Support at Home in Ballina and Lismore: What Older Adults Need to Know

Support at Home in Ballina and Lismore

Getting older does not mean giving up the life you have built here. Support at Home is the government’s current aged care program, and it is available to you right across Ballina, Lismore, and the Northern Rivers.

Here is how it works and what it can do for you.

What Support at Home Is

Support at Home started on 1 November 2025, replacing the old Home Care Packages program. It funds the support you need to stay in your own home, on your terms, around your routine, without having to give up your independence.

Your funding is managed as a quarterly budget. You choose the provider. You decide, with them, how the budget is spent.

Source: myagedcare.gov.au/support-at-home

Eight Levels, Which One Is Yours?

Support at Home replaced the old four-level system with eight classification levels. Your level is set through a comprehensive assessment in your home, a genuine conversation about your daily life, your health, and what you want. Quarterly budgets range from $2,682.75 at Level 1 to $19,526.59 at Level 8.

Any unspent budget carries over automatically each quarter, up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly amount, whichever is more. And while you are waiting for full allocation, you receive interim funding at 60% so support starts sooner.

Source: myagedcare.gov.au/managing-your-support-home-budget

What Your Support Can Cover

Personal care. Domestic help. Nursing and clinical care. Allied health. Transport. Home modifications. Assistive technology. Social support and community connection. Clinical care is already fully government-funded. From 1 October 2026, personal care follows, so your own budget goes further toward everything else that matters to you.

How to Get Started

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au. A comprehensive assessment will be arranged in your home. Once you are approved and assigned a level, you choose your provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for Support at Home in Ballina or Lismore?

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. They will arrange an assessment, and once approved, you choose a local provider. Greater Support operates in both Ballina and Lismore.

What does Support at Home include?

Support at Home can include personal care, domestic help, meal preparation, nursing visits, social support, and transport. Your specific services depend on your assessed needs.

Can I stay in my home long-term with Support at Home?

Yes. That is exactly what the program is designed to do. Support at Home helps older Australians remain in their own homes safely and comfortably for as long as they choose.

Greater Support in Ballina and Lismore

We understand the Northern Rivers. The distances, the communities, the value people here place on independence and staying connected. We build support around your life, not a rigid schedule that works for us. If you want to know what Support at Home could look like day-to-day, we are happy to talk. No pressure, just a genuine conversation.