How to Access Aged Care Services Near You
Trying to Access Aged Care Services? Here Is Where to Start.
Navigating aged care for the first time can feel overwhelming. The system has changed significantly, and a lot of the information online is already out of date. So let us make it simple.
If you or someone in your family is ready to look at aged care support, this is the current picture.
Support at Home: The Program You Need to Know About
Support at Home is the government’s home care program for older Australians. It started on 1 November 2025, replacing the old Home Care Packages Program. If you have been reading about Home Care Packages, that program no longer takes new applicants, Support at Home is the pathway now.
The point of Support at Home is simple: help you stay in your own home for as long as you want to, with the right support around you.
Source: myagedcare.gov.au/support-at-home
Eight Levels of Support, Not Four
Under the old system, there were four Home Care Package levels. Support at Home replaced those with eight classification levels, each with a quarterly budget. Here is what each level provides every three months:
- Level 1: $2,682.75
- Level 2: $4,008.61
- Level 3: $5,491.43
- Level 4: $7,424.10
- Level 5: $9,924.35
- Level 6: $12,028.58
- Level 7: $14,537.04
- Level 8: $19,526.59
Your level is determined through a comprehensive assessment in your home. The assessor will talk with you about your daily life, your health, and what you want to be able to do, it is a conversation, not a test.
Any budget you do not use in a quarter carries over automatically (up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly amount, whichever is more). You also receive interim funding at 60% of your approved level while you are waiting for full allocation to begin.
Source: myagedcare.gov.au/managing-your-support-home-budget
What the Assessment Involves
The old ACAT assessment has been renamed. From 1 November 2025, assessments are carried out by authorised comprehensive assessment organisations. The process is the same, someone visits you at home, understands your situation, and determines what level of support makes sense for you.
To get started, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au. A family member can call on your behalf with your permission.
Source: myagedcare.gov.au/assessment
What Support at Home Actually Covers
Your funding can go toward personal care, domestic help, nursing and clinical care, transport, allied health, home modifications, assistive technology, and social support. From 1 October 2026, personal care becomes fully government-funded, so your budget stretches even further for everything else.
The new Aged Care Act 2024, which also commenced 1 November 2025, places your rights at the centre of every interaction. Providers must meet strengthened Quality Standards and a Code of Conduct.
Source: health.gov.au: Aged Care Act 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start the aged care process?
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. They will ask about your situation and arrange an assessment if you are eligible.
What is the difference between Support at Home and residential aged care?
Support at Home helps you stay in your own home with funded services. Residential aged care is for people who need 24-hour care in a facility and can no longer be safely supported at home.
Can I still get Support at Home if I already had a Home Care Package?
Yes. Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages from 1 November 2025. If you had a package, you have been automatically transitioned. New applicants apply through My Aged Care.
You Choose Your Provider
Once you are approved and assigned a level, the choice of provider is yours. You are not assigned to anyone. You can change providers if your needs or preferences change.
Greater Support provides aged care services across Brisbane, Logan, Sydney, Ballina, Lismore, and the greater Northern Rivers region. If you want to understand what that looks like day-to-day, we are happy to talk it through with you, no obligation, no pressure.
