From 1 July 2025, significant changes are coming to Australia’s aged care system. These reforms are designed to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of care, ensuring that you receive support that is tailored to your needs. At Livable, we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for you and your loved ones.
About the Support at Home Program
The Support at Home program is Australia’s new in-home care system, replacing the Home Care Package program and Short-Term Restorative Care program from 1 July 2025. At this time, it is expected the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.
What This Means for You
The goal of the program is to keep older Australians living in their homes longer.
What’s Changing for Current Home Care Package (HCP) Recipients
If you’re already receiving a Home Care Package, you can rest assured – you won’t be asked to pay more for your care under the new Support at Home program.
Anyone approved for a Home Care Package before 1 July 2025 will continue to contribute to their care using the current HCP fee structure, even though their services will transition to the new system from that date.
All existing HCP recipients will automatically move into the Support at Home program on 1 July 2025. You will receive a Support at Home budget that reflects the same level of funding as your current Home Care Package.
If you are on the National Priority System waiting for a package, don’t worry – you will receive a Support at Home budget that matches the level of care you have already been approved for. There is no need for reassessment unless your care needs have changed.
Types of Service
The “Support at Home” program categorises services into three main areas.
This category focuses on services related to medical and therapeutic needs, such as: Nursing care, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, Podiatry, Psychology, and Social work.
This category supports individuals with personal care and activities that help them maintain their independence at home such as: bathing, social support and respite care.
This category provides assistance with household tasks and activities that make daily life easier such as: gardening, cleaning, meal preparation, shopping and transport to appointments or social activities.
Australian seniors with financial means will be expected to contribute more towards the cost of their care under Support at Home. However, you will only pay contributions for the services you have received.
The Australian government will determine your contribution rate based on the type of service received and your financial standing. The percentage you contribute will be based on your Individual Assessment Tool (IAT) results.
Service Categories and Contribution.
Clinical Supports Category: no contribution. The Australian government will cover the full cost for all Support at Home participants will receive clinical care.
Independence Category: 5-50%.
Everyday Living Category: 17.5 – 80%
Contribution Arrangements for Current Home Care Recipients
As part of the 2025 aged care reforms, the government has introduced a ‘no worse-off’ commitment to ensure you won’t be financially disadvantaged when moving to the new Support at Home program.
If, as of 12 September 2024, you are:
You will pay the same or even less once you transition to Support at Home.
If you’re not currently paying an income-tested care fee, that will stay the same under the new program. And if you do currently contribute, you’ll move to Support at Home with a reduced, transitional rate to ease the shift.
There’s also a lifetime cap in place—no one will pay more than $130,000 in out-of-pocket costs for non-clinical care, whether receiving care at home or in a residential facility. It’s all about keeping care fair, affordable, and accessible.
Support at Home Budget
The Support at Home program will offer eight levels of care, providing more flexibility and tailored support than the current system. The highest level of support will provide up to $78,000 per person each year, along with access to two short-term care options which are Restorative Care Pathway and End-of Life Pathway.
In contrast, the existing Home Care Package program offers only four levels, with the highest—Level 4—capped at $61,400 annually.
With Support at Home, your yearly subsidy will be split into four equal quarterly budgets, each covering a three-month period. If you don’t use all your funds in a quarter, you’ll be able to carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of that quarter’s budget—whichever is greater—into the next quarter to help with any unexpected care needs. Your budget will be managed securely in an account by Services Australia.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme (AT-HM).
The Support at Home program will provide eligible recipients with separate funding for products, equipment and home modifications to help them remain at home safely and independently. There will be three tiers with funding caps of:
Low – $500
Medium – $2,000
High – $15,000