Support at Home Program
Flexible, personalised care at home that supports your independence and wellbeing at Just Better Care.
Support at Home Program
What is the Support at Home program?
The Support at Home Program is a new model for aged care in Australia that streamlines in-home care into a single program. Services are delivered by registered and approved providers, such as Just Better Care, tailored to participants' goals and needs.
The Support at Home program aims to:
- Simplify access to care
- Reduce waiting times
- Personalised and flexible support
- Equitable access for all Australians from all backgrounds
- Ability to reassess as needs change
The reform sits alongside the new Aged Care Act, strengthening quality standards, accountability and person-centred care
The Support at Home program replaces the former Home Care Package program.
What's changing with Support at Home?
The Support at Home aged care reform introduces:
- A single, streamlined in-home care program
- Improved care planning through My Aged Care
- Clearer service lists and pricing
- Additional support and short-term pathways for higher and complex care needs
These changes are designed to make aged care at home and support services easier to understand and more responsive to individual needs.
What services are included?
- Clinical care: nursing, allied health, continence support
- Independence support: personal care, medication prompts, transport, respite
- Everyday living: cleaning, gardening, shopping, meal preparation
- Care management: planning, coordination, regular check-ins
Find out more about the services available and the Support at Home Services List
Short-Term Supports
- Restorative Care Pathway: time-limited allied health/nursing to build strength and independence
- End-of-Life Pathway: priority in-home support for comfort in the last three months
- Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM): funding for equipment and safety modifications
Find out more about the short-term support pathways available with Support at Home
Support at Home Costs, Levels & Contributions
The Support at Home Program costs are under a new model, designed to be clearer and more consistent nationwide.
This includes:
- Quarterly budgets aligned to assessed needs
- Carry-over unspent funds: up to $1,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) each quarter
- Pay only for the services used (co-contribution rates vary by income and service type)
Find out more about Support at Home budgets and contributions
Eligibility, assessment, and how to access Support at Home?
Support at Home is for older Australians aged 65 and over (and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from age 50).
How to access Support at Home? Start with My Aged Care:
- Check eligibility via My Aged Care (online or 1800 200 422).
- Receive an Assessment through the Single Assessment System.
- Wait for a Notice of Decision and Support Plan (with approved services and budget).
- Work with Just Better Care to create a Service Agreement and personalised Care Plan.
You'll be assigned a Care Partner. That will be your dedicated local point of contact for questions, service changes, and reviews. And because your funding follows you, you're never locked in: if your current provider isn't the right fit, you can switch to Just Better Care at any time and your approved budget transfers with you.
Find out more about Eligibility for Support at Home
ACAT Assessment
My Aged Care is the starting point for all government-funded aged care services, including the Support at Home program
Through My Aged Care, participants can:
Check My Aged Care Support at Home wait times
Access more information about Support at Home and the My Aged Care Support at Home booklet
Locate tools and resources for Support at Home, such as a Support at Home fee estimator and budget planner to help you calculate how much you will need to contribute to your care.
Learn how the ACAT assessment helps determine your eligibility for government-funded Support at Home services and what to expect from the process.
Find out more about the ACAT Assessment – How it works for Support at Home
Already have your Notice of Decision?
Once you receive your Notice of Decision, you have 56 days to sign a service agreement and start services. If you need longer to choose the right provider, you can request a 28-day extension. But you must do so before the 56 days are up, or your funding approval may be withdrawn. Local Just Better Care offices can start services quickly once you nominate us, so your funding goes to use rather than going unused.
What are the benefits of Support at Home with
Just Better Care?
All approved providers of Support at Home services across Australia must meet strict quality and safety standards.
If you're looking for the best aged care and Support at Home provider where you live, look for your local Just Better Care office that can assist participants and their families to:
- Stay at home longer with tailored supports.
- Adjust services as needs change.
- Fair, transparent funding.
- Quality-assured, person-centred care.
- Have strong local knowledge with local offices and local team members.
- Prioritise continuity of support teams.
How to Access Support at Home?
Start with My Aged Care:
- Visit myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422
- In person, you can enquire to speak with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia Service Centre (not all offices)
- Once you are deemed as eligible, nominate Just Better Care as your provider, and our friendly local team will work with you to build out your care plan and support services.
Related Programs
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) (entry-level, short-term support) available at selected Just Better Care offices
- Veterans’ Home Care & DVA Community Nursing (for eligible veterans and war widowers)
- Just Better Care Private (self-funded support for extra or immediate help)
Existing Home Care Package customers
If you currently have a Home Care Package, you can continue your care with us as the program transitions to Support at Home. Just Better Care can guide you through what the change means for your services.
The Home Care Packages Program closed on 31 October 2025 and was replaced by Support at Home. If you were receiving a package, the government automatically moved you to a transitioned classification with funding equivalent to the level you already held. You did not need to reapply, and your care continued.
If you held a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024
The government's no worse off principle applies to you. Your contributions will be the same as or lower than they would have been under the old program, and if you were never assessed an income-tested care fee, you will not contribute at all.
Rates are set by Services Australia based on your assessed means, and contribution caps are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year. If you cannot afford your assessed contribution after covering housing, food, utilities and medical costs, you can apply for financial hardship assistance through Services Australia.
Full guide to Support at Home costs and contributions
Did my funding change?
Your funding level was matched, not reduced. What changed is how it is released. Instead of one annual amount, your budget now arrives in four quarterly instalments. Separate package management fees no longer exist, because all provider costs are built into the service price.
Can I still change providers?
Yes. Your funding follows you. If your current provider is not the right fit, you can move to Just Better Care at any time and your approved budget transfers with you. You do not lose your classification, supplements, or unspent funds by switching.
More for customers who transitioned from a Home Care Package
Support at Home questions answered
What is the Support at Home program for aged care?
The Support at Home Program is a new government-funded model replacing Home Care Packages, designed to deliver more flexible, fair, and transparent in-home aged care.
Is Support at Home different from Home Care Packages?
Yes. While similar in purpose, the new model simplifies funding, improves access, and better matches services to individual needs.
How do I apply for aged care at home support?
Start with My Aged Care Support at Home by contacting My Aged Care online or by phone 1800 200 422 to arrange an assessment.
Can I change my services?
Yes. You can request a reassessment if your needs change.
Do I have to pay?
You pay co-contributions only for services used; clinical care has no co-contribution.
Can I add private support?
Yes. You can commence private services through Just Better Care whilst waiting for Support at Home or as additional services or service hours.
Can I switch to Just Better Care from another provider?
Yes. Under Support at Home, you can change providers at any time, and your approved funding transfers with you. You don't lose your budget when you switch.
How quickly can Support at Home services start?
Once you nominate your provider and sign your service agreement, support can usually begin within one to two weeks, depending on the type of care needed.
What is not covered by Support at Home?
Support at Home funds care and support, not general living costs. Your budget cannot be spent on everyday expenses you would have anyway, on services already funded by another government program, or on major building work unrelated to your safety.
- Rent, mortgage payments, groceries, utility bills and internet
- Health services already covered by Medicare or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including GP visits and prescriptions
- Entertainment and lifestyle costs such as holidays, event tickets and subscription television
- Home renovations or improvements that are not related to safety or accessibility
- Supports already funded through the NDIS or the Department of Veterans' Affairs
Read more Support at Home Frequently Asked Questions
Just Better Care acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We also acknowledge the diversity of Australian culture and extend our support to all individuals, regardless of culture or sexuality.