From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will launch the Support at Home program, a major reform to in home aged care.
This new program was originally planned to start on 1 July 2025, but has been postponed to 1 November 2025 to allow providers, participants and the sector more time to prepare.
With At Your Service Home Care, we’re here to help you navigate these changes with confidence and care.
Support at Home will replace the current Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), and some short term restorative care programs. The aim is to create a simpler, more flexible system that puts your needs and goals at the centre of care.
You can learn more about the program in the official Support At Home program guide for older people, families and carers.
🧭 More Package Levels for Better Support
Under Support at Home, there will be eight care levels instead of four, offering more precise support based on your needs.
If you’re an existing Home Care Package client, your current level will remain the same unless you request a reassessment through My Aged Care — and we can help you with that.
🤝 Care Management — Now Capped at 10%
The Government will limit care management fees to 10% of your package, ensuring better value.
At Your Service Home Care has always focused on quality care, efficient service coordination, and clear communication — and that won’t change.
❌ Package Management Fees Removed
To make fees easier to understand, package management fees will be scrapped. All provider costs will now be included in your service pricing.
We keep our pricing transparent, and your full statements are available anytime through our secure client portal.
Quarterly Budgets
Your funding will now be provided every three months instead of monthly.
There will be a limit on how much unspent funding can be carried forward. If you have an existing Home Care Package, your unspent funds will be kept as a top-up reserve, used once your quarterly funds are used up.
We’re also updating our statements to make your spending easy to track and understand.
🏡 Equipment and Home Modification Budget
Assistive technology and home modification costs will now come from a separate budget, not your core care funds.
We’ll guide you through accessing this support and help you make the most of the new funding — especially if you’re already holding unspent funds.
Extra Funding for Specialised Care
New funding will be available for Restorative Care and End-of-Life Care, giving you more support at the times when it’s needed most.
These changes are big — but you’re not alone. We’re committed to ensuring a smooth transition, continued quality care, and support that feels personal and reliable.
If you have any questions or would like help understanding how these changes affect you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team.
You’ll continue to receive the same services and support under your existing package. There’s no need to do anything right now. When the Support at Home program begins, you will automatically transition into the new system, and we’ll support you every step of the way.
If you currently have a Home Care Package, your unspent funds will carry over into the new Support at Home program starting 1 November 2025. This applies to all existing clients, including both grandfathered and non-grandfathered participants.
How does this work?
Your unspent funds become a ‘top-up reserve’.
You will receive a new quarterly budget every three months to spend on your care.
Once you have used up your quarterly budget, your top up reserve funds will be available to cover any additional care costs.
This means you won’t lose any funds you’ve already saved — it just gets used after your quarterly allocation runs out.
What about new clients?
If you enter the program after 1 November 2025, you won’t have a top up reserve. Instead, you will receive a set quarterly budget to use for your care.
We’re here to help you track and manage your funds, so you always know where you stand. You can view your balances and spending anytime via our online client portal or by contacting us.
From 1 November, you will receive your budget every three months instead of monthly. There is a cap on how much unspent funding you can carry over. However, existing clients will keep any leftover Home Care Package funds as a top up — available once your quarterly funds are used.
If you have unspent funds at the end of a quarter, you can roll over the leftover amount to the next quarter — but only up to a limit.
You can carry over whichever is greater:
There are specific maximum rollover amounts depending on your Home Care Package level or Support at Home classification. This helps ensure fair access to funds for all participants.
Support at Home includes a separate budget for assistive technology and home modifications. This gives you more flexibility, as these items no longer come from your core care funds. We’ll help you access and manage this funding to meet your needs.
Yes — there will be additional government funding for Restorative Care and End-of-Life Care. These funds are designed to ensure you receive more support during critical or transitional times.
It depends on your situation. Some people may need to pay part of the cost for their care, but this mostly affects new clients.
What if I was already in the Home Care Packages program or waiting for a package as of 12 September 2024?
If you were already receiving a Home Care Package or had been assessed and were waiting for a package to start on or before 12 September 2024, this means:
If you are new to aged care, or you were approved for a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024, here’s what you need to know:
No action is needed right now. We’ll continue to keep you informed and guide you as the program approaches. If you have questions or want to talk through the changes, please reach out — we’re here to help.
