The Support at Home program was introduced in November 2025, replacing the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme. It improves access to services, products, equipment, and home modifications to help you remain living independently at home for longer.
Support at Home can be an option if you need a coordinated approach to the delivery of your help at home. Perhaps because you need help with many everyday tasks, or the care you need is more complex or intensive.
On this page
What does Support at Home provide?
Under Support at Home, you have access to a defined list of services to support you to live at home for longer.
This can include support for:
- clinical supports, such as nursing care, occupational therapy, and podiatry
- independence, such as help with showering, taking medications, transport, and respite care
- everyday living, such as cleaning, gardening, shopping, or meal preparation.
It also includes services that support culturally safe care, such as help to join in cultural activities and access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and health workers.
Ongoing care
If you are approved to receive ongoing Support at Home services, you will be assigned one of 8 classifications with funding. This will depend on your care needs and includes funding for care management. You may need help with everyday tasks such as cleaning, meals, and getting around. If you have complex or higher needs, you may need nursing care or in-home physiotherapy, for example. If you have complex needs, you will have access to more care in the home, helping you to stay home for longer.
Short-term pathways
As well as ongoing care, Support at Home offers 3 short-term pathways.
Restorative Care Pathway
The Restorative Care Pathway is short-term care to help you regain function and stay independent through accessing coordinated allied health and/or nursing services. It lowers the need for more intensive ongoing services and helps you to do the activities you enjoy.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme gives you upfront funding to make your home safer or more accessible. It gives you access to products, equipment and home adjustments to meet your assessed needs.
End-of-Life Pathway
The End-of-Life Pathway will support you to remain at home and provide additional care in your last 3 months of life. You can be referred for a high-priority assessment for the End-of-Life Pathway, even if you’re not already part of the Support at Home program.
What services are included under Support at Home?
You can get assistance with a range of different services under Support at Home.
How does Support at Home work?
If you’re approved for Support at Home, you will receive a letter letting you know what services and funding you’re approved for. This includes any approvals for ongoing or short-term care depending on your assessed needs.
When your funding comes through, you can then choose a service provider that is right for you. Services are provided by a variety of organisations across Australia.
Your chosen provider will discuss with you the mix of services to meet your assessed needs and budget. You can request to change this mix at any time. You can also ask for a reassessment if your needs change at a later point.
How long will it take to receive services?
Once approved for Support at Home services, the wait time for funding depends on the date of approval, your priority category (urgent, high, medium, or standard), and if you’re approved for a short-term pathway. The higher your priority category, the less time you will have to wait to start receiving your approved funding. Learn more about what happens after you’re approved for Support at Home services.
What will it cost me?
You will need to contribute towards the cost of your services, based on the service being delivered and what you can afford. You may also have to provide information about your income and assets to Services Australia to work out exactly how much you will be asked to contribute. Under Support at Home, you only pay contributions on the services you have received. You won’t contribute to any clinical support costs.
Learn more about Support at Home costs and fees.
Stories about Support at Home
Faye received support to help with swallowing
How respite care helped improve George and Mei’s health and wellbeing
As Judy’s dementia developed, support and changes around the house helped
How do I access Support at Home?
An aged care assessment will determine if you are eligible for ongoing or short-term Support at Home services. If you meet the requirements, you can apply for an assessment straight away.