Support at Home explained: what the new aged care changes mean for you
In short: Support at Home is Australia’s new aged care program that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. It helps you stay independent at home with funding grouped into three areas — clinical care, independence and everyday living. If you already had a Home Care Package, you moved across automatically and a “no worse off” promise means you won’t pay more than before. From July 2026, clearer price caps apply, and from October 2026 personal care like showering and dressing is fully funded.
Key takeaways
- Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care on 1 November 2025.
- A new rights-based Aged Care Act makes older people’s rights legally enforceable for the first time.
- Existing Home Care Package recipients moved across automatically — with a “no worse off” promise.
- Funding is grouped into clinical care, independence and everyday living, split into four quarterly budgets.
- From 1 July 2026, price caps apply and providers can’t add separate admin fees.
- From October 2026, personal care (showering, dressing, continence) is fully government funded.
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s aged care program that helps older people stay independent in their own homes. It started on 1 November 2025 and replaced the old Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs.
It arrived alongside a new, rights-based Aged Care Act — the biggest change to aged care since 1997. For the first time in Australia’s history, the rights of older people receiving government-funded care are written into law and legally enforceable.
What if I already had a Home Care Package?
If you were receiving, or approved for, a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you moved across to Support at Home automatically. There was nothing you needed to do to keep your care going.
A simple promise sits underneath the change: the “no worse off” principle. If you were already receiving care, you won’t pay more than you did before. You also have up to 90 days to sign your new service agreement, and your provider can’t stop your services just because you haven’t signed yet.
How is Support at Home organised?
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Clinical care | Nursing, allied health and other clinical support |
| Independence | Help with daily activities like showering, dressing and getting around |
| Everyday living | Practical support such as cleaning, meals and home maintenance |
Your funding is split into four quarterly budgets across the year. If you don’t use everything in one quarter, you can carry over a portion of unspent funds — up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater — into the next quarter.
How much does Support at Home cost?
From 1 July 2026, the Government sets price caps for each type of service, and providers can’t charge above them. Those caps include the cost of running the service, so you won’t be charged separate administration fees on top. It’s a simpler, more transparent way to understand what you’re paying for.
What you contribute depends on the type of support and your income. From October 2026, personal care such as showering, dressing and continence support is fully funded by the Government.
What about the Commonwealth Home Support Programme?
If you receive entry-level help through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), nothing changes for you yet. CHSP will move into the new system no earlier than 1 July 2027, and you’ll be given plenty of notice.
Frequently asked questions
What replaced Home Care Packages?
The Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages (and Short-Term Restorative Care) on 1 November 2025.
Will I pay more under Support at Home?
If you already had a Home Care Package, the “no worse off” principle means you won’t pay more than you did before. New costs depend on the support type and your income.
What are the three Support at Home categories?
Clinical care, independence, and everyday living.
When do the price caps start?
Price caps apply from 1 July 2026, and they include service running costs — so there are no separate administration fees.
We’re here to make it simple
Aged care changes can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure them out on your own. We support older people across Brisbane, Logan, Sydney, Ballina, Lismore and the greater Northern Rivers Region — with warmth, patience, and no jargon.
If you’d like a hand understanding what aged care support means for you or a family member, get in touch. We’ll talk it through, simply and honestly, and help you work out the next step.
Last updated: June 2026. This article is general information only and reflects the aged care changes as at June 2026. Your own costs and care depend on your individual circumstances — please check myagedcare.gov.au or speak with us for guidance specific to you. Written by the Greater Support team — disability, aged care, youth and family support.
