Introducing the Support at Home program

Learn about the new aged care funding arrangements starting 1 July 2025 and what they mean for you.
Registered Nurse in scrubs helps older client in pink bathrobe walk out of their bathroom.
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What is Support at Home?

The Australian Government’s new Support at Home program, launching on 1 July 2025, will replace the Home Care Package and Short-Term Restorative Care programs.
The new program is in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and includes key updates such as more funding levels and newly defined service types you can access.

What to expect

The Support at Home program aims to create a flexible, personalised, and more supportive system for in-home aged care so you can live independently in your own home longer.

Key changes

  • If you already have a Home Care Package, the government has committed that you will get a budget that aligns with your current Home Care Package level.
  • The Government's 'no worse off' principle will apply to people who, on 12 September 2024, were either receiving a package, on the National Priority System, or assessed as eligible for a package.
  • The Support at Home program includes a newly defined service list. You will be assessed on the services you need, as outlined in your support plan.
  • Your annual funding amount will now be budgeted across four equal quarters. If you don't use all of your quarterly budget, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of what's left, whichever is greater, into the next quarter.

What is Mable's role?

As a Digital Platform Provider, Mable has been preparing for these changes to ensure a smooth transition. We’re here to support you through this transition, and you will receive communications from us about any updates as they occur.
Some of the changes you can expect:
  • The way your independent support worker logs support hours on the platform will change based on the newly defined service list.
  • Some existing agreements with your support workers may need to be updated before July to reflect the new service types. We’ll let you know when it’s time for you to do this.
  • Your support worker will be required to complete competency training. We’ll manage this through our platform and communicate directly with them about training requirements for a smoother transition.
While we are here to help, your approved provider should be your first point of contact if you have any questions about your Support at Home funding.

What else could you do before 1 July?

You can take the time before 1 July to learn more about Support at Home and reach out to your provider.

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Connect with your aged care provider

Your aged care provider is your main point of contact regarding Support at Home changes. This includes how the changes to funding will impact you, the new service types, and fee changes.

Learn more about Support at Home

To prepare for the launch of Support at Home on 1 July 2025, you can use the helpful resources below, from the Department of Health and Aged Care and My Aged Care, to learn more.

FAQs

Mable has provided general information regarding key questions below, but we advise that you contact the Department of Health and Aged Care for any specific questions.

If you are already receiving care, no action is needed. If you are new to aged care, apply through My Aged Care or phone them on 1800 200 422.

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, some of the key changes are:

A quarterly budget
Your yearly home care budget will be split into quarters. You will receive four budgets throughout the year, each covering 3 months. If you don't use all of your budget in those 3 months, you can carry over some of it to the next quarter – up to $1,000 or 10% of your 3-month budget, whichever is more.

A defined service list
Under Support at Home, all available services will be specified on a service list with clear inclusions and exclusions. Most of these services will be the same as the existing services you access through the Home Care Package Program.

No separate administration charges
You won't have to pay separate package management fees anymore. These costs will be included in the Support at Home prices.

Care management funding set at 10% of all ongoing quarterly budgets
This funding will be set aside for providers to manage your Support at Home funding.

Separately funded Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
During your assessment, you can be approved for separate funding to help with assistive technology and/or home modifications.

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, if you are already receiving HCP funding or are on the National Priority System waiting for a HCP, you should be automatically be transitioned to Support at Home from 1 July 2025.

If you are an existing HCP recipient, you shouldn't need to be reassessed. You should receive the equivalent funding through Support at Home. If you have unspent funding, you should retain those funds under Support at Home.

If you are on the National Priority System, you should receive Support at Home funding equivalent to the Home Care Package level you have been approved for, once it becomes available.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has said that a “no worse off principle” will apply to anyone who, on 12 September 2024, had a HCP, was on the National Priority System, or had been assessed as eligible for a package. This means you should be no worse off because of Support at Home. You should make the same or lower contributions than under your Home Care Package (HCP) arrangement.

People on the National Priority System who have been approved for a HCP but have not been allocated a package yet should receive a Support at Home budget that aligns with their approved Home Care Package when it becomes available.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has said that HCP recipients will be able to keep and use their unspent Home Care Package funds until they use it all. You should not lose these on re-assessment, and they are not time-limited.

Not yet. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme won’t undergo any changes until at least 1 July 2027.

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