The Support at Home program will be introduced on 1 July 2025, replacing Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme.
The Support at Home program will aim to help older Australians live at home safely for as long as possible, emphasising the importance of supported and independent ageing for those who wish to remain in their homes.
The program was established in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and to meet Principle 1 of the Aged Care Taskforce (DoHaAC 2024).
The following people are eligible to undergo an aged care assessment through the Single Assessment System:
(Adapted from DoHaAC 2024)
An assessor will use the Integrated Assessment Tool to determine the person’s eligibility for different types of aged care, including the Support at Home program (DoHaAC 2024).
The Support at Home program can fund the following services, depending on an assessment of the older person’s needs:
(DoHaAC 2024)
For a comprehensive list of services in scope for Support at Home funding, see the Support at Home Program Handbook.
The Support at Home program consists of eight funding classifications and two short-term care pathways, each one corresponding to a different level of care needs. In comparison, Home Care Packages only have four funding levels (DoHaAC 2024).
Each classification is allocated a specific quarterly and annual budget:
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$2,750 | ~$11,000 |
| 2 | ~$4,000 | ~$16,000 |
| 3 | ~$5,500 | ~$22,000 |
| 4 | ~$7,500 | ~$30,000 |
| 5 | ~$10,000 | ~$40,000 |
| 6 | ~$12,000 | ~$48,000 |
| 7 | ~$14,500 | ~$58,000 |
| 8 | ~$19,500 | ~$78,000 |
| Restorative Care Pathway |
|
|
| End-of-Life Pathway |
| |
(Adapted from DoHaAC 2024)
Note: These dollar values have not yet been finalised.
The Support at Home program includes two types of short-term funding allowances:
(DoHaAC 2024)
The Support at Home program also includes separate funding allocations for products, equipment and home modifications that support older people to live at home independently. These can include:
(DoHaAC 2024)
| Funding tier | Funding allocation cap | Time allocated to expend funding |
|---|---|---|
| Low | $500 | 12 months |
| Medium | $2,000 | 12 months |
| High | $15,000* | 12 months |
* Higher amounts for assistive technology may be approved with prescription.
(Adapted from DoHaAC 2024)
As part of the Support at Home program, participants will be able to access services to assist them with managing their care, including:
(DoHaAC 2024)
People who are already receiving a Home Care Package will be reassessed into one of the Support at Home program classifications once the program commences and provided with a budget that matches their previous Home Care Package.
If the person has unspent funds when the Support at Home program commences, these w====ill be retained to use for the Support at Home program (DoHaAC 2024).
Assign mandatory training and keep all your records in-one-place.
Find out more
Ausmed Education is a Trusted Information Partner of Healthdirect Australia. Verify here.
New 