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Understanding Changes to Home Care Packages from 1st November – Helping you Access Home Care with Confidence

Support At Home v Home Care Packages – What’s the difference?

The Support at Home (SaH) Program is Australia’s new model for government-funded in-home care. It replaces the former Home Care Packages (HCP) system from 1 November 2025.

While both programs are designed to help older Australians stay independent, there are some key differences in how they work:

Support at Home (SaH) – The New Model

New Service Categories: Funding is grouped into three clear categories – Everyday Living Support, Independence Support, and Clinical Care.
Tailored to your goals: Services are based on what you want to achieve, such as staying active, safe, and socially connected.
Quarterly budgets: Funding is now managed quarterly, helping clients and providers plan care more effectively.

Additional supports: You may be eligible for separate funding streams for things like Assistive Technology or Home Modifications.

Home Care Packages (HCP) – The Old Model

Four package levels: Clients were approved for one of four levels (from basic to high care).
Annual budgets: Funding was provided as a daily rate over a yearly allocation, with balances often building up over time.
Less flexibility: Services were tied to your package level rather than your goals or changing needs.
Higher administrative complexity: Pricing and inclusions varied between providers, sometimes making it harder to compare.

Transition from Home Care Packages to Support at Home

As of 1 November 2025, the Support at Home Program has replaced the former Home Care Packages (HCP) system. Here’s what this means:

New Participants

Anyone approved from 1 November 2025 onward will automatically enter the new Support at Home Program.

Transitioned Participants

If your assessment through My Aged Care occurred after 12 September 2024, you will transition directly into the new Support at Home Program from 1^st November 2025.

Grandfathered Participants

If you were assessed on or before 12 September 2024, you are considered a “Grandfathered Client.” You will remain under the previous Home Care Package arrangements, protected by the No Worse Off Policy.

This means:

You will keep your current level of funding and continue to receive the same supports.

If you contributed to your care before 1 November, you will not pay more than that amount going forward.

New Service Categories

From 1 November 2025, there are three main funding pathways under the Support at Home Program:

Everyday Living Support – for domestic help, shopping, meals, and transport.
Independence Support – for reablement, therapy, equipment, and home modifications.
Clinical Care – for nursing, medication management, wound care, and more.

How Do ‘Grandfathered’ Home Care Packages Work?

From 1 November 2025, there are three main funding pathways under the Support at Home Program:

Everyday Living Support – for domestic help, shopping, meals, and transport.
Independence Support – for reablement, therapy, equipment, and home modifications.
Clinical Care – for nursing, medication management, wound care, and more.

Eligibility: If you were assessed on or before 12 September 2024, you are considered a Grandfathered Client under the new Support at Home Program. This means you will keep your current funding level and continue to receive the same services under the No Worse Off policy. You will not pay more than you did before 1 November, and your care will continue to be managed in the same way.

Home Care Package Level 1

Basic Care

For those who just need basic care, home care package level 1 is designed to provide basic support to help maintain independence at home, with typically one or two care worker visits per week.

Home Care Package Level 2

Low-Level Care

For those who need slightly more assistance, home care package level 2 offers low-level support to help stay independent at home, generally involving three or four care worker visits weekly.

Home Care Package Level 3

Intermediate Care

For those who require intermediate care, home care package level 3 provides more comprehensive support, with care workers or nurses visiting most days of the week.

Home Care Package Level 4

High-Level Care

For those with high-level or complex care needs, home care package level 4 offers extensive support with daily visits from care workers or nurses from our end.

How Can We Help?

If you NEED a package or already HAVE a package, click below to learn more.

I NEED a Support at Home Package

At Home Care Assistance Central Coast, we will support and guide you along the process of both accessing and best utilising your Support at Home Package subsidy. We are here to ensure your in home care, health and wellbeing needs are met, enabling you to live safely and independently at home.

Your Support at Home Package subsidy will be granted based on your individual care and support needs. In general terms, Support at Home Packages are generally provided in accordance with 4 levels of care needs from Basic to High level.

If you have not applied for a Commonwealth Support at Home Package yet, and you would like to – we can help. It’s easy! Please call us any time on: (02) 9158 3880

More Information

I HAVE a Home Care Package

If you have already been assessed for a Home Care Package – we can help you with a wonderful, personalised Home Care Package service. Because each person has different requirements and preferences, the way in which a Home Care Package subsidy might be used will vary greatly from person to person.

At Home Care Assistance Central Coast, we listen and prioritise your choice and preferences as to how your subsidy is used and will support you in ensuring its efficient and optimal useage to ensure your health, home and wellbeing needs are met, enabling you to live safely and independently at home.