The Australian Government’s new Support at Home Program launches on 1 November 2025, bringing significant changes to the way older Australians receive in-home care. If you’re currently receiving Capecare’s home care services or considering your options, you may be wondering how this will impact you.
We’ve put together a helpful guide to help you navigate these changes and ensure you continue receiving the care at home you need.
The Support at Home program is Australia’s new in-home care system designed to streamline and improve home care services. It will replace the Home Care Package (HCP) program and short-term restorative care program from 1 November 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 November 2027.
The new program aims to keep older Australians living in their homes longer by addressing the issues raised by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. This includes:
Support at Home’s start date coincides with Australia’s new Aged Care Act. The Act will prioritise care recipients’ rights, reform legislation, and place older people at the centre of the aged care system by giving them more choices and control over their care.
Assessments will still be scheduled through My Aged Care.
A new, singular assessment workforce, to be known as ‘assessment organisations’ will replace RAS, ACAT and AN-ACC, making it easier and more efficient to get assessed for aged care support. You can be assessed anywhere, and you’ll only have to tell your story once.
Assessment organisations will be aligned to 22 service areas across Australia.
Clients can use the same assessment organisation as needs evolve.
Support plans created during assessments will provide the basis for funding and available services.
Older people with higher-level needs will be approved for Support at Home, while applicants with entry-level aged care needs will continue to be referred to the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
Find out more
When the Support at Home program begins, three groups of Australians will be eligible:
The 2021 Royal Commission concluded that aged care assessments were producing poor outcomes. The system was complex and difficult for clients and their families to navigate. Older people were often passed between assessment organisations as their needs changed, resulting in inconsistent results and inefficient service delivery.
The new Single Assessment System aims to make it easier and more efficient to get assessed for aged care support. You can be assessed anywhere, and you’ll only have to tell your story once. Importantly, you can also use the same assessment provider as your needs change over time.
You can confirm eligibility by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or using the online eligibility checker on the My Aged Care website.
Once the Support at Home program begins, care assessments will occur through Australia’s new Single Assessment System, which uses the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT). Introduced in July 2024, the IAT enables assessors to gather essential information about applicants and deliver more tailored service recommendations.
If you are a home care applicant, your assessor will also collaborate with you to develop a support plan based on your needs and goals. Your support plan will be the basis for the funding and services you can receive.
There will be three distinct components in the new system:
The Integrated Assessment tool (which began in July 2024) replaced the National Screening and Assessment Form.
Assessors now use the IAT to guide their assessments of older people to provide consistent, accurate assessments. Older people with higher-level needs will be approved for Support at Home, while applicants with entry-level aged care needs will continue to be referred to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
The Single Assessment System Workforce will bring together assessors from the Regional Assessment Service (RAS), Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT), and the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) and effectively replace those organisations.
Under the new arrangement, Needs Assessment Organisations provide the entire scope of assessments, including clinical and non-clinical. In other words, there will no longer be dedicated organisations for different types of care. The same organisation will provide all the necessary assessment services.
The third component of the new Single Assessment System will be is a bespoke, culturally safe pathway for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As a unique entity, this pathway will be available in addition to all other pathways in the broader system.
The key details to note:
One of the goals of the new Single Assessment System will be to reduce wait times. This had been an issue with the Home Care Package scheme, with many recipients having to waiting between 3 to 12 months to get funding. There will be more assessment providers on the ground in every service area, and more than one provider available in most areas. Additional benefits of the new system will include:
Simplification of terminology:
References to RAS, ACAT,AN-ACC, and Assessment Management Organisations (AMO) will be replaced with the all- encompassing term ‘assessment organisation’, and professionals who deliver assessments will be called ‘aged care needs assessors’ whether they’re conducting clinical or non-clinical assessments.
Flexibility:
The new system will adapt to the changing needs of older people. Care recipients won’t have to change assessment organisations – they will remain with the same one even as their needs evolve.
When you’re found eligible for care, your assessor will collaborate with you to create an individualised support plan.
Your plan will be a broad overview of your needs and services, including your current condition, reason for referral, and a summary of your goals, strengths and assessed needs. Ultimately, the support plan will be the basis for your funding and the services you’re eligible to receive.
Upon approval for Support at Home, you will receive a notice of the decision with your personalised support plan to share with your home care provider. This notice will include a combination of the following:
When funding becomes available, you will receive your budget and begin receiving services. You will collaborate with your Support at Home provider to determine the mix of services that best supports your needs within your allocated budget.
Current Home Care Package recipients who want to be re-assessed for a higher level under Support at Home will follow the same process established under the Home Care Package program:
Once the referral is complete, the assessment organisation will determine if a Support Plan Review is sufficient, or if the older person needs a new assessment altogether.
For more information on quarterly budgets see Service List & Pricing
For more information on assistive technology and home modifications (AT-HM) see Assistive Technology & Home Modifications Scheme
Clients will now receive a priority rating of High, Medium or Standard after their assessment. This new system will replace the National Priority System for Home Care Packages.
When wait times exceed expectations, care recipients will receive an interim allocation of 60% of their Support at Home classification budget while they wait to receive the remaining 40% of their budget.
Clients will continue to find registered providers through the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800200 422 or speaking to an Aged Care Specialist Officer (SCSO) at Services Australia.
Find out more
The Support at Home program aims to add 300,000 more places for home care recipients over the next 10 years. By 2035, the government expects around 1.4 million Australians to be in care.
Initially, Australians should expect current wait times for Home Care Packages to carry over into Support at Home. If all goes as planned, wait times will diminish as Support at Home ramps up. The government’s goal is to reduce wait times to three months by July 2027. Wait times will vary by priority level.
The aged care prioritisation system will feature two key changes under the Support at Home program:
In addition to this new prioritisation mechanism, Support at Home will leverage a ‘single provider model’ that many home care recipients in Australia are already familiar with.
Single Provider Model
Support at Home’s ‘single provider model’ simply means one home care provider will manage and deliver your services to meet your assessed needs within your budget. Your provider will also be responsible for sourcing and arranging assistive technology and home modifications (either purchased or loaned) through the AT-HM scheme.
You can engage third-party vendors for certain services your provider agrees to. In those cases, your provider will assume responsibility for the quality and safety of the third-party services and must ensure all regulatory requirements are met. Providers can also subcontract services they cannot provide directly themselves (eg gardening, physical therapy, etc).
Finding and Transferring Providers
You can also ask your assessor for aged care provider referrals during your assessment process. Otherwise, you can find registered providers by:
If you decide to change your home care provider under Support at Home, your budget will be managed through Services Australia. In other words, there will not be a physical transfer of money across your providers. Your previous provider will have 60 days to finalise claims through Services Australia.
The Federal Government will continue to subsidise health-related costs and will fully fund clinical care (such as Nursing Care and Allied Health), and the funds will continue to be allocated based on individual’s care needs. However, Australian seniors with financial means will now be expected to contribute more.
A ‘no worse-off’ principle for contribution arrangements will prevent the 2025 aged care reforms from negatively impacting current home care recipients, meaning current Home Care Package recipients, people on the National Priority System or people being assessed for the Home Care Package will make the same or lower contributions.
There are now three categories of support available: Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living. In the Everyday Living category, which requires the highest contribution, there will be no caps on gardening and cleaning services.
A new cap will ensure no individual pays more than $130,000 in non- clinical care costs over their lifetime, which applies to both in-home care and residential care.
Find out more
Contribution Arrangements
Under the Support at Home program, you will only pay contributions for the services you have received. Those contributions will be determined based on the hourly rate for the service or a percentage of the cost of the service type or product. For example, if you receive three hours of personal care, you will pay a contribution per hour received.
For items billed at cost such as consumables, your contribution will be calculated as a percentage of the total cost. This means you will pay the dollar amount set by a percentage of the price (or cost), and the government will pay the remainder of the price (or cost) as a subsidy to your provider.
Ultimately, contribution rates will be determined by two factors: the type of service you received and your financial standing. Three categories of support will be available: Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living.
Clinical Supports Category: No Client Contribution
The government will fully fund clinical care (including nursing care and physiotherapy) for all Support at Home Participants
Independence Category: Moderate Participant Contribution
Supports that help keep care recipients out of hospital and residential aged care (including personal care, assistive technology, and home modifications). Will require a moderate contribution.
Everyday Living Services Category: Highest Participant Contribution
Everyday living services such as domestic assistance and gardening will require the highest contribution. (Note: There will be no caps on gardening and cleaning services.)
The government will fully fund clinical care (including nursing care and physiotherapy) for all Support at Home Participants.
Supports that help keep care recipients out of hospital and residential aged care (including personal care, assistive technology, and home modifications). Will require a moderate contribution.
Everyday living services such as domestic assistance and gardening will require the highest contribution. (Note: There will be no caps on gardening and cleaning services.)
Age-Pension Status, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Status, and Means:
Historically with the Home Care Package program, fees (the basic daily fee and income-tested care fee) did not vary based on the level of services used. This changes with the Support at Home program, as illustrated below:
| Clinical care | Independence | Everyday living | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pensioner | 0% | 5% | 17.5% |
| Part pensioner and Commonwealth seniors health card eligible | 0% | Between 5% and 50% depending on income and assets | Between 17.5% and 80% depending on income and assets |
| Self-funded retiree | 0% | 50% | 80% |
Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Figures correct at time of publication.
Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home for the latest updates.
Contribution Arrangements for Current Home Care Recipients
A ‘no worse-off’ principle for contribution arrangements will prevent the 2025 aged care reforms from negatively impacting current home care recipients. What does this mean? If on 12 September 2024, you were:
you will make the same or lower contributions once you transition to Support at Home.
There will not be a basic daily fee under Support at Home.
Existing Home Care Package recipients who do not pay an income-tested care fee will continue with no such fees under Support at Home. Those who are paying income-tested fees, however, will transition into Support at Home with special discounted contribution arrangements. See the table below for more details.
Finally, a cap (tracked by Services Australia) will ensure no individual pays more than $130,000 in non-clinical care costs over their lifetime. This applies to both in-home care and residential care. Hardship arrangements that were in place before 1 July 2025 will carry through to Support at Home. There will not be an annual cap on participant contributions.
| Clinical supports | Independence | Everyday living | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pensioner | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Part pensioner | 0% | Part pensioners and CSHC holders will pay between 0%–25% based on an assessment of their income and assets. For part pensioners this will be based on their Age Pension means assessment. CSHC holders will undergo a separate assessment for Support at Home. |
Part pensioners and CSHC holders will pay between 0%–25% based on an assessment of their income and assets. For part pensioners this will be based on their Age Pension means assessment. CSHC holders will undergo a separate assessment for Support at Home. |
| Self-funded retiree (holding or eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) | 0% | ||
| Self-funded retiree (not eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) | 0% | 25% | 25% |
Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Figures correct at time of publication.
Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home for the latest updates.
Eight levels of support will be available under the Support at Home program, along with two short-term care pathways.
The level of support a care recipient qualifies for will be determined by their assessment findings.
Current home care recipients and those on the National Priority System will retain the level of funding of their approved Home Care Packages until they are reassessed into a new classification under Support at Home.
Find out more
Eight levels of support will be available under the Support at Home program. The highest level includes a maximum annual funding of up to $78,000 per person, as well as two short-term care pathways.
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,674.18 | $10,697.72 |
| 2 | $3,995.42 | $15,981.68 |
| 3 | $5,479.94 | $21,919.77 |
| 4 | $7,386.33 | $29,545.33 |
| 5 | $9,883.76 | $39,535.04 |
| 6 | $11,989.35 | $47,957.41 |
| 7 | $14,530.53 | $58,122.13 |
| 8 | $19,427.25 | $77,709.00 |
| Restorative Care Pathway | ~ $6,000 (12 weeks) May be increased to ~ $12,000 when eligible |
|
| End-of-Life Pathway | ~ $25,000 (12 weeks) | |
| Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme | Low, medium or high funding tiers as assessed | |
Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Figures correct at time of publication.
Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home for the latest updates.
The level of support you qualify for will depend on your assessment findings. Current home care recipients and those on the National Priority System will retain the level of Funding of their approved Home Care Packages until they are reassessed into a new classification under Support at Home.
In addition to these eight levels of support, Support at Home will feature the two short-term pathways (outlined below) as well as three funding tiers for assertive technology and home modifications (AT-HM Scheme). Find more on those in the Assistive technology & Home Modifications Scheme section below.
For older people awaiting hospital discharge for restorative services, the Transition Care Programme (TCP) will continue as a separate program for care recipients who require in-home support following a hospital stay.
Restorative Care Pathway
This pathway will expand on existing arrangements under the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme by increasing support from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. You can utilise this pathway to secure allied health services and collaborate with restorative care partners, who will help you develop support plans and work toward goals such as:
Eligibility for the Restorative Care Pathway is determined during an aged care assessment, and documented in your notice of decision and accompanying support plan. When approved, you will receive a budget of approximately $6000 for the 12- week period. If your restorative care partner deems more intensive support is necessary, you may seek approval for up to an additional $6000 to be used within that same period.
The Restorative Care Pathway can be accessed for a maximum of two periods of restorative care within 12-months, but they cannot occur in consecutive quarters.
The Restorative Care Pathway is available in addition to your ongoing budget, meaning you’ll still have access to ongoing services while leveraging those additional restorative care services.
End-of-Life Pathway
This pathway provides urgent access to additional services in the last three months of life for care recipients who prefer to remain living at home during that time. It will be the highest funding classification (per day) under Support at Home. A total of $25,000 will be available per eligible participant over a three-month period, with a total of 16 weeks to use the funds for additional flexibility.
For care recipients to access the End-of-Life Pathway, an aged care assessor will conduct a ‘high priority’ support plan review that involves an evaluation of the person’s medical documents to determine eligibility. A comprehensive assessment will not be necessary.
The eligibility requirements for accessing the End-of-Life Pathway are:
Note that a care recipient can only access the End-of-Life pathway once. In the event they live longer than expected, or make a recovery, they would shift over to the Support at Home classification determined at their assessment or be re-assessed, if necessary.
The End-of-Life Pathway replaces any ongoing budget, meaning care recipients are only eligible for End-of-Life Pathway funding during that 16-week window.
There will be a definitive list of government-subsidised services in three categories: Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living.
Each category has its own service types and participant contribution arrangement. Assessments will determine which services are available to care recipients.
The government will set price caps for each service type, and home care service providers will not be able to charge unit prices over those caps, ensuring fair and transparent pricing across the industry. This includes the full cost of service delivery, including administration costs, meaning providers won’t be able to charge separate administration fees.
Annual subsidy amounts will be divided into four equal quarterly budgets with each covering three months of the year and the ability to move unspent funds to cover unplanned needs.
The Support at Home program will provide recipients deemed to need assistive technology and/or home modifications with separate funding for products, equipment and required modifications to help them live safely and independently.
There will be three funding tiers for assistive technology and three tiers for home modifications, each tier will have a set period in which the funding must be used, meaning the funding can not be accrued. The AT-HM Scheme will have clear guidance on what equipment and modifications are available, this will be made official once the program commences
The aged care providers used by the recipient will be responsible for arranging and sourcing products, modifications and services that don’t require a prescription.
A National Assistive Technology Loans Scheme (the AT Loans Scheme) is being developed for the Support at Home program in partnership with state and territory governments. The scheme will allow for the loan of suitable equipment, along with the maintenance and repairs on the loaned items.
Find out more
The Support at Home program will provide eligible recipients with separate funding for products, equipment, and home modifications to help them live safely and independently at home. Here’s how it will work:
In some cases, an aged care assessment will not be enough to secure the necessary modifications and/or technology. Some modifications and complex equipment may require a prescription from qualified health professionals. The Department of Health and Aged Care will advise on proposed prescribers who can assist with this part of the process, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, dieticians and nutritionists.
Home modifications will be accessible by prescription only.
AT-HM Funding Tiers
There will be three funding tiers for assistive technology and three tiers for home modifications.
Each tier will have a set period during which funding must be used; AT-HM funding will not accrue over time. Home care recipients will be allocated a low, medium or high funding tier based on their assessed needs through the single assessment process. If you are assessed and approved for both assistive technology and home modifications, the amounts are additive—meaning you can receive both allocations at the same time.
Funding can include up to $15,000, though some participants will be required to provide co-contributions toward their assistive technology or home modifications. Access to high-tier home modifications will be capped at $15,000 per lifetime (plus any additional supplements). If you have unspent Home Care Package funds, you must use those first to access assistive technology and home modifications before tapping into your Support at Home AT-HM funding.
Much like the Support at Home service list, the AT-HM Scheme will have clear guidance on what products, equipment and modifications are available. Final funding tiers will be made official once the program commences, but the tables below illustrate potential allocations.
| Funding tier | Funding allocation (up to) | Funding period |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive technology | ||
| Low | $500 | 12 months |
| Medium | $2,000 | 12 months |
| High | $15,0001 | 12 months |
| 1 Participants who have assistive technology costs above $15,000 can access additional funding with evidence, such as a valid prescription. | ||
| Home modifications | ||
| Low | $500 | 12 months |
| Medium | $2,000 | 12 months |
| High | $15,000 | 12 months2 |
| 2 Funding may be extended for an additional 12 months to complete complex home modifications (24 months in total) if evidence is provided to Services Australia. | ||
Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Figures correct at time of publication.
Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home for the latest updates.
Similar to those allocations, the finalised AT-HM list will be available when Support at Home begins in July. The list will be sorted into the following categories: Managing Body Functions, Self Care, Mobility, Domestic Life, Communications and Information Management, and Home Modifications.
All assistive technology and home modifications on the AT-HM list will also be categorised by the skill level necessary to safely and effectively use the product, equipment or home modification. These supports are broken into three categories:
Low Risk
Simple and relatively low-cost daily living products typically available to purchase off the shelf.
Under advice
Assistive products that are generally accessible but would benefit from some semblance of written or professional advice to ensure proper use.
Prescribed
More complex and often more costly products that are configured, personalised and/ or adapted precisely to meet the care recipient’s needs.
A few more important notes about AT-HM funding:
National Assistive Technology Loans Scheme
A National Assistive Technology Loans Scheme (the AT Loans Scheme) is being developed for the Support at Home program in partnership with state and territory governments. The finalised AT-HM list will specify which products and equipment are suitable for loans.
If a product or piece of equipment is loan-suitable, the care recipient’s prescriber or aged care provider will check on their behalf if the item is available through the AT Loans Scheme. If the item is not suitable or available for loan, the provider will support the care recipient in purchasing the item.
The Loans Scheme will cover repairs and maintenance on loaned items. Further, care recipients will also be able to swap equipment in and out of the Loans Scheme as required to manage their changing needs over time. This will be particularly beneficial for older people with progressive conditions.
Home modifications will not be available through the AT Loans Scheme in the initial phases of the Support at Home program. The care recipient’s provider will be responsible for arranging all home modifications, including supply, coordination and installation activities.
Under the Support at Home program, Capecare as your aged care provider will help you achieve the best outcomes from your care through a collection of care management services and activities.
Aged care providers will be expected to provide Care Partners with proper training and qualifications, who will deliver care management services on an individualised basis for their clients.
Providers will charge up to a 10% care management fee for the care management services provided, which can be pooled into a Care Management Fund. This fund will be used to flex care management services to care recipients who need the most intensive assistance or as need fluctuate.
Self-management options will continue with Support at Home, this option allows recipients to have more independence, choice and control over services and their delivery. Providers will still oversee safety, governance and compliance for self-managed care recipients.
Find out more
Under the Support at Home program, your aged care provider will help you achieve the best outcomes from your care through a collection of care management services and activities.
Aged care providers will be expected to provide an appropriate number of trained and qualified Care Partners to facilitate the necessary care management activities for their clients.
At Capecare, for instance, all of our Clinical Care Partners are registered through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and certified to deliver care services under Support at Home.
Providers will charge up to a 10% care management fee and use those funds for care management services. In other words, if you are a Support at Home participant, up to 10% of your ongoing quarterly budget will be pooled into a Care Management Fund managed by your provider. That fund will hold contributions from all of your provider’s clients, and your provider will use it to flex care management services to care recipients who need the most intensive assistance.
| Services | Description |
|---|---|
| Care planning |
|
| Service coordination |
|
| Monitoring, review and evaluation |
|
| Support and education |
|
Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Figures correct at time of publication.
Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home for the latest updates.
Self-management options
The option to self-manage care will continue with the Support at Home program. Care recipients who manage their own care will have more independence, choice and control over services and their delivery.
Self-management will look different for each individual based on preferences, needs, and abilities, as well as their provider’s capacity to support self-management arrangements.
With Capecare, for instance, self-managed clients can:
Providers will still oversee safety, governance and compliance for self-managed care recipients. They will also execute certain administrative functions (such as worker screening checks) to verify that each recipient’s care complies with national standards and legislation.
For example, Capecare completes checks on workers and organisations on our clients’ behalf. We review their chosen workers’ ABNs (Australian Business Numbers), police clearances and insurances, and confirm they have the necessary skills to provide the care and services our clients require.
To provide you with more clarity on the contributions you pay for each service, care providers will invoice Servies Australia at a price-per-unit of service delivered, these prices will not exceed the price caps set by the government. At-HM services will invoice for the cost price of the item purchased, so you can clearly see how your contributions are being used.
Care recipients will pay out-of-pocket contributions to their home care provider, you will then receive monthly (at a minimum) statements, that will outline what your contributions have covered. When your provider’s claim for a service has been finalised, the government subsidy and your contribution will be debited from your budget.
Providers will invoice at a price-per-unit of service delivered, and those prices will not exceed the price caps set by the government.
Care recipients will pay out-of-pocket contributions to their home care provider.
Home care recipients will receive financial statements monthly (at a minimum) from their provider.
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