Home Care vs Support at Home: What’s Changing?

If you or your loved one receives care at home, you’ve most likely heard the news that from 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program will replace Home Care Packages (HCP), but what does this actually mean for you? 

Well, it’s a whole lot more than just a name change, it’s a big change (in a great way). Here, we break down what’s changing, what’s staying, and how this affects the value provided to you at home (and for your pocket). 

What’s the same?

Before we jump into what’s changing, here’s what’s not changing:

• You’ll still have access to support for staying safe, comfortable, and independent at home.
• You’ll still have a budget to allocate to set services for suiting your specific needs.
• You’ll still get to work with a provider who proactively helps organise your suitable care.
• And if you’re already receiving a Home Care Package, you’ll be automatically transitioned to the new Support at Home program with no interruption to your existing care. 

What changes will come from the new Support at Home program? 

So, what’s new? That’s surely the question on everyone’s mind right now. In a nutshell, here are the main changes to occur under the new Support at Home program: 

1. Costs & contributions: What you pay and how it’s charged

Before: Home Care Packages – 

• Previously, you were charged separate fees for care management, package management, and services –
  • These fees were often confusing, and not always clear how much was being spent on actual care.

Now: Support at Home – 

• Now, there are no more separate management fees. Instead, providers must include all costs like staff time, travel, and admin, as part of the full price of each service.
• Only up to 10% of your quarterly care budget can be used for care management—and you’re only charged for the services that you actually use. 
• Providers must clearly publish their standard prices online so you can compare and make informed choices.

Let’s Talk Pricing: How Support at Home Costs Will Work

Support at Home pricing will happen in two stages:

From 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026

• Providers still set their own service prices (hourly rates), but they must be fair, reasonable, and all-inclusive.
• You can compare rates using the Find a Provider tool on My Aged Care.

From 1 July 2026 onwards

• The Australian Government will set national price caps, which means maximum limits on what providers can charge for each type of service.

In short:

• Year 1: Providers set rates with transparency. 
• Year 2: Government introduces pricing limits. 

Budget use in Support at Home: Use it or (partially) lose it

Under the new Support at Home program, your care budget is managed quarterly:

• You receive a new budget every three months based on your care level.
• If you don’t use it all, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly amount (whichever is greater).
• Any unspent amount beyond that expires.

So it’s smart to plan ahead with your provider and make the most of your funds, whether it’s booking extra support, accessing allied health, or investing in assistive technology.

Contribution amounts depend on the service and your income:

• No contribution for clinical services like nursing; 
• Moderate contribution for personal care and independence services;
• Higher contribution for everyday help like housework or shopping; 
• Contributions vary by pension, retirement status, and income and asset tests.

2. Service Levels: Greater choice, more suitability

Before: Home Care Packages – 

• With the previous four fixed care levels, it was often difficult to categorise the diverse and wide-ranging needs of eligible recipients within such a limited framework.

Now: Support at Home – 

• Now, the new Support at Home program is expanded into eight levels of ongoing care, providing broader and more comprehensive options to choose from for extensive care better tailored to the care recipients’ unique needs. 
• Adjust your current level of care with greater ease; providing more flexible care to accompany your growing needs. 
• Greater accessibility to a wide range of support services, including short-term support. 

Under this new model, approved funding for ongoing support will fall into one of the following eight levels, and will be paid as a quarterly amount (where either up to $1,000 or 10% worth of unspent or unused funding can be brought across into the next quarter): 

Package Level	Package value
Level 1	$3,000 per quarter
Level 2	$4,500 per quarter
Level 3	$7,000 per quarter
Level 4	$10,500 per quarter
Level 5	$13,500 per quarter
Level 6	$16,500 per quarter
Level 7	$19,500 per quarter
Level 8	$22,500 per quarter

Discover all features of the new Support at Home program here. 

3. Support Pathways: Available help for when you need it most

The new Support at Home program offers more flexible and extensive options for unique and unexpected circumstances alike, including, but not limited to: 

• Restorative Care Pathway: $6,000 – 12,000 worth of short-term funding for up to 12 weeks of allied health and multidisciplinary services aimed at helping eligible care recipients to elevate or sustain their independence. 
• End-of-Life Pathway: Up to $25,000 worth of funding and services to support staying at home in your final months.
• Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme: Up to $15,000 or more (for larger home modifications) is awarded to increase mobility within the home, providing aids like a wheelchair or walker, and installing ramps or bathroom modifications such as handrails for example, all for greater accessibility and safety within the home.
  • Funding levels under the AT-HM Scheme are now categorised as:
    • Low: $500
    • Medium: $2,000
    • High: $15,000+ (extra funding may be awarded upon assessment where necessary)

These special services can be added as needed without needing a new long-term assessment.

4. A simplified, flexible program with no hidden costs

Before: Home Care Packages – 

• Complex fee structures and hard-to-follow agreements 

Now: Support at Home – 

• One upfront, all-inclusive price per service;
• Transparent published pricing;
• Stronger protections to ensure value and fairness; 
• No exit fees.

What does this mean for my current provider?

If you’re happy, there’s no need to switch providers. Your provider will be in contact over the coming months from 1 July 2025 to review your care plan by way of transitioning you over to a new service provider. 

Not happy with what’s on-offer? If you’re not happy with the agreement presented to you, you’re free to switch at any time with no exit fee.  

Bottom Line: Support at Home means more choice, more clarity

It’s more than just a name change, it’s a restructure with your satisfaction firmly in mind. Support at Home is built for: 

• Greater flexibility; 
• Fairer and more transparent pricing; 
• Easier planning; 
• Better support. 

Questions? That’s what we’re here for. You don’t have to figure it out alone, simply reach out to the CareAbout team for assistance navigating this change, and we’ll walk you through each of these options to assure the right care to fit your personal care and budget.