If you’re currently receiving a Home Care Package or thinking about applying for government-funded home care, you might be wondering what’s coming next. Well, there are some big changes ahead, and we’re here to walk you through them.
Starting July 1st, 2025, the Home Care Packages Program will be replaced by the new Support at Home program. We know that change can sometimes feel a little overwhelming, but this update is designed to make things simpler, more flexible, and easier to navigate.
So, what does all of this mean for you? Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.
Support at Home is a new in-home aged care program that will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program starting July 1st, 2025.
If you receive services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), your care will continue as usual for now. The CHSP will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027, giving providers and recipients plenty of time to adjust.
This new program is designed to make getting care at home simpler, more flexible, and easier to access. The goal is to ensure you get the right support when you need it—without the long wait times or confusing processes.
Learn more about the benefits of the Support at Home Program here.
This simply means they’re making the changes bit by bit, rather than all at once. This way, everyone has time to adjust, and things don’t get too overwhelming.
Here’s a simple look at how this will happen:
Learn more about the staged implementation of the Support at Home Program here.
The eligibility for Support at Home isn’t changing. If you’re 65 or older, you’ll still be able to apply for government-funded in-home care.
Additionally, if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older, or a person over 50 who is at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness, you will continue to be eligible for support.
No matter your situation, the goal remains the same, to ensure you have access to the quality care and aged care services you need to live safely and comfortably at home.
With Support at Home, funding will be based on a new classification system that better matches support to your individual needs. Instead of the current four Home Care Package (HCP) levels, there will now be 10 funding classifications, making sure you receive the right level of care.
Here’s how it will work:
The highest level of ongoing support under Support at Home will exceed the current Level 4 HCP, with a budget of nearly $78,000 per year.
This new system is designed to provide fairer, more tailored support, so you get exactly what you need – no more, no less.
Under this program, there’s a new, fairer way of determining who gets care first. This replaces the old National Priority System for Home Care Packages and uses your assessment responses to set your priority level. Based on what’s needed, you’ll be given one of the following priority ratings:
If wait times are longer than expected, don’t worry – Support at Home has you covered. While waiting for full funding, you’ll receive an interim allocation of 60% of your budget, so you won’t be left without support. Once your full funding is available, you’ll receive the remaining 40%.
The new system ensures that you get the care you need as quickly as possible, based on how urgently it’s needed.
Learn more about the new IAT – Integrated Assessment Tool here.
Did you know? Around 1.4 million older people will benefit from the new Support at Home program, which prioritises supported and independent ageing, with an additional 300,000 people expected to be supported by 2034–35.
With Support at Home, there’s no confusion about what services are available to you. The program includes a clear service list that breaks down exactly what you can access, making it easier for both you and your care providers to understand your options.
Services are grouped into three categories:
This structured approach ensures you receive the right kind of support based on your needs, while also offering clarity about what’s included.
For the first year of the Support at Home program, your care provider will still set their own prices for services, just like they do now under the Home Care Packages Program. This gives you some time to adjust to the new system.
Starting 1 July 2026, the Australian Government will step in and apply price caps to ensure that costs remain fair and manageable.
So, how will pricing work? The cost for a Support at Home service will cover the full price of providing that service, including things like transport and administration. This is a bit different from the current Home Care Packages program, where administrative costs (also called ‘package management’) are charged separately from the services themselves.
When you transition from a Home Care Package to the new program, you may notice some changes in the prices of the services you receive. But rest assured, the goal is to make the process simpler, clearer, and more affordable for you.
At My Guardian, we understand that navigating these changes can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. As a registered My Aged Care approved provider, we’ve services 8,000 families on their care journeys, and we’re here to offer the same support to you.
If you’re looking for help with Support at Home, we can guide you through the process and provide the compassionate, caring services you deserve. We’re based in Sydney and proudly offer services across New South Wales.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for more information, we’re just a phone call away at 02 9336 7555, or you can contact us here. We’re ready to help make your care journey smoother and more comfortable.
The new support at home program is a response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Support at Home is one way the government is addressing the recommendations and providing older Australians with easier access to services.
This means, the existing Home Care Package program will be replaced by the Support at Home program from 1 July 2025. As part of the aged care reforms, all Home Care Package recipients will be transitioned to this new system. The Support at Home program has been developed to enable more funding, provide a higher quality of care, and improve the overall system as Australia’s population continues to age.
All existing HCP recipients will transition to the Support at Home program, and your health and care services will continue to be delivered under this new system. You will not need to be reassessed into one of the new classification levels when the program begins.
To receive regular updates on the Support at Home programme, including open consultations, resources, training, and webinars, you can subscribe to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s newsletters and mailing lists.
Our My Guardian support team are here to help.
Whether you’re ready to start experiencing quality care or just want to learn more about our services, we’re here to chat. Send us a message by filling in the form, or call us anytime on.
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*By providing your details you consent to being contacted by our friendly My Guardian support team. We’ll touch base with you to help answer any initial questions you might have. Read our privacy policy for details.
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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.
© 2025 My Guardian Terms & Conditions | Disclaimer
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge
their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures
and the elders past, present and emerging.
