What's changing in home care? Understanding the new Support at Home Program.
Starting on 1 July 2025, the Support at Home Program will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
If you receive support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) there’s no immediate change -this program will continue as it is until at least 2027.
Under the Support at Home program, McLean Care offers a range of services to meet your individual needs and goals, including:
Nursing support in your home, including health checks, wound care, continence support, and help with medications.
Therapies to support movement, strength and recovery, including physiotherapy, podiatry, and occupational therapy.
Assistance with everyday tasks like showering, dressing, eating, and managing continence and medications.
Short-term, goal-based care to help you recover after illness or injury and regain independence.
Companionship and connection through home visits, group activities, outings, and help with digital devices.
Care provided by someone other than your usual carer, giving family members a chance to rest or recharge.
Support to stay safe and mobile at home, such as walking aids, ramps, handrails, and safety equipment.
Help getting to medical appointments, shops, and social events safely and on time.
Support with preparing meals or delivery of nutritious meals right to your door.
Light household help with cleaning, laundry, and shopping to keep your home clean and comfortable.
Lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, and minor repairs to maintain safety and access around your home.
Compassionate support to help you remain at home with dignity and comfort, including nursing care, personal care, emotional support, respite for carers and coordination with palliative care specialists.
Short-term, goal-focused support to help you regain strength, independence and confidence after illness, injury or hospitalisation, delivered by a team of health professionals.
Clinical services like nursing and physiotherapy will be entirely government funded. However, contributions for other services may vary based on individual circumstances.
Higher levels of care and funding are available, with improved access to restorative care.
The program aims to reduce waitlists for ongoing care support.
Up to $15,000 is available for equipment and home modifications to support independence. (Assistive Technology and Home Modifications are separate funds- up to $15 000 for each pathway)
Up to $25,000 is available to assist individuals who wish to receive end-of-life care at home.
The new Aged Care Act is designed to put older people’s rights and wellbeing at the centre of care. It introduces stronger protections, clearer quality standards, and a simpler system to help people receive more personalised, respectful, and consistent care. This means older Australians will have more choice, greater say in their care, and better support if something goes wrong.
We have developed some key articles on topics that matter to you so that the Federal Government's changes are simple and easy to understand. Choose from the special catalogue below:
What families and care givers need to know
Understanding the new Single Provider Model in aged care
Aged Care Quality Standards: what they mean for you and how Mclean Care is delivering.
To be eligible for aged care services under the Support at Home program, you must:
be aged 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
require support to continue living safely and independently in your own home and
have been assessed through My Aged Care to determine your eligibility and level of support required.
If you or a loved one are considering aged care support for the first time, the first step is to register with My Aged Care by calling 1800 200 422 or visiting www.myagedcare.gov.au.
You’ll need to complete an aged care assessment, which helps determine the level of support that best meets your needs. Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
more coordinated and ongoing support through the new Support at Home Program, which will commence on1 July 2025.
McLean Care is here to help guide you through the process. If you have any questions or need help navigating the process, please contact our team on 1300 791 660.
The current Commonwealth Home Support Program will continue until at least 1 July 2027, so if you’re currently receiving CHSP services and have already been assessed, your services will continue as usual.
If you haven't been assessed and think you may need support to continue living independently at home, it is recommended that you arrange a My Aged Care assessment before 30 June 2025. This will ensure you can access the support you need without delays or service interruptions, especially as the aged care system begins transitioning to the Support at Home Program.
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will continue until at least 1 July 2027. If you are currently receiving CHSP services, there are no immediate changes to your care.
However, if your needs increase and you require more support, you will need to undergo an aged care assessment to determine your eligibility for:
a Home Care Package (HCP) (until 30 June 2025), or
a level of support under the Support at Home Program, which will replace HCPs from 1 July 2025.
If you think your needs may change in the near future, it’s a good idea to start the assessment process early by contacting My Aged Care or reaching out to McLean Care for advice and support.
If you already receive a Home Care Package, there is nothing you need to do right now. From 1 July 2025, you’ll automatically transition to the Support at Home program, with your funding level aligned to your current HCP level.
To protect existing clients, the government has also introduced a ‘no worse off’ guarantee. This means that if you were approved for a HCP before 12 September 2024, your fees and contributions under the new system will not be higher than what you currently pay.
McLean Care will keep you informed as more details are released, and we’ll be here to support you every step of the way through this transition.
If you're already on a Home Care Package before 1 July 2025, you'll transition automatically to the Support at Home Program without needing a reassessment.
If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, the government’s ‘no worse off’ guarantee means you will not pay more under the new system than you currently do.
If your approval is after 12 September 2024, your fees will be determined using the new means-tested contribution model outlined under Support at Home.
If your care needs change in the future, a new assessment under the Support at Home classification system to ensure your support level matches your needs.
The Support at Home Program will introduce eight levels of care, replacing the current four Home Care Package levels. Each level will be linked to a set quarterly and annual budget, based on your assessed care needs.
This new structure is designed to ensure you receive the right level of support at the right time, with more flexibility and clarity around funding. Your funding level will be determined during your assessment and reviewed if your care needs change.
More details about funding amounts and inclusions will be released by the government closer to the program’s start on 1 July 2025.
Yes, the Support at Home Program will have a new fee structure that differs from the current Home Care Package (HCP) model.
Your client contribution will depend on:
the type of service you receive and
your financial circumstances (e.g. whether you are a full pensioner, part pensioner, or a self-funded retiree).
Support services are grouped into three categories:
Clinical care (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy): These services are fully funded by the government, with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
Independence services (e.g., personal care): These are partially subsidised by the government, with a moderate client contribution expected.
Everyday living services (e.g., cleaning, gardening, shopping): These attract a higher contribution, as they are considered less clinically essential and may not be fully subsidised.
Further details on individual fee amounts and caps will be confirmed by the government closer to the program’s 1 July 2025 start date.
Yes. Under the Federal Government’s Support at Home program, the amount you will pay will depend on your financial circumstances. Here’s an overview of how contributions are structured:
Full pensioners: you will be asked to make minimal contributions for independence support and everyday living assistance.
Part pensioners: your contributions will be means tested, with the amount varying on your income and assets.
Self-funded retirees: your contributions will depend on the outcome of means testing and whether you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
To protect people who require long-term support, the government has introduced a lifetime cap of $130,000 on total aged care contributions across both home care and residential care services.
No. Under the Support at Home Program, aged care providers like McLean Care will no longer charge separate package management fees.
Instead, the costs previously included in package management will be incorporated into the pricing of individual services. This change is designed to make fees simpler and more transparent for clients.
Yes. Under the Support at Home Program, care management fees will continue to apply, depending on the type and level of support you receive.
These fees are designed to cover essential activities such as:
ongoing support,
care coordination, and
regular reviews to ensure your care remains aligned with your needs.
Care management fees will be capped at a maximum of 10% of your quarterly care budget, providing transparency and helping ensure value for money.
Yes - but not just yet.
The Federal Government plans to introduce service price caps under the Support at Home Program from 1 July 2026.
In the meantime, aged care providers will continue to set their own prices, but these will be closely monitored by the Department of Health and Aged Care to make sure they remain fair and reasonable.
The introduction of price caps is part of a broader effort to make aged care services more transparent, consistent and easier to understand, ensuring clients get the best possible value and peace of mind.
The Federal Government is continually releasing new information on the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home Program. You can find out more by visiting the Department of Health and Aged Care.
