The Australian Government will make significant reforms to the delivery of in-home aged care with the launch of the Support at Home program in July, 2025. The Government is introducing the program in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The aim of Support at Home is to combine existing home care programs and create a simpler and fairer system, helping older people to stay independent for longer.
Comparative overview: From Home Care Packages to Support at Home
The Support at Home reforms introduce several key changes, including:
Additional Support Levels: The Home Care Package Program currently offers four levels of support, but Support at Home will introduce eight funding classifications. The maximum annual funding for in-home aged care will increase from $61,440 to $78,000.
Quarterly Budgets: Participants will receive a quarterly budget based on their funding level and can work with their provider to allocate funds to approved services. Any leftover funds can be rolled over, up to $1,000 or 10 percent of their budget (whichever is higher).
The government will also introduce two short term pathways for Support at Home participants:
Restorative Care Pathway
The Restorative Care Pathway will give seniors up to 12 weeks of support from allied health professionals, with the ability for a 4-week extension. This rehabilitation initiative aims to help participants to regain their strength and independence following injury or illness. The support level differs to the eight weeks previously available under the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Program.
End-of-Life Pathway
The End-of-Life Pathway is focused on supporting older people who would prefer to receive care at home for the last three months of their life. This initiative provides up to $25,000 in home care funding over a period of 16 weeks. An older person will not need to be an existing Support at Home participant to access the End-of-Life Pathway. Seniors can be referred to a high priority assessment to access this support.
How much Support at Home funding is available?
The Support at Home program will offer eight levels of support.
While exact funding amounts for each level have not yet been confirmed, the following table presents the estimated funding levels as outlined by the Department of Health and Aged Care:
Classification
Annual Amount
1
~$11,000
2
~$16,000
3
~$22,000
4
~$30,000
5
~$40,000
6
~$48,000
7
~$58,000
8
~$78,000
Restorative Care Pathway
~$6,000 (12 weeks), may increase to ~$12,000 when eligible
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
A significant reform under the Support at Home program is the introduction of the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme. From 1 July 2025, eligible seniors will have upfront access to separate funding for products, equipment, and home modifications tailored to their individual needs. This change means participants will no longer need to save their package funds for these supports.
Under the scheme, there will be three main funding tiers for assistive technology and three funding tiers for home modifications. Funding tiers will have set time periods in which funding must be used and funding will not accrue over time.
While final funding tiers have not yet been confirmed, the following table presents the estimated allocations for assistive technology as outlined by the Department of Health and Aged Care:
From July 2025, eligible seniors will be provided funding for personal alarms through the AT-HM Scheme. Older people will be evaluated for the scheme as part of their aged care assessment. If deemed eligible, a funding tier and approval for assistive technology and/or home modifications will be outlined in their Notice of Decision and support plan.
The older person will then share their support plan with their chosen Support at Home provider, who will take responsibility for sourcing and organising the necessary assistive technology and home modifications, along with any additional services (e.g., setup and training to ensure safe equipment use) in line with any prescription required.
Current home care recipients
Existing home care recipients will automatically transition into the Support at Home program from July, 2025 and will receive a Support at Home budget that matches their Home Care Package.
A “no worse off” principle ensures that existing Home Care Package (HCP) recipients will not have to pay more for their care with the Support at Home Program.
Seniors with an approved but unallocated package on the National Priority System will receive a Support at Home budget that aligns to their approved Home Care Package when available.
Current home care recipients won’t need a new assessment unless their needs change.
If a transitioned home care recipient has not been reassessed and does not have an approved Assistive Technology and/or Home Modification funding tier, they will be able to use unspent Home Care Package funds to obtain approved assistive technology and/or home modifications.
If an existing home care recipient has no unspent HCP funds and needs assistive technology and/or home modifications, they will be able to work with their Support at Home provider who will be able to refer them for a Support Plan Review by an aged care needs assessor.
Support at Home eligibility and assessment
To be eligible for an aged care assessment a person needs to be over the age of 65, or an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is more than 50-years-old. A person may also be eligible if they are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and they are over the age of 50.
The first step that seniors will need to take to receive Support at Home services is to register with My Aged Care for an aged care assessment. Older people can apply for an aged care assessment on the My Aged Care website. The can also call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Seniors may also be referred for an aged care assessment by their GP, health professional, or hospital, or they can book an appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer.
If the applicant is found eligible, they will work with their assessor to develop an individual support plan. The support plan will provide an overview of the participant’s condition and reason for referral, along with a summary of their goals, strengths and assessed needs.
The support plan will provide a basis for the participant to understand their funding and the services they can receive. An older person approved for Support at Home will receive a notice of decision with their individual support plan to share with their chosen Support at Home provider.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the safety of a personal alarm, call MePACS today on 1800 685 329 for a friendly, no-obligation consultation.
