your Care Partner provide the guidance and coordination you need to get the most out of your Support at Home program.

Personal Contributions:

Under the Support at Home program, participants are expected to contribute to the cost of some services. How much you contribute depends on your income and assets. Generally, the higher your level of need, the larger your support package may be, and the more the government will contribute toward your care.

Contribution levels vary depending on the type of service:

• Clinical Care (e.g., nursing services) – fully covered by the government, no contribution required.
• Independence Supports (e.g., showering, transport) – contributions range from 5% to 50%, depending on income.
• Everyday Living Supports (e.g., cleaning, gardening) – contributions range from 17.5% to 80%, depending on income.

For people currently on a Home Care Package (grandfathered participants), contribution levels will not change and remain between 0% and 25%. The “no worse off” principle ensures they will not pay more under the new program than they did before.

Additional Funding Available:

In addition to your ongoing Support at Home budget, short-term funding pathways are available to help you access extra support when needed:

• Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) – Up to $15,000 over 12 months to spend on both assistive technology and home modifications.
• Restorative Care Pathway – Up to $6,000 for 16 weeks of intensive allied health and/or nursing services to maintain and improve your health and wellbeing.
• End-of-Life Pathway – Up to $25,000 for people with less than 3 months to live, supporting palliative care at home for 12–16 weeks.

These pathways provide flexible, additional support tailored to your specific needs, ensuring you can continue living well at home.

No worse off promise:

If you were already receiving a Home Care Package, on the National Priority System, or assessed as eligible for a package before 12 September 2024, the Support at Home program ensures you will be no worse off.

• Your financial contribution under Support at Home will be the same or lower than it was under your Home Care Package.
• The current fee system that applies for residential aged care will continue to apply to you, regardless of when you need to enter residential care.

This promise provides peace of mind, ensuring that the transition to Support at Home will not increase your costs.

New Service Agreement:

• The new Service Agreements or amendments ensure you continue to receive the services you need under Support at Home and clearly outline your rights and responsibilities.
They provide an update to your current Home Care Package and confirm the services you will receive under the new program.
• To continue receiving services from 1 November, you must have a valid Service Agreement or amendment in place.

What happens next?

If you are currently receiving services with Sabine’s Home Care Services there’s little you need to do right now.


Your Care Manager/Partner will be in touch to discuss your services and guide you through the transition to Support at Home, ensuring everything continues smoothly.

If you are looking for Support at Home or have any questions, please contact us on 03 9000 3590 our friendly team is always happy to help.