The government-funded program
Eight levels, quarterly budgets, contributions, assessments — there is a lot to get your head around. Here is how it actually works, and where we fit in.
The basics
Support at Home is the Australian Government's in-home aged care program. If you are assessed as eligible, you receive funding to spend on the services you need, delivered by a registered provider of your choice.
It is more flexible than the old Home Care Packages system. You are not locked into a fixed bundle — you and your provider agree on a support plan, and you can change it as your needs change.
The program is managed by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Assessments are arranged through My Aged Care.
Ask us where you standWhat the money covers
Every service under Support at Home sits in one of three groups. What you contribute depends on the group — not on which provider you choose.
Nursing care, wound management, medication support, continence advice, allied health and personal care. These are fully funded by the government.
Personal care moved into this category on 1 October 2026 — participants no longer contribute to showering, dressing or grooming.
Social support, transport, respite, overnight or 24-hour care, and support to keep doing the things that matter to you.
Your contribution is based on an income and assets assessment by Services Australia.
Domestic assistance, cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, gardening, lawn mowing and light home maintenance.
The most commonly used services — and the ones where transparent hourly rates matter most.
There are also assistive technology and home modifications (such as rails, ramps or mobility aids), plus two short-term pathways: Restorative Care after a setback, and End-of-Life support.
Short-term pathways
Alongside ongoing services, Support at Home funds short-term support for a setback, a home modification, or the end of life.
Goal-based support after a fall, hospital stay or period of decline — with allied health input and a plan to get back to baseline.
Assistive technology and home modifications — ramps, rails, shower chairs, alarms — assessed by an occupational therapist.
Higher funding so care can increase quickly, coordinated with your palliative care team and GP.
Classification levels
Your assessor uses a standard set of questions about what you can do and what you need help with. That determines your level — and your level determines your budget.
| Level | Per quarter | Per year | What it typically looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $2,752.50 | $11,010.01 | A few hours a week — cleaning, transport, a hand with shopping |
| Level 2 | $4,112.84 | $16,451.35 | Regular personal care and domestic help |
| Level 3 | $5,634.20 | $22,536.81 | Several services a week, plus some nursing |
| Level 4 | $7,617.13 | $30,468.51 | Daily support and regular clinical care |
| Level 5 | $10,182.38 | $40,729.53 | Complex needs, nursing and allied health |
| Level 6 | $12,341.32 | $49,365.27 | High needs across most days of the week |
| Level 7 | $14,915.00 | $59,660.00 | Very high needs, frequent clinical support |
| Level 8 | $20,034.28 | $80,137.12 | Highest needs, near-continuous support |
Amounts are indicative, current at 1 July 2026 and indexed annually. A 10% care management contribution is deducted from each quarterly budget before services are purchased. Your actual budget is confirmed by Services Australia.
You can ask for a reassessment at any time. If your health or circumstances change significantly, call My Aged Care or talk to your care manager — we will help you prepare for the conversation.
Waiting for an assessment does not mean waiting for support. Private care can start within a week and can later sit alongside your funded services.
What you pay
Most people contribute something towards their everyday services. How much depends on your income and assets — not on your provider, and not on your level.
Services Australia completes an income and assets assessment. If you are on a full age pension, your contribution is usually modest. If you are self-funded, it will be higher, but it is capped.
If paying is causing genuine hardship, financial hardship assistance may be available. Please tell us — it is a normal conversation, and we have had it many times.
lifetime cap on the contributions you can be asked to pay across Support at Home and the non-clinical part of residential care. Once you reach it, you pay nothing further.
| Service group | Government | You may pay |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical supports Nursing, allied health, personal care | Fully funded | Nothing |
| Independence supports Social support, transport, respite | Most of the cost | Assessed contribution |
| Everyday living Cleaning, meals, gardening | Most of the cost | Assessed contribution |
| Care management | 10% of your budget | Nothing extra |
Contribution rates are set by the Australian Government and are the same whichever provider you choose. We will show your estimated out-of-pocket cost in writing before services start.
Our fees
Aged care has a history of charges that are hard to find and harder to explain. Here is our position, in writing.
Deducted from your quarterly budget by the program, not invoiced to you. It funds your care manager, plan reviews and coordination.
Leave whenever you like. Nothing is withheld from your budget for changing your mind.
Unlike residential care, there is no daily fee simply for being a client.
Statements, plan reviews, phone support and care coordination are included.
Already funded?
You can change providers at any time. We do the awkward part: contacting your current provider, agreeing a transfer date, and making sure your services do not stop in between.
Getting started
You can do this yourself, or call us and we will sit with you through it. There is no cost for our help, and no obligation to choose us.
1800 200 422, Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm. Ask for an assessment for in-home support.
A trained assessor visits or calls to talk about what you can do and where you need help. A family member can join.
You will be told your level and budget. This is also when the income and assets assessment happens.
Compare prices and people, not brochures. Then agree a support plan and start — we can usually begin within a week.
Common questions
Still unsure? Call 0418 862 850 and ask. We will tell you honestly if we are not the right fit.
Bring your latest statement. We will tell you what it actually buys, and whether you could be getting more.