On 1 November 2025, the way people access aged care services at home changed. The Home Care Package program has been replaced by the Support at Home program. Available through Focus Care, it offers a more tailored range of services based on your individual needs.
As an approved provider of Government funded Home Care Packages and a registered NDIS provider, we think it’s important to keep you up to date on changes that could affect your experience, so we’ve put together a summary of the changes.
Learn how Support at Home is different from previous Home Care Packages and what else came into effect on 1 November 2025.
A wide range of services will be delivered under three types of government subsidised care and three short-term pathways.
How your budget is set, what’s subsidised, and when you may need to contribute.
Does it affect you?
If you were approved for an existing Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you will keep your existing Home Care Package funding and fee structure until your needs change. This means even if you are reassessed, you won't be asked to pay more than you currently are – and may even have your contributions reduced.
If you were approved after that date, you’re now part of Support at Home. Parts of your care may be means-tested and you may need to contribute based on your circumstances.
Information based on Department of Health and Aged Care guidelines (2025). More official information from the Australian Government can be found here.
We've made things simple for you and created an easy guide with straightforward explanations of how Support at Home home care funding works.
Support at Home brings four main changes
A wide range of services will be delivered under three types of care (Clinical Support, Independence and Everyday Living) and three short-term support levels. It means more personalised, needs-based support.
Annual budgets and daily subsidies will be replaced with a quarterly one, making it easier to plan larger expenses. There are now 8 funding levels (Home Care Packages had four), and while some of your unused budget can still be rolled over to the next quarter, that amount is now capped.
Applications for home-support will be simplified, with assessment moving from multiple teams to a single, streamlined system, speeding up assessment and reassessments as your needs change. Wait times will be reduced, and you'll be given one of four priority levels, ensuring the most urgent care is delivered first.
Unless you were approved before September 12th 2024, some services will become means-tested, so you may need to contribute more towards your care. Financial hardship support is available for those who may need it. The care management fees of service providers will be capped at 10%.
The different types of care delivery
There are three main types of care delivery, two short-term pathways and an assistive technology and home modifications scheme. Of the core care, Clinical Support is always 100% subsidised, so you'll never be asked to contribute. Services connected to Independence and Everyday Living support are means tested, so you may need to make a contribution.
Clinical Support
100% subsidised for all
Doesn't use your quarterly budgetEssential services addressing the prevention, treatment, and management of illness, injury, and other health concerns.
Including
Nursing support
Allied health services
Care management
No out-of-pocket costs
These support services are 100% subsidised, so you won’t pay any out-of-pocket costs.
Independence
Means tested
Uses your quarterly budgetHelping you stay active and independent in your own home and out in the community.
Including
Personal care
Social support and community engagement
Transport and mobility
Carer respite
Assisted technology and home modifications
Therapeutic services
Your means-tested contribution:
Everyday Living
Means tested
Uses your quarterly budgetKeeping you safe, comfortable and on top of things in your own home.
Including
Domestic assistance
Maintenance and repairs (including light gardening)
Meal services
Your means-tested contribution:
Means-tested contributions are set by the government, with a lifetime cap of $130k. An assessment of your income, assets and pension status will determine your individual contribution rates. Assessments are completed by Services Australia.
Short-term support
For eligible people needing time-limited care and support, three programs sit alongside the core care delivery types. These programs are a mix of fully subsidised and means-tested services and don’t use your quarterly budget.
Restorative Care Pathway
Means tested
Doesn't use your quarterly budget.Up to 16 weeks of allied health, nursing or other support to help you get life back on track after a surgery, illness or major event. An assessment will determine eligibility, with funding of up to $6k available.
AT-HM Scheme
Means tested
Doesn't use your quarterly budgetThe Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, offers eligible people short term funding of up to $15k, helping you access products, equipment and home modifications to meet your assessed needs.
End-of-Life Pathway
100% subsidised
Doesn't use your quarterly budgetSupporting people approaching the end of life with up to $25k funding, with extra funding to support older people wanting to stay at home in their last 3 months of life.
How much will you have to spend?
It’s important to understand how your quarterly budget is determined. When you’re assessed, you’ll be given a classification level, determining the types and amount of support you're entitled to, along with a quarterly budget. This budget is the maximum amount of Government support you qualify for, based on your individual needs. It does not include any contributions you need to make.
Eight classification levels
The four funding tiers currently used by the Home Care Package program will be replaced with eight classification levels. You’ll be given a classification level, determining the amount of support and quarterly budget you qualify for.
At the end of each quarter, up to $1k or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) can roll over into the next quarter. This happens every quarter, but it doesn’t snowball – the rollover is always recalculated based on your maximum quarterly budget.
| Quarterly Budget (Approx.) |
Annual Budget (Approx.) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Level 1
|
$2,750 | $11,000 |
|
Level 2
|
$4,000 | $16,000 |
|
Level 3
|
$5,500 | $22,000 |
|
Level 4
|
$7,500 | $30,000 |
|
Level 5
|
$10,000 | $40,000 |
|
Level 6
|
$12,000 | $48,000 |
|
Level 7
|
$14,500 | $58,000 |
|
Level 8
|
$19,500 | $78,000 |
Whether it’s providing in-home aged care and dementia care, or disability support, we’re a caring network of real people who take the time to listen.
Things have changed a lot since we started working in Aged Care in 2014, and we know it’s not always easy understanding changes the Australian Government introduces may affect you.
We’ve tried to explain things as clearly as we can, but if you still have questions about what Support at Home means for you, just reach out.
Don’t have a package? See our private services
