Understanding the Costs Behind Quality In-Home Care

Home care professionals such as Nurses and Support Workers who arrive at front your door are paid an hourly wage. Did you know that wage is just one part of the investment it takes to get them there, keep them trained, insured all whilst providing ongoing oversight by another qualified person (or people) that are accountable for the quality of the support services being delivered. 

The rest sits behind the scenes, some of which are invisible to the average customer.

What was the impact of how prices are represented under Support at Home?

On 1 November 2025, Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages. 

Under the previous Home Care Package system, providers listed package management and administration as separate line items, so a portion of every home care package went to the provider to cover their costs. Under the new Support at Home program, those separate charges are no longer permitted. The majority of costs to deliver a service must now be captured and represented in the hourly charge.  

The Cost of Home Care: the costs you can see

• Wages for Community Support Professionals, registered and enrolled nurses, allied health professionals providing the support services.
• Superannuation, and leave entitlements.
• Insurance: workers' compensation and liability insurance.
• Travel time and expenses incurred  for the worker to travel to the home visits.
• Payroll tax and on-costs.

Two of these deserve a closer look, because they are legally required and almost never explained to families.

Travel time is paid working time

Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services SCHADS Award that covers home care, time spent travelling between customers is paid. A team member driving twenty minutes from one home to the next is working, and is paid for it. Under Support at Home, that cost cannot be charged as a separate travel fee. It has to be built into the hourly price.

The Cost of Home Care: Behind the scenes:

Behind the scenes, such as in the local support office, sit the people, systems and safeguards that make quality care possible. 

What do published prices look like?

The Australian Government publishes indicative prices, so families have a reference point. They describe what providers report charging, each provider is also required to publish their prices on the My Aged Care website.

Source: Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Summary of indicative Support at Home prices, October 2025 edition, based on a survey of more than 300 providers. Prices in your area may differ.

How much funding do I receive?

After an assessment, based on your assessed needs, you will receive a notice of decision, and in the case of the Support at Home program, you will likely be assigned one of eight ongoing classifications, each with a quarterly budget.

Budgets indexed 1 July 2026. Two short-term pathways sit outside this scale: a Restorative Care Pathway and an End of Life Pathway, both time-limited. Can I get short-term support services at home?

What about unspent funds?

Unspent funds carry into the next quarter only up to $1.000 or 10% of the quarterly budget, whichever is greater. Anything above that is returned to the Government, which is a real change from Home Care Packages, where unspent funds accumulated indefinitely. 

What is Care Management?

Roughly 10% of your quarterly budget is set aside for care management, the coordination work that keeps your plan current and your team briefed. It is funded by the Government. 

What is the difference between Commonwealth Home Support Program and Support at Home? If you choose not to disclose your financial details, you will be asked to pay the maximum contribution rate for your services, so it is usually worth completing the assessment even if you expect to be self-funded.

Five questions worth asking any provider

1. What is your hourly price for the specific services I need, on the days and times I need them?
2. How do your weekend, evening and public holiday prices differ?
3. What is your minimum visit length, and how would you structure my support to make the most of my budget?
4. Who provides clinical oversight of my care plan, and how often is it reviewed?
5. How likely am I to see the same Community Support Professionals each week?

Talk to your local Just Better Care

Prices are set locally, because costs are local. Each Just Better Care office is owned and run by Franchise Owners who employ their own team in the community they serve, and who can talk you through exactly what your support would cost and what your contribution would be. Read here how you can choose Just Better Care as your Support at Home provider. 

If you would like a clear, itemised explanation before you commit to anything, that is a conversation worth having. For more information about home care for your parents, you can find this article about a step-by-step guide. 

In-home care costs explained

How much does in-home care cost per hour in Australia?

Government-published figures put the median price of personal care at around $100 an hour, domestic assistance at around $95, social support at around $99 and nursing at around $160. Typical ranges run roughly $85 to $115 for personal care and $144 to $186 for a registered nurse. Prices vary by postcode, by the day and time of the visit, and by how complex your support needs are. 

What are the Support at Home funding levels and how much does each one provide?

There are eight ongoing classifications. Following indexation on 1 July 2026, quarterly budgets run from $2,752.50 at Level 1 to $20,034.28 at Level 8, which is roughly $11,010 to $80,137 a year. Your level is set by an aged care assessment, not by your income. Two short-term pathways sit outside this scale: a Restorative Care Pathway and an End of Life Pathway. What Is Palliative Care? A Guide for Australians and Their Families.

Do I have to pay for Support at Home services?

In most cases, yes, but only a percentage of the service price rather than the whole amount. A full pensioner contributes nothing toward clinical care, 5% toward independence services such as personal care, and 17.5% toward everyday living services such as domestic assistance. A self-funded retiree contributes nothing toward clinical care, 50% toward independence and 80% toward everyday living. Part pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders sit between those figures.

What is care management, and do I pay for it?

Care management is the coordination behind your services: keeping your care plan current, adjusting support when your needs change, briefing your team and liaising with health professionals. Around 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated to it. It is funded by the Government; it cannot be billed to you as a separate line item, and you contribute nothing toward it.

What is my provider not allowed to charge me for?

Under Support at Home, a provider cannot charge you a separate package management or administration fee, a separate travel fee for the worker getting to you, an entry fee, an exit fee, or any contribution toward clinical care. All legitimate costs, including worker travel, must be built into the published price of the service itself.

Does my provider charge me for travel?

Not for the worker travelling to or between visits. That cost is absorbed into the hourly price, which is part of why prices differ between metropolitan and regional areas. Transporting you somewhere is different. That is a separate service, charged per trip rather than per hour.

Is there a limit on how much I will pay over my lifetime?

Yes. A lifetime cap applies across your aged care contributions, currently $137,917.01, or $86,185.23 if you are covered by the no worse off principle, which protects anyone receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024. Once you reach the cap, you are not charged contributions again. Both figures are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year.

What if I cannot afford my contribution?

Financial hardship assistance is available. It is assessed by Services Australia and can cover some or all of your contributions toward independence and everyday living services. Clinical care is already fully funded, so it does not form part of a hardship application. Your provider or your local Just Better Care office can point you to the right form.

Are there price caps on Support at Home services?

Not currently. Caps were scheduled to begin on 1 July 2026 but were deferred in May 2026 with no new start date. In their place, the Government strengthened transparency: providers must publish standard and common prices on My Aged Care, issue monthly statements, and can be directed to refund money if the regulator finds overcharging.

What does Support at Home funding not cover?

Funding is for services that support your care needs and independence at home. It does not cover general household bills, rent or mortgage payments, food and groceries beyond approved meal services, holidays, gambling, or anything already funded through another program such as Medicare or the NDIS. If you are unsure whether something is included, ask before you commit.

How do I compare prices between providers?

Every Support at Home provider must publish standard prices on the Find a Provider tool on the My Aged Care website, and since January 2026 must also publish the price they most commonly charge. Compare like for like: the same service, on the same day of the week, at the same time of day. Then ask what minimum visit length applies, because a short visit at a low hourly rate can cost more in practice than a longer one.