What is Support at Home?

• Well-structured pathways makes it easier to understand options for different types of care and support.
• Each pathway has specific funding, reducing uncertainty about what can be funded.
• Less need to “stretch” a package to cover multiple types of care.
• Clearer budgeting and planning for services and supports. Values

• 8 Support at Home Classifications (up from 4 Home Care Package Levels) mean needs are assessed in greater detail, ensuring supports better matches individual needs.
• Easier to put together a combination of services and supports without rigid restrictions.
• With 10% automatically allocated to care management, each Care Plan is better tailored to the individual’s needs.

• Focus on helping seniors stay mobile and mentally engaged, rather than only responding to decline.
• Fully funded clinical services, which includes allied heath (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise programs), regardless of income or assets.
• Restorative Care Pathway emphasises maintaining or improving independence.

• The Assistive Technology & Home Modifications scheme ensures supports are specifically assessed to meet individual needs.
• Safer, more accessible homes reduce the risk of falls or accidents.

• • A set fee of 10% of your budget is automatically allocated to Care Management
• Mandatory management fee ensures all individuals have well designed Care Plans
• Gives greater transparency on how funds are used
• Ensures fairer pricing across providers

As a grandfathered participant (meaning you were approved on or before 12 Sep 2024), you're protected under the "no worse off" principle – meaning you won't lose any care or funding.

Here’s what the upcoming changes mean for you:

• You will be automatically transitioned to the new Support at Home program.
• You’ll be matched to a Classification (new term for levels of care) that aligns with your current Home Care Package. You can learn more about the new Classifications here.
• Any unspent funds in your current package will carry over to your new Support at Home package.
• From 1 November, unspent funds are capped at $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget – whichever amount is greater.

For participants approved after 12 September 2024, you will transition into the new Support at Home program as a Hybrid/Transitional Participant.

Here’s what the upcoming changes mean for you:

• You’ll be matched to a Classification (new term for levels of care) aligned with your current Home Care Package. Learn more about the new Classification [here – X].
• You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly care budget- whichever is greater. Any unspent funds from your care package before 31 October 2025 will transition with you.
• Starting 1 November 2025, services will be grouped into three categories, with fees based on a percentage of service costs. Your contribution will depend on your income and asset assessments:

Clinical Care – Fully funded by the government, so no cost to you.

Independence – Moderate participant contributions required.

Everyday Living – Highest contributions, reflecting limited government funding for these services.

My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s system for accessing government-funded aged care services. The first step for subsidised care is to apply for an assessment and wait for the outcome. If you are a part-pensioner, a means test might reduce your contribution amount set by the government. Once your funding is approved, contact your chosen provider.

You can contact My Aged Care directly:

Call them on 1800 200 422; or
Apply online

All the services you could access under Home Care Packages are still available, but they are now grouped differently into 3 categories (Clinical Care, Independence and Everyday Living) and pathways (Restorative Care, Assistive Technology & Home Modifications and End-of-Life).

Based on your assessment and personal goals, you’ll receive a tailored combination of services from these categories. Some are fully subsidised (such as clinical care), while others may require a client contribution depending on income and assets.

To learn more about Wesley Mission Queensland’s services, click here.

Not yet. CHSP will continue operating under its current structure until it transitions into Support at Home at a later date - no earlier than 1 July 2027. Until then, how your CHSP services should remain unchanged.

If you’re new to the Support at Home program you’ll need to go through an assessment to determine your eligibility and care needs

• Step 1 – Complete an assessment via My Aged Care. You can apply online or call them on 1800 200 422.
• Step 2 – After your assessment, My Aged Care will decide if you’re eligible for funding and the level of support you need. To learn more about the new funding levels, now categorised in Classifications, read our article Home care reforms (Support at Home) - what you need to know.
  
  If you need services urgently, please contact us directly on 1800 448 448 (or enquire online). We offer fee-for-service options that allow you to privately pay for care services.
• Step 3 – Once approved for home care, you can nominate the provider you’d like to deliver your services. That’s where our team steps in! We’ll review your funding, help you understand any costs, and work with you to create a Care Plan tailored to your individual needs.
• Step 4 – You can start receiving services. Our care partners stay in regular contact to make sure your services remain right for you. As your needs change over time you can add or remove services depending on your care requirements.
  

‘No worse off’ means that if you already receive a Home Care Package, you won’t pay more for your care once you transition to the new Support at Home program.

• If you currently don’t pay any income-tested care fees, that will stay the same.
• If you do contribute towards your care, you’ll continue to pay the same amount or less — never more.

This protection ensures that existing Home Care Package clients are not disadvantaged by the change to Support at Home.