From 1 July 2025, the Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program. If you’re currently receiving HCP services, you may notice changes in the cost of some services. This update outlines what’s changing, how it affects you, and what steps you need to take.
🔹 What’s Changing?
- New Program: The Support at Home program will replace Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care.
- Eligibility: If you’re already receiving a Home Care Package or assessed as eligible by 12 September 2024, you are covered by the “no worse off” protection.
- CHSP Continuation: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will continue until 30 June 2027.
- Unified Assessment: A new single assessment process will replace the current dual system.
🔹 How Pricing Will Work
- Until 30 June 2026: Providers will continue setting their own prices.
- From 1 July 2026: The Australian Government will introduce price caps.
- Inclusive Pricing: All service costs will include administrative expenses like transport. This is different from the HCP model, where such costs were charged separately.
🔹 What You Need to Do
Before 1 July 2025, your provider will:
- Discuss any changes to service pricing.
- Offer you a new service agreement to sign.
- Provide you with comparison data to help you evaluate costs.
You are free to switch providers if you’re not satisfied with the prices offered.
🔹 Indicative National Median Prices (as of 24 March 2025)
Service | Median Price | Range |
Registered Nurse | $160/hr | $144–$186/hr |
Personal Care | $100/hr | $85–$115/hr |
Domestic Assistance | $95/hr | $83–$109/hr |
Meal Delivery | $15/meal | $11–$22/meal |
Transport | $70/trip | $40–$97/trip |
More services are listed in the full price table.
🔹 Consumer Protections
- Transparent Pricing: Providers must publish their standard rates online and in the My Aged Care “Find a Provider” tool.
- No Entry/Exit Fees: If you switch providers, you won’t be charged entry or exit fees.
- Support Tools: A co-contribution calculator will be available to estimate your costs.
🔹 Your Financial Contribution (from 1 July 2025)
Status | Clinical Care | Personal/Independence Services | Everyday Living Services |
Full pensioner | 0% | 5% | 17.5% |
Part pensioner | 0% | 5–50% (income/assets assessed) | 17.5–80% (assessed) |
Self-funded w/ Seniors Health Card | 0% | 5–50% (assessed) | 17.5–80% (assessed) |
Self-funded (no Health Card) | 0% | 50% | 80% |
💡 A $130,000 lifetime cap protects individuals needing long-term care.
🔹 Support at Home Budget Classifications (Starting 1 July 2025)
The Support at Home Program introduces eight funding levels—called classifications—designed to match the level of care and support you need to remain living safely and independently at home. Each classification provides a quarterly budget (received every three months), which adds up to an annual amount. These budgets are used to pay for approved in-home services and supports.
Classification | Quarterly Budget | Annual Budget | Overview of Care Needs & Typical Services |
1 | $2,750 | $11,000 | Low support needs – Occasional help with domestic tasks like cleaning, laundry, or light meal prep. Suitable for independent older adults with minor limitations. |
2 | $4,000 | $16,000 | Mild ongoing support – Regular domestic assistance, plus occasional help with shopping, transport, or check-in calls. May include occasional allied health visits. |
3 | $5,500 | $22,000 | Moderate support needs – Regular personal care (e.g., showering), domestic assistance, and routine clinical services like nursing or physiotherapy. |
4 | $7,500 | $30,000 | Moderate to high support needs – Frequent personal and clinical care, regular domestic help, allied health, and basic equipment (e.g., shower chairs or grab rails). |
5 | $10,000 | $40,000 | High support needs – Daily assistance with personal care, mobility support, help with medication management, meal prep, transport, and more. |
6 | $12,000 | $48,000 | Very high support needs – Intensive personal and clinical support, possibly twice-daily visits, social support, and ongoing equipment needs. Ideal for those with complex health or mobility issues. |
7 | $14,500 | $58,000 | Extensive support – Multiple daily care visits, allied health, help with continence management, wound care, or supervision for safety. Common for those with dementia or advanced health needs. |
8 | $19,500 | $78,000 | Maximum home care support – Equivalent to near full-time care. Includes all previous services plus assistive technology, 24/7 support arrangements, and home modifications. May delay the need for residential care. |
⚙️ Key Points to Remember:
- You will be assigned a classification based on your care needs through the new single assessment process.
- You and your provider will work together to plan how to spend your budget across the services you’re approved for.
- You can roll over savings: Up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) can be saved for future use.
- If your needs increase, you may be reassessed for a higher classification and larger budget.
🔹 Other Key Points
- No Reassessment Needed: If you’re currently receiving or approved for a Home Care Package, you won’t need a new assessment unless your care needs change.
- Unspent Funds: You’ll retain access to your unspent funds for additional services or assistive tech/home modifications.
- Care Management Fee: A flat 10% of your budget will go toward care management—whether you self-manage or not.
Get in touch with Support at Home specialist at Gratitude for more information about your Support at Home options:
📞 1300 912 155
📧 info@gihc.com.au
Sign up/referral
http://www.gihc.com.au/
1300 912 155, (03) 9863 6149
info@gihc.com.au
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