Important Dates

With the new Support at Home program set to begin from 1 July 2025, knowing what’s happening, and when, can make a world of difference. 

Whether you’re already receiving aged care services, or are looking to plan ahead for a loved one, here’s a simple breakdown of the key phases (and what’s required from you/your provider along the way). 

Right Now: Be informed and get prepared

What’s happening?

• The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released an in-depth handbook along with a series of fact sheets to better explain how Support at Home will work, where you can explore the new program in full detail here.
  
• All aged care support providers are preparing updated service agreements to adhere to these new requirements. 

What should you do?

• Familiarise yourself with these new changes by simply visiting the Australian Government’s dedicated guide here.
  
• Have a friendly chat with your provider to see how they’re preparing with this changes and/or to address any questions you might have.
  
• Review your current care plan to analyse whether or not you’re receiving the right care for your unique needs. If you’re finding yourself in need of additional support, now’s the perfect time to have this conversation with your provider.
  
• Gather and collate important documents (your aged home care agreement, budget summaries, and other key information) to prepare for a transition if/when needed. 

June 2025: It’s time to talk with your provider

What’s happening?

• Providers will begin reaching out to review your care plan and discuss your new Support at Home Service Agreement.

What should you do?

• Book a meeting or a phone call with your aged care support provider.
  
• Make sure you understand the new pricing and care arrangements—and what this new model means for your existing care plan.
  
• Utilise this time to ask and/or discuss whatever concerns come to mind and feel free to take notes (it never hurts to seek another opinion or line of support) and remember – you don’t have to sign anything on the spot, there will be time. 

Important: Please note, you’re entitled to say no to an agreement if it doesn’t feel right, but also keeping in mind, you will need a new agreement in place to receive support services after July 1, 2025. 

1 July 2025: Support at Home officially begins

What’s happening?

• The Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs are retired
  
• Everyone is transitioned to the new Support at Home program.*
  
• Your new care plan, provider agreement, and pricing come into effect

*Special note: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is expected to be completely transitioned over to Support at Home by 1 July 2027. 

What should you do?

• Make sure your Service Agreement is signed before this date;
  
• Check your first quarterly budget and review your service breakdown;
  
• Contact CareAbout if something doesn’t look right, we’re here to walk you through every step of the way. 

What if I don’t take action before July?

If you don’t have a signed Service Agreement in place with a provider:

• You won’t be able to receive Support at Home services;
  
• Your funding may be paused until a new service agreement is active;
  
• You could experience disruptions to your regular care. 

Don’t leave it to the last minute, be proactive and get ahead of the curve while there’s still time to make an informed decision. Simply reach out to our team, ask for help and/or switch providers if needed. Ultimately, it’s all about making sure you’re getting the right care. 

What’s next?

Beyond the year 2025, we can expect the following changes to also come: 

• By the year 2026: Formal price caps are expected to be introduced and regulated to protect consumers from unexpected costs;
  
• By 1 July, 2027: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will be fully transitioned over and merged into the new Support at Home program. 

As the Australian Government continues to refine and strengthen the aged care support system, CareAbout will be here to keep you updated and informed every step of the way. 

Stay informed with CareAbout

We understand how difficult it can be to make sense of all these changes, that’s why our dedicated support team is here. The CareAbout team’s here to keep you informed and up-to-date with important deadlines and updates.

For when you need help at any stage, CareAbout is here to guide you along the way. Our friendly and supportive team takes careful steps to explain every step of the process and of course, to ensure the smooth continual of your care without any disruption. 

CareAbout will prompt you when to take action, help you to review your agreements, and most importantly, we make sure you’re paired with the provider who cares about you. Speak to the CareAbout team today, chat with us now, request a callback, or send us an email, for whichever option suits you best.