Support at Home Program
What is the Support at Home Program?
The Support at Home Program commenced on 1 November 2025, and has replaced the previous Home Care Packages Program.
You can view the Support at Home Pricing Guide here.
There are now 8 levels of support available, with higher levels of funding offered to assist and support you to remain safe at home for as long as possible.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will transition to Support at Home Program no earlier than 1 July 2027.
What’s changed?
- 8 levels of support and 2 short-term options – see table below. This allows more choices to suit your needs.
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme: Extra funds available for technology and home modifications, so you do not need to save money from your budget.
- Quarterly Budget: Your yearly money is split into four parts. If you do not use it all in three months, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of that period’s budget.
- Defined Service List: All services are clearly listed, as well as what is included and what is not.
- No extra management fees: Package management fees are now part of the overall cost.
- Care management funding at 10%: A portion is set aside for providers to manage your funding.
- Participant contributions: You only pay for the services that you actually use. The cost is set per hour, based on the type of service and your personal circumstances. A ‘no worse off’ principle applies to existing participants.
There are also two short-term levels of funding:
- Restorative Care Pathway: This is similar to the existing Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme, but with increased maximum support from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. This is usually for older adults who have recently experienced a fall, illness, or surgery, and have the potential to regain functional capacity with the right support.
- End-of-Life Pathway: This pathway provides access to additional services in the last three months of life, for those who prefer to remain living at home.
In addition to the eight levels of support and two short-term pathways, the Support at Home program features three funding tiers for assistive technology and home modifications (AT-HM Scheme).
What is the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme (AT-HM)?
The Support at Home program provides separate funding for products, equipment and home modifications to improve home safely and independence.
There are three funding tiers for assistive technology, and three tiers for home modifications. Each tier has a set time for funding to be used, and it does not accrue over time.
Much like the Support at Home service list (detailed below), the AT-HM Scheme has clear guidance on what products, equipment and modifications are available.
What has happened to previous Home Care Package recipients?
- If you were approved for a Home Care Package prior to 12 September 2024, you are considered an ‘Existing Participant’.
- If you were approved for a Home Care Package between 12 September 2024 and 31 October 2025, you are considered a ‘Transitional Participant’.
- Current Home Care Package recipients automatically transitioned over to the Support at Home Program, and their funding will align with their existing HCP level.
- No reassessment is required unless your needs have changed.
- A ‘no worse off’ principle applies for Existing Participants.
If on 12 September 2024, you were either:
- Receiving a Home Care Package;
- On the National Priority System; or
- Assessed as being eligible for a Home Care Package;
You will now make the same or lower contributions following your transition to Support at Home.
Existing Participants 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 (Transitional Participants), will transition into Support at Home with special discounted contribution arrangements.
Finally, a cap will ensure no individual pays more than $130,000 in non-clinical care costs over their lifetime.