Reforms to aged care – what does this mean for home care services?
2 June 2025

Reforms to aged care – what does this mean for home care services?

The new Australian government Support at Home Program will begin on 1 July 2025.

Support at Home will replace the existing Home Care Packages Program and Short-term Restorative Care program.

The program offers 8 ongoing support levels, plus additional short-term programs – all with the goal of assisting older Australians to remain living at home, independently, for longer.

What services are on offer?

The Support at Home program offers a range of services grouped into three categories:

Clinical supports: includes nursing care, allied health and other therapeutic services, nutrition, care management, and restorative care management.
Independence: includes personal care, social support & community engagement, and therapeutic services for independent living.
Everyday living: includes domestic assistance, home maintenance & repairs, and meals.

What additional short-term programs are available?

Support at Home also includes additional short-term programs – for times when you need extra support:

Restorative Care Pathway: Helping older people regain strength and independence through allied health services. Support is available for up to 16 weeks, based on assessment.
End-of-life Pathway: Provides additional in-home support during the last three months of life, aiming to help people remain at home for as long as possible. Funding of up to $25,000 will be available, with up to 16 weeks to use the funds.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications: Offering participants access to assistive technology and home modifications without needing to save from their individual budgets.

What level of support does the program offer?

Support at Home will have 8 ongoing support levels. The indicative annual budget amounts are outlined below:

  • Classification 1: $10,696.72
  • Classification 2: $15,981.68
  • Classification 3: $21,919.77
  • Classification 4: $29,545.33
  • Classification 5: $39,535.04
  • Classification 6: $47,957.41
  • Classification 7: $58,122.13
  • Classification 8: $77,709.00

Are participants expected to contribute to the cost of the services?

Support at Home will focus government funding on care needs that will help participants to stay at home and avoid hospitalisations. In line with Aged Care Taskforce recommendations, participants will make a greater contribution towards items they have paid or provided for themselves their entire lives.
Contributions will be different for each participant and will be based on:

  1. the type of service received
  2. the outcome of a participant’s income and assets assessment, as well as their pension status: full pensioner, part-pensioner, self-funded retiree and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) holder, and self-funded retiree and non-CSHC holder.

To learn more about the Support at Home program, click here

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