Support at Home: A New Way to Receive Aged Care Services

📣 Update: New Start Date for Support at Home – 1 November 2025
Services remain the same and you don’t need to do anything right now.

We’re here to help you understand what Support at Home means for you.

The Australian Government has announced that the new Support at Home program will now begin on 1 November 2025.

Suncare remains committed to keeping you informed and supported throughout the transition. This page will be regularly updated with news, key dates, and helpful resources to guide you through the changes when the time comes.

What is the Support at Home programme?

Support at Home is a new way for older Australians to get the help they need to stay living independently at home — safely and comfortably. The program is designed to:

  • Make care easier to access

  • Ensure pricing is fair and transparent

  • Offer more flexibility in how your care is delivered

Whether you’re currently receiving services or just starting to explore aged care, Support at Home will eventually apply to you.

Will this affect me?

Yes — but how it affects you depends on your situation.

Click on the option that best describes you:

If you’re currently receiving a Home Care Package, and you were approved before 12 September 2024, you’re covered under grandfathering protections. This means:

  • You will not be worse off under Support at Home

  • Your current fees and services will continue

  • You’ll pay the same or less than you do now

  • You’ll continue receiving monthly statements showing what’s been delivered and what you’ve paid

What stays the same?

If, on or before 12 September 2024, you were:

  • Receiving a Home Care Package

  • On the Home Care Package waitlist (National Priority System)

  • Assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package

You will continue to receive support — and you won’t pay more than you do now.

What’s changing?

Under Support at Home:

  • You will only pay for the services you use

  • Your contribution will depend on the type of service and your financial situation

How your contribution will be calculated?

From 1 November 2025:

  • Full and part pensioners will have their contribution assessed using their existing Age Pension income and assets test

  • Self-funded retirees will need to provide income and asset details to Services Australia

  • If no information is provided, the highest contribution rate will apply

Your contribution will vary depending on:

1. The type of service:

  • No contribution for clinical services (like nursing or physio)

  • Moderate contribution for independence services (like personal care or assistive equipment)

  • Higher contribution for everyday services (like cleaning or gardening)

 

2. Your financial circumstances:

  • Full pensioners will pay the lowest rates

  • Self-funded retirees without a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will pay higher rates

Your lifetime cap on co-contributions will stay the same — and strong consumer protections will continue to apply.

Want to see what you might pay under Support at Home?
Try the Support at Home fee estimator on the My Aged Care website.
It’s a simple tool that shows what your contributions might look like based on the services you use.

What do I need to do now?

You don’t need to do anything yet — Suncare will contact you before 1 November 2025 to walk you through your updated agreement and answer any questions.

If you’re currently receiving Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC), this program will be replaced by new short-term care pathways under Support at Home.

What this means:

  • If you’re mid-way through a care episode, you’ll finish your current program

  • If you need more short-term care in the future, it will be provided through the new system

  • We’ll work with you and your care team to help you understand what your options are after November 2025

If you currently receive CHSP services (like domestic assistance, transport or social support), these will eventually transition into Support at Home.

What to know:

  • You’ll continue receiving services while the government phases in the new model

  • There will be no immediate disruption to your care

  • Suncare will help explain what’s changing and when, and make sure you’re supported throughout

The government is still finalising exactly how CHSP customers will transition, and we’ll update you as more details become available.

If you were approved after 12 September 2024, you are not part of the old Home Care Package system. You’ll receive care through the new Support at Home model, starting from 1 November 2025.

Here’s what that means:

  • You’ll be assessed using the new Integrated Assessment Tool

  • Your services and funding will be based on your individual needs

  • You’ll have access to clear pricing, monthly statements, and strong consumer protections

  • Suncare will help you through the process and support you every step of the way

You don’t need to do anything right now — we’ll be in touch when it’s time for your next steps.

Welcome — you’re in the right place.

If you’re just starting to explore aged care, Support at Home is the new program that will help you stay independent at home for longer.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Your journey will begin with a free aged care assessment

  • You’ll be matched to a care classification based on your needs

  • Suncare will help you create a personalised care plan and explain any costs

  • You’ll always have choice, flexibility, and strong consumer protections

Ready to get started? Contact us here

What's happening and when?

DateWhat’s happening
NowWe’ll keep you informed and guide you through the changes
From Jan 2025The government will begin consulting on price monitoring
From June 2025We’ll begin discussing your new Support at Home agreement
1 November 2025Support at Home officially begins

There’s nothing you need to do right now. we’ll be in touch when it’s time.

We're here for you

Support at Home may be new, but your Suncare team isn’t. We’ll:

  • Help you understand what the changes mean

  • Work with you to review your agreement (when the time comes)

  • Ensure you continue receiving the right care for your needs

If you have questions, please call us on 1800 786 227, email contact@suncare.org.au, or speak with your Care Coordinator.

You can also find information on the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800 200 422.

Click the button below to download a copy of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Support at Home program booklet.

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? You’re not alone — here are some of the things we get asked the most.

General

Support at Home is being introduced to improve the quality, fairness, and flexibility of aged care services. The government wants to make it easier for older Australians to get the right help to stay at home longer, with more transparency and choice. 

Support at Home will begin on 1 November 2025. Between now and then, we’ll keep you updated about what this means for your care and services.

You’re not alone in this change — and the government has introduced strong consumer protections to support you, including:

  • Grandfathering rules to protect your fees if you were approved before 12 Sept 2024

  • A lifetime cap on your co-contributions ($130,000)

  • No entry or exit fees

  • The “no worse off” promise — you won’t pay more for the same care

  • Clear monthly statements to help you see exactly what you’re paying for

The government is taking extra time to consult and refine the Act to make sure it works well for everyone—especially older people.
It’s about getting the changes right, not rushing them.

No, nothing changes for you right now. You’ll continue to receive the same support, your Care Partner will work through the changes as we get closer to November.

Not at all. With big reforms, it’s common for timelines to shift a little so everything is properly reviewed. It means the government is listening to feedback and being thorough.

Eligibility and Who is Affected

That depends on when you were approved for aged care services:

  • If you were approved before 12 September 2024, you may be protected under the “grandfathering” rules

  • If you were approved after 12 September 2024, you’ll begin services under the new Support at Home system

  • If you are receiving Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC), this will transition into Support at Home

If you’re unsure, contact us and we’ll explain how it applies to your personal situation.

“Grandfathered” means you’re protected from changes that might otherwise affect your fees or care arrangements. If you were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you are likely grandfathered — which means:

  • You will not pay more than you currently do

  • You will not be worse off under the new system

You’ll start care under the new Support at Home system, which includes a new assessment process and different funding structure. Don’t worry — we’ll guide you through it every step of the way.

Fees and Payments

If you are grandfathered, your fees will stay the same or reduce.

If you are new to aged care, your contribution will depend on your income. The government will conduct an income assessment and determine if you pay:

  • No fee

  • A partial contribution

  • A full income-tested fee (capped annually and for life)

If you’re a full pensioner and currently don’t pay a fee, it’s likely nothing will change. Grandfathered clients will not be asked to pay more.

Try the Support at Home fee estimator on the My Aged Care website.
It’s a simple tool that shows what your contributions might look like based on the services you use.

How the process works

If you’re new to aged care, yes — you’ll be assessed using the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), which helps tailor your services to your personal needs. If you’re an existing client, we’ll let you know if an updated assessment is required.

No. If you’re already receiving services through Suncare, you will continue to receive care. There may be some changes in how things are named or funded, but you won’t lose support.

What You Need to Do

No, not yet. We will contact you in the coming months to explain exactly what’s changing for you, and what actions (if any) are needed. Suncare will make sure you’re supported through every step.

Our friendly team is here to help!
📞 Call us on 1800 786 227
📧 Email contact@suncare.org.au

Helpful Tools

Not sure what the changes mean for you? These tools can help you understand your options, estimate your costs, and feel more confident about what’s ahead.

Fee Estimator

Estimate what you may be asked to contribute for different types of care.

Support at Home Fee Estimator

Support at Home Booklet

Download a copy of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Support at Home program booklet.

Download