What are the Support at Home inclusions and exclusions?

Key takeaways

• Support at Home funding may be used for a range of services, including personal care, nursing and domestic assistance, based on your assessed needs and the services included in your support plan.
• Support at Home doesn’t cover some general living expenses and services, such as rent, holiday and entertainment costs, and professional personal services like hairdressing.
• If the support you need isn’t included in your support plan, or your approved support costs more than your available budget, you may choose to self-fund additional support and use services provided by independent support workers on Mable.
• You can start searching for and booking self-funded support through Mable without waiting for government funding. You can pay by credit or debit card with card verification usually within 2 business days.

The Support at Home program provides government funding for aged care services to help older Australians continue to live independently in their own homes.

If you’re approved for funding, your support plan outlines the services you’re eligible to receive. Once you receive funding, you can use your budget for those approved services. But there are some limits to what Support at Home funds can be used for.

This article explains Support at Home inclusions and exclusions. You may find it useful if you’re in one of these situations:

• Approved for Support at Home but waiting for funding: You want to understand the Support at Home inclusions and exclusions so you can plan ahead while you wait.
• Need more support than your Support at Home budget provides: You want to explore paying privately for extra support hours or services alongside your funded care.
• Aren’t eligible for Support at Home funding: You want to understand your options for self-funded ongoing or once-off support.

What can Support at Home funds be used for?

Your aged care assessment helps determine which Support at Home services may be included in your support plan.

To understand your Support at Home inclusions and exclusions, check your support plan or confirm which services you’re approved to receive with your Support at Home provider or My Aged Care.

Under Support at Home guidelines, services fall into three main categories:

• Clinical supports
• Independence
• Everyday living.

Across these categories, the government-approved service list includes a range of in-home aged care services. What’s available to you depends on your assessed needs and approved services. These can include:

Personal care

Assistance with everyday physical tasks that relate to your assessed needs, such as:

• Showering
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Grooming
• Mobility assistance
• Medication assistance.

Mable verifies that independent support workers providing personal care meet its qualification or experience requirements.

Nursing care

Clinical services provided by qualified nurses for ongoing health needs, including:

• Wound care
• Medication management
• Continence assessment and care
• Vital signs monitoring
• Catheter care
• Respiratory support.

All nurses providing services on Mable must hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a registered nurse or enrolled nurse. Mable verifies this before they can offer nursing services.

Social support and domestic assistance

Practical and social supports that may make it easier to keep living independently at home, including:

• House cleaning
• Meal preparation
• Grocery shopping
• Transport to appointments and community activities
• Safety-related gardening and home maintenance
• Social support and companionship.

Independent support workers offering social support and domestic assistance on Mable don’t need formal qualifications, though they still need to meet Mable’s verification requirements.

Allied health support

Allied health professionals may help you build strength, improve mobility, manage daily tasks or recover after an illness. These supports can include:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech pathology
• Psychology.

Mable verifies the relevant registration and qualifications before these professionals can offer services on the platform.

This quick guide compares some common Support at Home inclusions and exclusions. What your funding can cover still depends on your assessed needs, support plan and available budget.

Support at Home coverage at a glance

What’s not covered by the Support at Home program?

Support at Home covers a wide range of services, but some costs and services aren’t funded. These include:

General daily living expenses

• Groceries
• Rent
• Utility bills
• Other standard household costs, such as home insurance.

Personal activities

• Holidays
• Entertainment activities and social outings.

Professional personal services and Medicare/PBS services

• Services you’d usually pay for privately, such hairdressing or cosmetic procedures
• Services already covered by Medicare or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Home and garden work outside your assessed needs

• Home or garden work that isn’t linked to your assessed needs, such as landscaping for visual appeal.

Support beyond your approved plan or budget

• Services your support plan doesn’t include or additional support that costs more than your available Support at Home budget.

If you need support that isn’t covered by your plan or your budget, you may choose to pay privately through Mable to fill the gap.

How can I access self-funded support on Mable?

If the type of support you need is available on Mable but isn’t covered by your Support at Home funding, or you need more than your budget allows, you may choose to self-fund it by using services provided by independent support workers Mable. This can be done alongside your funded services.

Signing up with Mable is free

There is no referral or waitlist. Once your credit or debit card is verified, which usually happens within 2 business days, you can start booking support.

Choose support that suits you

You can search for independent support workers using filters such as location, qualifications, cultural background and interests. You can also arrange a meet and greet before booking support to learn more about whether the support worker’s approach feels right for you.

You agree on hourly support rates directly with each worker and may pay less per hour on average than with traditional providers.

Verification and insurance

Mable verifies independent support workers before they can offer services on the platform. This includes identity, reference and screening checks. Qualifications or registrations are also verified where relevant. Support sessions booked and arranged through Mable also come with insurance.

How can you make the most of your Support at Home funding?

Understanding Support at Home inclusions and exclusions may help you plan your support and budget with more confidence and control. If your funding doesn’t cover everything you need, you may be able to arrange additional self-funded support and use services provided by independent support workers on Mable.

Sign up to get started on Mable and browse available independent support workers in your area.