The Support at Home (SAH) program marks one of the most significant aged care reforms of 2025, aiming to simplify and strengthen in-home care for older Australians.
Starting 1 November 2025, the SAH program will officially replace both the Home Care Packages (HCPs) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
These changes aren’t just about streamlining a program – this is about ensuring more flexible, personalised care is available to better meet people’s changing needs, especially as they age.
If you or a loved one currently receives care under the HCP or STRC program, there’s no need to panic. You won’t need to reapply or start from scratch.
No package management fees: Providers can’t charge for managing funds.
Care management capped at 10%: Clear limits on what providers can charge for coordination.
No entry or exit fees: Switching providers won’t cost you a cent.
Pricing caps from 1 July 2026: Standardised rates will apply across all services.
Aged care supplements retained: Including, but not limited to, support for dementia, veterans, oxygen, and external feeding.
CHSP to be phased out by 1 July 2027: The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will fully transition into Support at Home by no earlier than 1 July 2027.
These updates aim to keep aged care management fees transparent while ensuring continued access to essential aged care supplements, helping eligible Australians to get the most out of their Support at Home funding.
As part of the Support at Home transition, existing HCP recipients will automatically move to the new program, keeping their services intact.
There’s been some anxiety around what these Home Care Package changes really mean, but here’s the good news: Your care won’t suddenly stop or change overnight.
Whether you’re receiving personal care, help with meals, or allied health services, your support continues without interruption. In fact, the updated system is designed to offer even more tailored support, now through eight levels of care (instead of the former four Home Care Package levels).
Looking ahead, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will also become part of the Support at Home program, though not before 1 July 2027. This gradual rollout is intended to give everyone time to adjust and for providers to get it right.
From 1 July 2026, the government will introduce capped prices for most Support at Home services. This means providers can charge up to, but not more than, a set maximum price for each service. These price limits will be determined with advice from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA). Some services, such as transport, nursing consumables, and nutrition supports, will remain exempt due to market variations. Full details of capped pricing will be released before the July 2026 start date.
The Support at Home transition is a key piece of the broader aged care reform of 2025, aiming to deliver fairer, simpler and more transparent care.
But while the shift is designed to be seamless, it still brings a few key differences worth knowing as this change to Home Care Packages, is part of a broader aged care reform. This change is intended to improve transparency, flexibility and responsiveness in home care delivery.
If you’re currently receiving a Home Care Package, the upcoming Support at Home transition won’t disrupt your day-to-day care. You won’t need to reapply, and your provider will guide you through the transition to Support at Home.
Your funding level will be carried over to the new Support at Home structure.
The types of services you receive, like personal care, allied health, or help around the home, won’t be lost.
You can keep your existing care provider.
Your budget will move to quarterly cycles, making it easier to track and adjust spending over time.
Funding is grouped into three new categories: clinical supports, independence, and everyday living..
Charges for things like provider travel will be bundled into a single service price – so it’s clearer what you’re paying for.
We’re here to help Australians navigate aged care with confidence, because no one should ever have to face this journey alone.
We’re not a provider, but we’re here to match you with the right one. With over 900+ providers Australia-wide, finding quality aged care is stressful and overwhelming. That’s why we 1:1 match you with only a trusted, compliant provider from our handpicked panel of only vetted providers – based on your unique needs.
Your Support at Home approval date affects how your care, funding, and unspent funds will move into the new system. It also determines your place in the national queue. To see how the government decides who receives funding first and what the current wait times look like, read our guide on the Support at Home Priority System.
The Australian government’s transition rules ensure that everyone under Support at Home, regardless of when their Home Care Package approval happened, moves smoothly into the new program, without losing services or support.
Funding:
If your Home Care Package was approved before this date, your transition is automatic. You’ll move to the new program under the Support at Home transition rules with the same level of funding and no need for reassessment.
Budget:
Your annual funding will shift to a quarterly budget, giving you a clearer view of how your money is allocated and spent throughout the year.
Unspent funds:
Any unspent funds you currently hold will carry over. However, under the new system, future unspent funds will be capped at 10% (or $1,000, whichever is higher) to promote more consistent use of care budgets.
Funding:
If your Home Care Package approval happens after this date, you’ll be assessed under the new Support at Home 2025 model from the start. Your Support at Home contributions and care levels will reflect the updated structure.
Budget:
You’ll begin with a quarterly budget cycle, offering immediate transparency and flexibility.
Unspent funds:
Unspent funds will also be capped, but any funds accrued before 1 November 2025 will transition across to your new Support at Home account.
When Support at Home begins, you’ll be automatically transitioned over to the equivalent Support at Home classification. The good news here, is that you’ll keep the same funding you currently receive under your Home Care Package until you’re reassessed into one of the eight new Support at Home classifications.
In short, you will retain equivalent funding at the switchover to Support at Home from 1 November 2025. The Department of Health and Aged Care confirms the following outline (shown in the table below) for how these transitions will be mapped, while confirming that no one will lose funding when the change happens. If you’d to like to see an overview of the eight Support at Home classifications and their assigned funding amounts, please see our guide here.
| Current HC P Classification | New Support at Home Classification |
|---|---|
| HCP Level 1 | Transitioned HCP Level 1 |
| HCP Level 2 | Transitioned HCP Level 2 |
| HCP Level 3 | Transitioned HCP Level 3 |
| HCP Level 4 | Transitioned HCP Level 4 |
When you don’t have all the pieces of a constantly-changing puzzle, it’s incredibly hard to make an informed decision – that’s where we come in.
Our Care Advisors cut through the noise, and simplify an otherwise complex process. We take the time to understand who you are, and what you need. We then present you with an expert-led recommendation – of course, the ultimate choice is yours to make.
With a clearer funding pathway and a more tailored approach to care, this new Support at Home classification system makes navigating aged care a little less daunting – and a lot more transparent.
Your Support at Home contributions will depend on your financial situation and pension status. The new model aims to make aged care costs fairer and more transparent, with contributions varying across three groups:
*It’s important to note: These pensioner contribution Support at Home rates recognise differing capacities to pay while ensuring access to essential care services within the aged care lifetime cap.
The amount you pay will be determined by your income and assets, and applied to specific service categories: Clinical Supports, Independence Supports, and Everyday Living.
Importantly, no one will pay more than the $130,000 aged care lifetime cap, which ensures affordability and protection from excessive out-of-pocket costs over time.
| Service Category | Service Types | Full Pensioner | Part Pensioner | Self-Funded Retiree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Support | Nursing care, Occupational therapy, Allied heath, Nutrition, Care management, Restorative care management | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Independence Services | Personal care, Social support and community engagement, Therapeutic services, Transport, Assistive technology and home modifications | 5% | 5–50% | 50% |
| Everyday Living Services | Domestic assistance, Meals, Home maintenance and repairs | 17.5% | 17.5–80% | 80% |
Estimate your co-contribution rates under Australia's Support at Home program.
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Ageing should come with dignity and comfort, not anxiety and confusion. And you should never feel forced or rushed to make an important decision, especially one that affects your future.
When you’re racing against a time constraint, with so much out there to decipher – it can often feel lonely, and disempowering. That’s why we’re here: To walk alongside you, to ensure the clarity you need, and ultimately, be the resource for making the right match.
Under the new model, Support at Home, unspent funds will work a little differently from the former Home Care Package (HCP) system.
Previously, any carry over aged care funds would roll over in full from one period to the next, allowing balances to grow over time. Now, under Support at Home, this framework is changed to encourage the ongoing use of services and ultimately, reduce large accumulated balances.
All unspent funds will carry over in full, and transition into your new Support at Home account.
Any unspent funds will be capped at the lower of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget. Anything above this amount will return to the government pool for redistribution.
| Example | Quarterly Budget | Unspent Amount | Amount Carried Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example 1 | $5,000 | $1,200 | $500 (10% cap) |
| Example 2 | $8,000 | $2,500 | $1,000 |
No, not if you were approved for a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, then you won’t need a new Support at Home assessment when the new program begins. Your existing plan and funding level will automatically transition to the new model, so there’s no need to worry about reapplying or starting over.
However, should your care needs change in the future, your aged care reassessment will follow the new Support at Home eligibility and classification system. This ensures that the level of support you receive continues to reflect your current health, independence, and living situation – keeping your care both relevant and responsive as your needs evolve.
Should you have any hesitation at all regarding your current aged care funding, simply call us to reevaluate or just talk things through (it’s completely free).
Yes, you absolutely can.
Support at Home self-management will continue under the new system. If you currently manage your home care package or plan to do so, you’ll still have the flexibility to choose your own care workers, manage your services, and tailor support to suit your lifestyle and preferences.
The updated model keeps the benefits of self-managed aged care while providing clearer guidance and oversight to help you stay on track.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
For further information about the Support at Home program and how eligible participants can use self-management, please see the Australian Government fact sheet here.
There’s no need to make changes right now, your current care will continue as usual. Still, a little Support at Home preparation goes a long way.
Stay informed about upcoming changes, review your care needs, and check your provider’s readiness so you’re confident and in control when the new system begins.
If you currently receive services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), there’s no immediate change due to Support at Home. The full CHSP transition to Support at Home, will not be complete until at least 1 July 2027.
This means your existing services will continue as normal until then. The government has confirmed that aged care reforms in 2027 will introduce a single, streamlined program that combines CHSP and Support at Home to simplify access and funding.
For now, CHSP participants can continue working with their current providers and don’t need to take any action. These reforms will roll out gradually to make sure support remains consistent and uninterrupted.
To stay informed about what’s ahead, and what the CHSP transition means for you, we’ve put together the essential guide to Support at Home here.
CareAbout has been very supportive and informative. They have a wealth of knowledge and have helped me to make the best decisions for care for my mother and her particular needs.
Ian Ross
Home Care for self
Keith was so helpful and explained everything clearly. He made an appointment with a provider to help us and made the process seamless. We had the appointment today and are feeling very confident that we will be well cared for.
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Home Care
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Rebecca
Home Care for Dad
I was desperately looking for a nursing home that can provide respite care for my dad. Thankfully CareAbout has made it so easy. With just a few phone calls in the morning I was given a list of the suitable nursing homes, and in the afternoon I was able to find one that can accept my dad. Thank you for a great service!
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Nursing Home
To be honest I didn’t expect much from CareAbout as I thought it would be an online only support, however my expectations were soon exceeded with the quality of help, support and continuous phone call follow ups to make sure I found an aged care facility for my dad. Billy made the process so easy and took the stress out of finding a suitable aged care facility.
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Nursing Home
