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Home care reforms
(Support at Home)

From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government is replacing Home Care Packages (HCP) with a new program called Support at Home. We’re here to help you understand how these changes may affect you or your loved ones. 

To learn about changes in aged care homes, visit our Residential Aged Care Reforms page. For WMQ news and community stories, head to our News page. 

Key changes

At Wesley Mission Queensland we welcome these reforms as a positive step toward a more person-centred, transparent, and flexible aged care system.

Support at home will replace Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-term Restorative Care (STRC).
Home care subsidy will change from $10,588 (Level 1) and $61,440 (Level 4) per year, to $11,000 (Classification 1) and $78,000 (Classification 8).
A new means-tested system will make aged care more affordable for those with less. High earners will likely pay more.
The 'no worse-off' principle ensures home and residential aged care recipients keep their existing services and benefits.
No-cost clinical care as services will be fully covered by the Government.
Stricter compliance and monitoring systems for nursing homes.
Faster access to assistive technology and home modifications.
Mandatory individual contribution, including those receiving full pensions.

Home care reforms articles

Stay informed with Wesley Mission Queensland, committed to building trust and enhancing the quality of aged care.

Featured article

Updated June 2025

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Aged care reform - What you need to know

Official government information

Explore official information about aged care reforms:

Reforms overview Support at Home Fact sheets

Support at Home FAQs

The Support at Home program is the new system replacing Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Program CHSP and the Queensland Community Support Scheme (QCSS). It offers more flexible, personalised home care for older Australians. 

Support at Home will begin on 1 November 2025, replacing the current Home Care Packages (HCP) program. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will transition later, in 2027. Read more: Transitioning from HCP to Support at Home. 

The Short-Term Restorative Care program will also be replaced by a new program in November 2025, the Restorative Care Pathway. Read more here.  

You don’t need to reapply. If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you will transition under your existing conditions and won’t pay more out of pocket. If approved after 12 September 2024, your financial contribution will be assessed under the new funding model. Services Australia will notify new clients about any co-contributions based on their individual financial situation. Read more about transitioning from HCP to Support at Home. 
The government is increasing the maximum home care subsidy amounts, as well as the number of levels of care. Currently, subsidies range from about $10,588 per year for Level 1 care up to $61,440 for Level 4 care. Under the new system, subsidies will increase to approximately $11,000 for Classification 1 care and up to $78,000 for Classification 8 care. This change means more flexibility with more funding available to better meet high care needs. 

Yes — but only if you’re approved for Support at Home after 12 September 2024, even if you receive a full pension. If approved before that date, you don’t need to pay the mandatory contribution. Key points to know:

  • Mandatory contributions apply only to independence support and everyday services, like cleaning, meals, transport and personal care – not clinical care (e.g. nursing, allied health).
  • It’s not a flat rate – you pay a percentage of the cost for each service you use.
  • The amount you pay is based on your income and assets (means tested).
  • All contributions are capped by the Government.
  • The government has stated there will be protections to ensure fees remain affordable, especially for people on low incomes or full pensions.

Services Australia will notify clients about any co-contributions based on their individual financial situation.

No. You won’t lose your care, and services will continue without interruption. When the Support at Home program begins in November 2025, most people will transition from a Home Care Package automatically. You will only be reassessed if your current care needs change and, consequently, your budget can no longer support your required level of care. You will always go up a level when being reviewed. The new program uses 8 levels of funding, compared to 4 under the current HCP system. Any unused HCP funds will carry over and be used to support your care under Support at Home.

A trained assessor will look at your current care needs, usually by talking with you and your provider. They’ll check if your current support level and funding still meets your needs under the new system. Your care won’t stop during this process. Read more about the new Single Assessment System.

Services Australia or My Aged Care will contact you directly.  You’ll receive a letter or phone call explaining what’s changing and what steps to take.  Your provider may also contact you to discuss any updates to your care or funding. 
 Unused Home Care Package funds will be carried over and used to support your care under the new program. 
No, you will stay on your current funding when transitioning from HCP to Support at Home. From November 2025, if you exhaust your funding, you will need to apply for a review. If your care needs increase, you will be reassessed – and you will always move up a level when reviewed in the new system. Read more about transitioning from HCP to Support at Home.
Your fees — the amount you pay for each service — may change but will be capped, with protections in place to prevent unfair charges by providers. If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you will transition under your existing conditions and won’t pay more out of pocket. If approved after 12 September 2024, your financial contribution will be assessed under the new funding model. Services Australia will notify new clients about any co-contributions based on their individual financial situation.

If you were approved for Support at Home before 12 September 2024, your current fee arrangements will stay the same. If you’re approved after 12 September 2024, the cost will depend on your income and the services you use. You’ll also need to pay a mandatory individual contribution for everyday services like cleaning, meals, and personal care — even if you receive a full pension. Clinical services like nursing and allied health will remain fully government-funded.

What you pay will be:

  • Means tested (based on income and assets)
  • Capped by the government to keep fees affordable
  • Charged per service — not a flat rate.
Stay in touch with your provider. Check articles and FAQs in our Reforms webpage, and also My Aged Care for updates. You can also speak to an aged care advisor. 
You’ll continue to receive help with cleaning, meals, transport, personal care, and more — all tailored to your needs. The main change is how these services are funded and subsidised. Clinical care — such as nursing, allied health, and therapy — will be fully funded by the Government. However, some services may require a co-contribution which will be dependant on your income and assets, assessed by Services Australia, with type of services determined on your individual care plan.  
The eligibility criteria remain consistent with the current system. People aged 65 and over (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) are eligible, based on an assessment of their care needs through My Aged Care. 
The CHSP will continue as usual until 2027 and will be merged into Support at Home no sooner than 2027. In November 2025, only the Home Care Packages (HCP) will transition to Support at Home. CHSP services may change in how they’re delivered once merged in 2027. The Short-Term Restorative Care program will also be replaced by a new program in November 2025, the Restorative Care Pathway.
Yes, if your provider is approved under the new system and offers the services you need. 

General Aged Reforms FAQs
(new Aged Care Act)

The new Aged Care Act 2024 is a new law that changes how aged care is delivered and funded in Australia. It gives older people clearer legal rights, requires providers to meet higher standards, and introduces programs like Support at Home starting 1 November 2025.
The reforms focus on making aged care fairer, safer, and more transparent. They aim to give older people clearer rights, improve how care is assessed and funded, and strengthen complaint processes.
Most reforms begin on 1 November 2025 under the new Aged Care Act 2024. This includes Support at Home replacing Home Care Packages. The single assessment system has already started rolling out. The Commonwealth Home Support Program will transition later, from 2027.
The reforms aim to make aged care safer and fairer by giving older people clearer rights, using independent assessments to determine care needs, increasing fee transparency, setting price caps, strengthening complaint processes, and updating funding models for home and residential care. Under the reforms, Home Care Packages are been replaced by the Support at Home program.
A new single assessment system was introduced in December 2024 to simplify how care needs are assessed for home care and residential care. This replaces multiple assessments to make access easier.
Means-tested fees will continue under the new reforms, but some rules about fees and charges may be updated. Providers must clearly explain all fees, and price caps will protect consumers from excessive charges. For residential aged care, no major fee increases are planned. Current residents will keep their existing fee arrangements, and any fee changes must be disclosed.
The new reforms make aged care more transparent by requiring providers to clearly explain all fees and services. There will be price caps to stop overcharging, stronger rules about what care must be delivered, and more government checks to make sure providers do the right thing. You’ll also have better access to information about your rights and how to make a complaint if needed.
The government says people already receiving aged care will not lose access to support when the new system starts. This means your services should continue at a similar level, but they may be adjusted based on your care needs and available budget under the new rules.
Yes. These reforms are the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which called for a fairer, safer, and more person-centred aged care system.
The new Aged Care Act includes a Statement of Rights for older people. You can learn more about your rights on the Department of Health website.
You can raise concerns with your provider, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the aged Care advocacy service (Older Persons Advocacy Network - OPAN) or seek support from an aged care advocate.

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Home Care Brisbane - Client welcomes staff in his QLD home - WMQ