If you've heard the term "Support at Home" and aren't quite sure how it's different from a Home Care Package, you're not alone — it's a genuinely new program, not just a rename.
What changed
Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 November 2025. If you were already receiving a Home Care Package, you transitioned into Support at Home rather than needing to reapply from scratch.
Who it's for
Support at Home is for older Australians who need help to keep living safely and independently at home — generally aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
How funding works
Funding is assessed and set across eight classifications reflecting different levels of need, and paid as quarterly budgets rather than a single lump sum. Clinical supports — including nursing and allied health — attract no participant contribution regardless of income. Everyday living and independence services work differently, with contributions based on an income assessment.
Where allied health and nursing fit in
Dietetics, Speech Pathology, Exercise Physiology, Nursing and Occupational Therapy all sit within Support at Home's clinical care supports — things like wound care, swallowing-safe meal planning, falls prevention exercise programs, and home safety assessments.
Getting started
Access to Support at Home starts with My Aged Care (1800 200 422 or myagedcare.gov.au), which arranges an assessment and sets up your funding. Once you're approved, you can choose your own providers — including for allied health and nursing.
Already accessing Support at Home and want to add allied health or nursing support? Get in touch and we'll help you work out what's possible.