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Stable Home Care

Support at Home Program

Tweed Heads

Gold Coast

Support at Home Provider

Registered Nursing

Personal Care

Domestic Support

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1300 857 066


Transition to Support at Home for Aged Care Sector

The Australian Government’s new Support at Home Program is set to launch on July 1, 2025, bringing significant changes to the way older Australians receive in-home care. If you’re currently receiving home care services, you may be wondering how this will impact you. 


At Stable Home Care, we’re here to help you navigate these changes and ensure you continue receiving the care you need.

What is the Support at Home Program?

The Support at Home Program is designed to streamline and improve home care services, replacing the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will remain in place until 2027, but new assessments will direct individuals to either Support at Home or CHSP services.


Key Changes Under the Support at Home Program

  • Faster Access to Care:  Additional government funding aims to reduce the home care package waitlist to an average of three months by July 2027 (Currently up to 18months).

  • New Budget System: Instead of four Home Care Package levels, Support at Home introduces eight funding classifications, allowing for more tailored support.

  • Simplified Assessments: A Single Assessment System will replace the two-step process currently required for HCP and CHSP.

  • No Out-of-Pocket Costs for Clinical Care: Services such as Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy will be fully government-funded.

  • Contributions for Everyday Living Services: Fees for domestic assistance, gardening, and meal preparation will be based on income and assets.

  • Unspent Funds Will Be Retained: If you have unused funds from your Home Care Package, they will continue to be used for ongoing services or roll over into the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme.


What Happens to my Home Care Package?

If you already receive a Home Care Package, you won’t need to be reassessed. Your allocated budget will align with your current level. However, if your care needs change, you will require a new assessment to move to a higher funding level on the Support at Home Program.


Will I Lose My Unspent Home Care Package Funds?

No, you will retain access to any unspent Home Care Package funds. These can be used for

- Additional services once your quarterly budget is exhausted

- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme before accessing new AT-HM funding.


New Support at Home Funding Levels

The eight funding classifications provide annual budgets ranging from $11,000 to $78,000, ensuring care recipients receive the appropriate level of support. Short-term care options, including the Restorative Care Pathway and End-of-Life Care Pathway, offer targeted assistance for those needing temporary or palliative care at home.


What does the funding classifications looks like?

ClassificationQuarterly BudgetAnnual Amount
1$2,750$11,000
2$4,000$16,000
3$5,500$22,000
4$7,500$30,000
5$10,000$40,000
6$12,000$48,000
7$14,500$58,000
8$19,500$78,000


Additional support is available through the Restorative Care Pathway (for maintaining independence) and the End-of-Life Care Pathway, which provides up to $25,000 in home care support for 12 weeks.


What About Self-Management?

A 10% care management fee will apply to all participants, whether they choose to self-manage or work with a provider. This fee covers service coordination, clinical advice, and ongoing care planning. Unlike the current system, package management fees will be integrated into service costs, making pricing more transparent.


Will There Be Price Caps on Services?

The government plans to introduce price caps from July 1, 2026, but until then, providers will continue setting their own rates. The Department of Health will monitor providers to ensure fairness.


Access to Equipment and Home Modifications

A major improvement under Support at Home is the ability to access assistive technology and home modifications immediately, rather than saving up funds over time. The AT-HM Scheme provides upfront funding of up to $15,000, subject to a lifetime cap.


How Stable Home Care Can Support You

At Stable Home Care, we understand that navigating changes in aged care funding can be overwhelming. Our local team in Tweed Heads are here to provide guidance and ensure you continue to receive high-quality care tailored to your needs.


How Much Will I Need to Pay?

To ensure fairness, the government has introduced a ‘no worse off’ principle, meaning that if you were assessed before September 12, 2024, you won’t pay more under the new system. Below is an outline of how contributions will be structured:


Funding CategoryClinical SupportsPersonal Care & Independence ServicesEveryday Living Services (Cleaning, Gardening, Meals)
Full Pensioner0%5%17.5%
Part Pensioner0%5-50% (based on means test)17.5%-80% (based on means test)
Self-Funded Retiree (with Commonwealth Seniors Card)0%5-50% (based on means test)17.5%-80% (based on means test)
Self-Funded Retiree (without Commonwealth Seniors Card)0%50%80%

A $130,000 lifetime cap on contributions will ensure affordability for long-term care recipients.


Support at Home FAQ

When will Support at Home start?
  • The new Support at Home program will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme from 1 July 2025.  
  • The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.  
Who is eligible for the New Support at Home Program?
  • Support at Home eligibility is based on your age, needs, and a government assessment. If you are an older Australian needing help with daily activities or health care, you may be eligible for this program. A My Aged Care assessment will determine your eligibility and the services you qualify for.
What services are covered under the program?

  • The program offers a variety of services tailored to your needs, including:

    • Personal care (e.g., bathing, dressing, grooming)
    • Domestic assistance (e.g., cleaning, meal preparation)
    • Nursing care
    • Allied health services (e.g., physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
    • Home modifications
    • Social support and companionship
What are the main changes in this program?
Home care recipients can retain their current service provider and continue to access services and supports. Key changes from 1 July 2025 will include: 
  • Moving to a quarterly budget – this means the annual Home Care Package amount will be divided into 4 equal budgets that each cover 3 months of the year. Recipients who have not spent their budget within the quarter will be able to accrue a maximum of $1,000 or 10% of their quarterly budget, (whichever is higher,) from one quarter to the next. 
  • A defined service list – under Support at Home, all services will be specified on a service list with clear inclusions and exclusions that will largely mirror existing services accessed through the Home Care Packages Program. 
  • No separate administration charges – package management costs will be incorporated into prices, not charged as separate fees. 
  • Care management funding set at 10% of all ongoing quarterly budgets – this funding will be set aside for providers to use to deliver care management support across all participants. 
  • Separately funded Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme – people will be approved at assessment for a separate funding amount for assistive technology and/or home modifications. 
Will my existing Home Care Package automatically transfer?
Yes, recipients of Home Care Packages will automatically transition to Support at Home with equivalent funding and services, effective 1 July 2025.
What is the End-of-Life Pathway?
  • This pathway offers enhanced funding and support for older Australians diagnosed with less than three months to live, allowing them to remain at home during this period.
Will Home Care Packages Program recipients need to be reassessed for Support at Home? How will their new funding level be decided?
  • Home care recipients and people on the National Priority System waiting for a Home Care Package will automatically transition to Support at Home from 1 July 2025. They will not need to be re-assessed for Support at Home. Home care recipients will have Support at Home funding equivalent to their existing Home Care Package level. Those on the National Priority System will have Support at Home funding equivalent to the Home Care Package level they have been approved for, once Support at Home funding becomes available. Those with unspent funds balances will retain those funds under Support at Home. They may be used to access additional services if a quarterly budget is fully allocated, or for assistive technology and home modifications, if approved. 
Do no worse off principles continue if a current Home Care Package Program recipient is reassessed under Support at Home?
  • Yes. Grandfathering arrangements for participant contributions continue to apply even if a participant who transitions to Support at Home from the Home Care Packages Program is reassessed and reclassified at any time in the future. For further information, refer to page 37 of the Support at Home program handbook.
What happens to my unspent Home Care Package funds?

  • Any unspent funds from your Home Care Package will transfer with you into the Support at Home program and remain available for use within your care plan.

What can I spend my Home Care Package unspent funds on?
  • Home care recipients with Home Care Package unspent funds will retain these funds for use under Support at Home. These may be used for either AT-HM (in which case funds must be used before any new AT-HM Scheme funding), or for additional ongoing services, if the Support at Home quarterly budget has been exhausted.
If a current Home Care Packages Program recipient is paying an Income Tested Care Fee, do they continue to pay this same amount?
  • Existing home care recipients who pay income-tested care fees will transition into Support at Home with special discounted contribution arrangements. For more information refer to page 36-39 of the Support at Home program handbook.
What are the budgets for the 8 ongoing classifications under the new Support at Home?

The dollar figures in the below table are current estimates.

Classification 

Quarterly Budget 

Annual Amount 

1 

~$2,750 

~$11,000 

2 

~$4,000 

~$16,000 

3 

~$5,500 

~$22,000 

4 

~$7,500 

~$30,000 

5 

~$10,000 

~$40,000 

6 

~$12,000 

~$48,000 

7 

~$14,500 

~$58,000 

8 

~$19,500 

~$78,000 

Restorative Care Pathway 

~$6,000 (12 weeks) 

May be increased to ~$12,000 when eligible 

End-of-Life Pathway 

~$25,000 (12 weeks) 

For further information on the Support at Home ongoing classifications please refer to page 12 in the Support at Home program handbook. 

Can Support at Home funds be accrued between quarters?
  • Participants will be able to save funding between quarters to meet unplanned needs. This will be capped at $1,000 or 10% of the value of their quarterly budget (whichever is higher).  
  • Participants assessed as requiring assistive technology and/or home modifications will not need to save up their funds for these services because additional funding will be provided separately through the AT-HM Scheme. 
  • Existing home care recipients with Home Care Package unspent funds balance will retain these funds. They may be used for ongoing services when their quarterly budget is exhausted, or for the AT-HM Scheme if required. 
When a participant changes providers, does the money get transferred to the new provider straight away?
  • The budget will remain with the participant, and this will be managed through Services Australia (i.e. there is no physical transfer of money across providers). 
  • Providers will not receive care management funding for new (or transferring) participants as soon as the participant commences. Rather, a provider must submit the entry details of the new (or transferring) participant to Services Australia before the last day of the quarter. Services Australia will then calculate the pro-rata care management funding for the participant for the next quarter and allocate this to the provider at the start of the following quarter. 
  • If there is a change to a participant’s budget during the quarter (e.g. they are re-assessed or there is a change in indexation), care management funding will be adjusted on a pro-rated basis from the date of the change and allocated to the provider. 
  • When a new provider is established, care management funding for participants will be calculated on a pro-rata basis for the first and second quarters of operation. The first quarter of operation for the provider is determined from the date of the earliest participant entry notification. During the first and second quarters of operation, the provider will receive a pro-rata amount of care management funding for any new participant. From the third quarter onwards, new providers will receive care management funding on the first day of the following quarter for their participant cohort. 
  • The previous service provider will have 60 days after the participant’s departure to finalise their claims through the Services Australia Provider Portal. 
How will the quarterly funding cycle run?

The quarterly funding cycle will follow the fiscal quarters: 

  • July to September  
  • October to December  
  • January to March 
  • April to June.  

Participants will have access to the full value of their budget at the start of the quarter. Participants who join during a quarter will receive a pro-rata amount. 

How do participants pay their contributions? Are they directly deducted from their pensions or is there a separate system for handling payments?
  • Participant contributions are the responsibility of the provider to collect. When a provider lodges their claim to Services Australia for services to a care recipient they will be paid the subsidy, less the applicable participant contribution, which they will collect from the participant. 
Will there be an annual cap on non-clinical care participant contributions as well as the $130,000 lifetime cap?
  • Support at Home participants approved after 1 July 2025 will have a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000. Existing home care package recipients who have been grandfathered into Support at Home will have a lifetime cap of $82,018. 
  • Once the lifetime cap is reached across Support at Home and the non-clinical care component of a participant’s contribution to residential care, the participant will pay no further individual contributions under Support at Home. There is no annual cap.
Who will keep track of a participants contributions, so they know when they have reached the lifetime cap?
  • Services Australia will keep track of contributions and manage the lifetime cap arrangements. 
How much will i need to contribute to my services?
  • Co-Contributions under Support at Home will be determined by a means test by Services Australia.
    Funding CategoryClinical SupportsPersonal Care & Independence ServicesEveryday Living Services (Cleaning, Gardening, Meals)
    Full Pensioner0%5%17.5%
    Part Pensioner0%5-50% (based on means test)17.5%-80% (based on means test)
    Self-Funded Retiree (with Commonwealth Seniors Card)0%5-50% (based on means test)17.5%-80% (based on means test)
    Self-Funded Retiree (without Commonwealth Seniors Card)0%50%80%

    A $130,000 lifetime cap on contributions will ensure affordability for long-term care recipients.

Want More Information about Support at Home?

Want to find out more about the specific changes with Support at Home? Including how it impacts you as a Home Care Package Recipient, Category levels and funding amounts? Visit our blog post below for all the details or the Government Support at Home Guide.

Support at Home program - A guide for older people
6 Key Support at Home Changes

How Do I Access Support at Home?

To access the Support at Home program, follow these three steps:

STEP 1  

​Get Started

Start by contacting My Aged Care to arrange an aged care assessment.

STEP 2

​Receive your package

After the assessment, you’ll receive a Support at Home package based on your needs.

STEP 3  

​Start Services

Speak to one of our Care Experts, who will set you up and introduce you to a dedicated Care Manager. Together, you will create a Care Plan and Budget tailored to your unique goals and care needs and start your services.

Support at Home services offered by Stable Home Care

Stable Home Care will transition from a Home Care Package provider to a Support at Home provider in July 2025. We will continue offering the services you trust, designed to support your well-being and independence at home. From domestic assistance and personal care to nursing and allied health support, our services are tailored to help you live confidently and comfortably at home.
In-Home Nursing
​Specialised Nursing care to meet your needs including:
​Wound Care, Continence Support, Medication Administration, RN Health Reviews and Catheter support.


Personal Care
Grooming, showering, dressing and continence support


Domestic Assistance
​Cleaning, tidying and day to day home maintenance


Social Support
​  Support to access social outings and go shopping


Allied Health
Services to help you stay at home including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Dietitians and Podiatry.


Assistive Technology
Stable Home Care provides assistive technology solutions to support independence and safety at home, offering devices tailored to meet individual needs.


Care Management
​​Our expert team is here to help you manage your services, ensuring you receive the tailored support you need


In-Home Respite
​Giving Caregivers a much-needed break while ensuring their loved ones receive professional, compassionate care at home.


Why Choose Stable Home Care as your Support at Home Provider?

Stable Home Care is a locally owned and family-run organisation founded by experienced Registered Nurses with a passion for supporting older adults in Tweed Heads and Southern Gold Coast. As a team of highly trained professionals, we bring clinical expertise and compassionate care to every service we provide. 

Our personal connection to the Tweed and Gold Coast region means we understand the unique needs of local residents and are deeply committed to delivering care that empowers older adults to live with independence and dignity. 

Being a family-run business, we focus on building genuine, long-term relationships with our clients, treating them like part of our extended family. Whether you need in-home nursing, personal care, or guidance navigating the new Support at Home program, our experienced team is here to ensure you receive the highest level of support. 

With Stable Home Care, you can trust in consistent, professional care delivered by a team that truly cares about your well-being. Let us help you achieve a fulfilling and joyful life at home—where you belong.

​​Speak to an Aged Care Expert!​

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