What is the Support at Home Program?

The Support at Home program represents the most comprehensive reform of Australia's in-home aged care sector in three decades. Introduced as the cornerstone of the Aged Care Act 2024, Support at Home replaces the legacy Home Care Packages (HCP) program and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programme with a unified, transparent, and needs-based system.

For decades, Australian families struggled with long waiting queues, confusing unspent fund rules, and exorbitant provider administration fees that swallowed up to a third of government package subsidies. Support at Home addresses these issues directly by establishing 8 granular classification levels, quarterly budget allocations, and statutory fee caps.

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Key Benefit for Families

Under Support at Home, all clinical healthcare services — such as nursing, pain management, and allied health treatments — are 100% government-funded. Care recipients pay zero out-of-pocket co-payments for medical and clinical care.

Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: Key Changes

The transition from the old Home Care Package framework to Support at Home introduces five structural improvements for older Australians living independently:

Feature Old System (Home Care Packages) New System (Support at Home 2026)
Care Levels 4 broad levels (Level 1 to 4) 8 targeted classifications + 2 short-term pathways
Funding Cycle Monthly subsidy payments with complex unspent accruals Quarterly tailored budgets tied directly to care plans
Clinical Care Costs Deducted from general package budget 100% Government funded (Zero co-payment)
Care Management Fee Uncapped (providers charged up to 35%) Statutory 10% maximum cap
Assistive Technology Drawn slowly from package accruals Separate upfront capital scheme for rapid delivery

The 8 Ongoing Classification Levels & Budgets

Instead of forcing diverse care recipients into just 4 wide buckets, Support at Home utilizes an 8-tier classification model. This ensures that funding matches exact clinical and domestic assistance requirements:

Classifications 1 & 2 (Entry Support)

Designed for low-level domestic support, social connection, and minor personal care.

Classifications 3 & 4 (Intermediate Care)

Equivalent to legacy Level 2 packages with expanded mobility and nutritional support.

Classifications 5 & 6 (High Care Needs)

Frequent clinical visits, dementia support, and structured personal hygiene assistance.

Classifications 7 & 8 (Complex & Intensive)

Highest level of home support, daily nursing, and multi-disciplinary clinical interventions.

The 3 Service Categories (Clinical, Independence, Living)

Every dollar allocated in a Support at Home quarterly budget falls into one of three distinct service tiers:

  • 1. Clinical Supports: Includes registered nursing, wound care, medication management, speech pathology, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. Fully covered by the Commonwealth.
  • 2. Independence Supports: Covers personal care (showering, dressing), mobility aids, assistive technology, respite care, and home modifications.
  • 3. Everyday Living Supports: Includes house cleaning, gardening, meal preparation, shopping assistance, and community transport. Subject to modest, means-tested client contributions.

The 10% Care Management Fee Cap

One of the major consumer protections in the reform is the introduction of a strict 10% ceiling on care management charges. Providers are legally prohibited from deducting more than 10% of the allocated budget for coordination, scheduling, and administrative oversight. Package management fees have been eliminated entirely.

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Check Your Provider Agreement

If your current provider is attempting to invoice administration or onboarding charges above the 10% statutory limit, you are legally entitled to switch providers with zero exit penalties.

How to Apply and Assessment Process

To access the Support at Home program, Australian seniors or their authorised representatives must complete a Single Assessment through the ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) framework:

  1. Register with My Aged Care: Submit an application online or call the official contact centre on 1800 200 422.
  2. In-Home Clinical Assessment: An accredited assessor evaluates cognitive, mobility, domestic, and clinical care needs in the applicant's home.
  3. Classification Notice & Support Plan: Within 2 to 6 weeks, you receive an official approval letter detailing your assigned classification (Level 1 to 8) and approved quarterly budget.
  4. Select an Approved Provider: Partner with a registered Support at Home provider to tailor your service delivery schedule.

Have Questions About the New Classifications?

Read our comprehensive FAQ guide covering 35 specific questions on budgets, transition rules, and fee caps.

Read the 35 Support at Home FAQs →