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Article summary
- Private home care services cover personal care, domestic help, companionship, transport, recovery support and private nursing. All arranged on your terms.
- My Aged Care assessment is not required, so support can usually start within a few days.
- Hours, services and routines are built around your life. Not a fixed care plan.
- Many Australians use private services to top up government funding, bridge a waiting period, or replace it entirely.
Private home care services give Australians a faster, more flexible way to arrange in-home support. Without waiting for an assessment, navigating funding rules or fitting into a one-size-fits-all package. Whether you need a few hours of help each week, overnight care after a hospital stay, or ongoing private nursing care in your own home, services are tailored to your routines and delivered by people you choose to have in your home.
If you are weighing private support against government-funded options, our guide on government-funded Support at Home vs private in-home care breaks down the differences. This article goes a step further. We are looking at what private home care services actually include and how they work day to day.
What are private home care services?
Private home care services are personalised support services that you arrange and pay for directly, without going through My Aged Care. Because there is no assessment process, services can start quickly. Usually within a few days of your first conversation with a local provider.
Unlike government-funded care, you choose:
- The services you receive
- How often and for how long
- The times of day support is delivered
- Whether the arrangement is short-term, ongoing or one-off
This makes private care a practical option for people who want support that fits seamlessly into their existing routine. Rather than the other way around.
What services can you receive privately at home?
Most people associate home care with two extremes: basic help around the house at one end, and clinical nursing at the other. The reality sits everywhere in between. A typical private home care service catalogue includes:
Personal care
Support with showering, dressing, grooming, continence care and getting in and out of bed. Delivered with discretion and respect.
Domestic assistance
Vacuuming, laundry, changing bed linen, light cleaning, meal preparation and grocery shopping. Practical help that keeps the home running smoothly.
Companionship and social support
Conversation, accompaniment to appointments or community events, support with hobbies, and time spent doing the things that make life enjoyable. Particularly valuable for people who live alone.
Transport and outings
Driving to medical appointments, visiting friends and family, attending classes, doing the weekly shop, or just getting out of the house for a coffee.
Post-hospital and recovery support
Help during the first weeks after a hospital stay or surgery. Managing medications, monitoring recovery, preparing meals and assisting with mobility.
Overnight and 24-hour care
Awake or sleepover overnight support, or rotating shifts for round-the-clock care. Particularly useful during recovery or for higher-needs situations.
Respite for family carers
Scheduled blocks of support so family members caring for a loved one can take a break, attend to their own commitments, or simply rest.
Private in-home nursing
Clinical care delivered by Registered or Enrolled Nurses, including wound care, medication management, catheter care, chronic disease support and palliative care. For more on this, read our guide to private nursing care in your own home.
Who chooses private home care services?
Private support suits a wide range of situations. Some of the most common are:
People waiting for Support at Home or NDIS approval. There is often a gap between needing support and having funding in place. Private services bridge that gap so the right support is in place from day one.
People who do not qualify for government funding. Not everyone meets the criteria for government-funded aged care or NDIS support. Private care offers a direct path to in-home assistance without eligibility hurdles.
People with a Home Care Package who need more hours. A Home Care Package may not cover everything you need or want. Private services can be added alongside your package to add hours, services, or weekend support.
Families coordinating care from a distance. When adult children live in another state or another country, private home care provides reliable, professional support with regular updates.
People returning home from the hospital. The first few weeks after a hospital stay can be the hardest. Short-term private care helps with recovery, medication, mobility and confidence.
People who simply prefer to choose for themselves. Some Australians want full control over who comes into their home, when, and what they do. Private care delivers that without the structure of a government program.
How private home care services work
There is no application form, no waiting list and no assessment panel. The process usually looks like this:
1Initial conversation. Contact your local Just Better Care office for a free, no-obligation chat about what you need.
2In-home consultation. A team member meets you (and family members, if you choose) at home to understand your routines, preferences and goals.
3Personalised plan. Together you build a schedule that suits you; services, times, frequency and the type of support workers you would like.
4Support starts. Care typically begins within a few days, with ongoing reviews so the plan can evolve as your needs change.
You can adjust your hours up or down as life changes, pause services if you go on holiday, or cancel arrangements without long-term contracts.
What do private home care services cost?
Private home care is paid for directly by the person receiving care or their family, with no government subsidy. Pricing is usually structured per hour, with rates that vary depending on:
- The type of service (personal care, domestic help and nursing) is typically priced differently)
- The day and time (weekday daytime, weekends, public holidays and overnight rates differ)
- The length and frequency of visits
- Your location
Most providers will give you a clear, transparent quote before any service begins. Because you are not constrained by a funding package, you have full control over how much you spend each week. Your local Just Better Care office can walk you through pricing for your specific area and arrangement.
What to look for in a private home care provider
Choosing the right provider matters as much as choosing the right services. A few questions worth asking:
Are support workers employees or contractors? Direct employees typically come with consistent training, supervision, insurance and accountability.
Is there continuity of carers? The same small team visiting regularly builds trust and means you do not have to re-explain your routine every visit.
What clinical oversight is available? Even for non-clinical services, having Registered Nurses and care managers in the background adds a layer of safety.
How quickly can support start? Reputable private providers can usually arrange an initial consultation within a few days.
Are services flexible? You should be able to adjust hours, change services and pause arrangements without penalty.
What is the local presence? A local team that knows your area can connect you with allied health professionals, GPs, and community services more easily.
Quick FAQs: private home care services
Do I need an assessment to access private home care services?
No. Private services do not require a My Aged Care or NDIS assessment. You can arrange support directly with a provider.
Can I use private care alongside a government-funded package?
Yes. Many people use private services to top up the hours or services covered by their Home Care Package or Support at Home plan.
How quickly can private support start?
In most cases, support can start within a few days of your initial enquiry.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of hours?
Arrangements range from a single visit per week through to 24-hour live-in care. Speak with your local team about what works for you.
Are services covered by private health insurance?
Generally, no, although some health funds and ex-service organisations offer rebates for specific services. It is worth checking with your insurer.
Ready to get started?
If you are ready to explore private home care services for yourself or a loved one, your local Just Better Care office can talk through your needs and arrange support that fits your life. Usually within a few days.
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