If you or a family member needs help to remain independent at home, Support at Home can feel difficult to understand. The program replaced Home Care Packages and introduced new funding classifications, contribution rules and assessment processes.
At iCare4U Support Services, we help older Australians and their families navigate aged care support at home with clear information and respectful, person-centred care. To discuss your situation, call 1300 422 730 or visit www.icare4u.com.au.
This guide explains what changed, who may be eligible, how funding works and what to consider when choosing a provider.
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is Australia’s primary government-funded program for older people who need ongoing assistance to live safely and independently in their own homes.
The program began on 1 November 2025 and replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care. Existing Home Care Package clients transitioned to an equivalent Support at Home arrangement during the transition period.
The purpose remains familiar: to help you continue living in the home and community you know, with support based on your assessed needs, goals and preferences.
Support at Home may help with everyday tasks, personal care, clinical services, transport and social connection. Your approved support plan determines which services are suitable for you.
Who may be eligible?
Eligibility is based on your care needs, not your wealth. You may be eligible if you:
- Are aged 65 or over.
- Are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or over.
- Need assistance because of changes in mobility, health, cognition or daily functioning.
- Want to remain living safely and independently at home.
- Complete an assessment through My Aged Care.
Your income, savings, investments and property are not used to decide whether you need care. They may be considered later when calculating your contribution towards some services.
People below the relevant age thresholds may have other support pathways. My Aged Care can explain which program may be appropriate for your circumstances.
How do you apply for Support at Home?
Your first step is to contact My Aged Care. You can apply online, call My Aged Care or visit a Services Australia location.
The usual process is:
- Contact My Aged Care and explain the type of help you need.
- Complete an aged care needs assessment through the Single Assessment System.
- Meet with an assessor, often at home or in hospital.
- Discuss your daily routine, health, mobility, safety, strengths and existing supports.
- Receive an assessment outcome, priority category and, where approved, a Support at Home classification.
- Choose a provider and agree on the services in your support plan.
The assessment is an important opportunity to describe what life is really like for you. You are the expert in your own life. Tell the assessor about tasks that are difficult, risks at home, support provided by family members and the activities you want to continue.
You can read more about assessment outcomes on the official My Aged Care assessment outcome page.
How Support at Home funding works
Your classification reflects the level of support you need. Support at Home has eight ongoing classification levels. A lower classification may suit someone who needs occasional assistance, while a higher classification may apply where a person needs regular personal care, complex support or clinical care.
Your classification helps determine the size of your government-funded budget. The budget is used for approved services and care management. It is not a cash payment that you can spend without restrictions.
Unlike the old Home Care Package arrangements, there is no separate basic daily fee. Instead, you may pay a contribution for certain services you receive.
Participant contributions
Your contribution is influenced by:
- The type of service you receive.
- Your income and assets assessment.
- The provider’s agreed price.
- The services included in your approved support plan.
Services are generally grouped into three categories:
- Clinical supports: Nursing and approved clinical services are fully government funded, with no participant contribution.
- Independence services: These may include transport, social support and some personal support services.
- Everyday living services: These may include domestic assistance, cleaning, gardening and meal-related support.
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will be fully government funded under the updated arrangements, provided personal care is included in your support plan and there is available funding in your budget.
Other services may still involve a means-tested contribution. Income and assets can affect what you pay for independence and everyday living services. If contributions create financial hardship, you may be able to apply for hardship assistance.
For the latest contribution information, visit My Aged Care’s Support at Home costs and contributions page.
What can Support at Home pay for?
The services available to you depend on your assessment, support plan, classification and budget. Support at Home may contribute towards:
- Personal care, including showering, dressing, grooming and continence support.
- Domestic assistance aged care, such as household tasks and laundry.
- Cleaning to help maintain a safe and comfortable home.
- Gardening and basic home maintenance that support safety and liveability.
- Meal preparation, food shopping and assistance with meals.
- Transport to appointments, shopping, activities and community locations.
- Social support and community participation.
- Companionship and assistance to stay connected with family, friends and interests.
- Respite care in the home, helping family carers take a planned break.
- Nursing and other clinical care delivered by appropriately qualified professionals.
- Allied health, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other approved therapeutic supports.
Not every service is automatically approved, and a provider cannot promise that a particular item will be funded. Your services must relate to your assessed needs and be included in your support plan.
Support at Home compared with Home Care Packages
| Support at Home | Old Home Care Packages |
|---|---|
| Uses eight ongoing classification levels based on assessed needs. | Used four package levels. |
| Replaced Home Care Packages from the 2025–26 transition. | Existing packages transitioned into the new program. |
| Uses service categories and means-tested contributions. | Used package budgets, provider fees and contribution arrangements. |
| No separate basic daily fee. | Fees and charges could include a basic daily fee and other costs. |
| Approved clinical supports are fully government funded. | Funding and fee arrangements worked differently. |
| Personal care is fully government funded from 1 October 2026 when approved in your plan. | Personal care was subject to the previous package rules. |
If you already had a Home Care Package, your provider should explain how your services, budget and contribution arrangements have changed. You can also contact My Aged Care for independent information.
How to choose a Support at Home provider
The right provider should make care easier to understand, not more confusing. When comparing a home care Melbourne provider or an aged care provider Melbourne, ask:
- Are you approved to deliver Support at Home services?
- Which services do you provide?
- How are prices and participant contributions explained?
- What happens if my needs or priorities change?
- Can I choose my support worker?
- How do you handle worker absences?
- Will I have continuity of support?
- How are complaints, incidents and feedback managed?
- Can you support my cultural, language and communication preferences?
- Do you coordinate nursing and allied health when required?
Worker matching matters. You should feel comfortable with the person entering your home. A good match considers your personality, routine, communication style, culture, interests and goals.
At iCare4U, we take time to understand what matters to you before arranging support. Our team focuses on the right connection from the beginning, with ongoing communication and regular reviews.
How iCare4U can support you
Person-Centred Care: We organise support around your life rather than asking you to fit into a rigid schedule.
Our in home aged care services in Melbourne can include personal care, domestic assistance, cleaning, meal preparation, transport, social support, companionship and respite care. We also provide nursing, clinical care and allied health services where appropriate.
Whether you are starting in home care Australia for the first time, moving from Home Care Packages or considering a new provider, we can help you understand the next step. Our local team works with older Australians, families, care managers and Support at Home providers.
Families often tell us that continuity makes a meaningful difference. As one iCare4U family member shared, “Dad has the same carer every visit, the team actually listens, and we finally feel like we’re not just a number.”
We cannot guarantee a particular outcome or funding decision. We can offer clear communication, respectful care and a support relationship designed around your priorities.
Frequently asked questions
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is Australia’s government-funded in-home aged care program. It helps eligible older Australians access services that support independence, safety and wellbeing at home.
What happened to Home Care Packages?
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages. Existing Home Care Package clients transitioned to the new program during the 2025–26 transition period.
Am I eligible for Support at Home?
You may be eligible if you meet the relevant age requirements and need ongoing help because of health, mobility, cognitive or daily living changes. My Aged Care must assess your needs.
How do I apply for Support at Home?
Contact My Aged Care online or by phone. You will be guided through an aged care needs assessment and advised about your eligibility and support options.
How much will I have to pay?
Your contribution depends on the type of service, your income and assets assessment, and the provider’s agreed price. Approved clinical supports are fully government funded. From 1 October 2026, approved personal care is also fully government funded under the updated rules.
Can I choose my own support worker?
You can ask a provider about worker choice and matching. At iCare4U, we aim to match you with a support worker who suits your preferences, communication style, routine and goals.
Talk with iCare4U about your next step
Navigating aged care is easier when you do not have to do it alone. If you would like to discuss Support at Home, in home aged care, respite care Australia or your current support arrangements, we invite you to speak with our team.
Call 1300 422 730 or visit www.icare4u.com.au to start a personalised conversation.
We are here to help you live safely, confidently and independently at home.
