Support at Home: Funding, Classifications and Pathways - Right at Home Explains

Australia’s aged care system is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades. From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will introduce the Support at Home Program, replacing the current Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs. These changes are part of the Australian Government’s aged care reforms following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The reforms aim to simplify aged care, improve access to services, and help older Australians live independently at home for longer.

This article provides an overview of how funding works under Support at Home, explains the service classifications, and outlines the difference between ongoing services and short-term home care pathways.

Why is the System Changing?

The aged care reforms, including the new Aged Care Act 2024, are designed to create a rights-based system that places older Australians at the heart of care decisions. These changes aim to provide:

• One entry point for aged care services be they home care or residential aged care
• Clear eligibility and assessment processes which are standardised across the aged care system
• Flexible funding that adapts to changing care needs
• Better support for diverse communities, including culturally safe care

Right at Home one of Australia's quality home care and support provider remains committed to helping you navigate these changes with confidence and clarity.

How Does Support at Home Funding Work?

Under the new Support at Home program, funding is based on your individual care needs, not fixed package levels like the previous Home Care Package (HCP) system. After your assessment, you will be placed into one of eight funding classifications. Each classification comes with a quarterly budget designed to match the level of support you require.

Ongoing Services Funding Classifications

This flexible funding model allows you to access the mix of services that best supports your health, independence, wellbeing and lifestyle.

How Quarterly Budgets Work

Your funding is issued as a quarterly budget, with the flexibility to adjust your services as your needs change. If you don’t use your full allocation within the quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) into the next quarter. This ensures that if your care needs vary from month to month, you have some financial room to adapt.

Care Management Included

To help you get the most from your funding, 10% of your quarterly budget is automatically allocated to care management. This covers the ongoing coordination of your care, including:

• Regular reviews of your care plan
• Adjustments to your services if your circumstances change
• Support with navigating government requirements and funding processes

Care management ensures your care plan remains aligned with your goals, giving you peace of mind that your care is well-organised and responsive to your needs.

Service Classifications Explained

Services under Support at Home are grouped into three main Participant Contribution Categories. These categories reflect the different types of care you may be eligible for:

Clinical Supports

Focused on your health and clinical care needs:

• Nursing care (including assessing, treating and monitoring clinical conditions, administration of medications, wound care, continence management (clinical) and management of skin integrity, education and specialist service linkage
• Allied health and therapeutic services (e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
• Nutrition support
• Care management
• Restorative care management 

Independence

Helping you maintain autonomy and stay connected:

• Personal care (help with showering, dressing, self administration of medications)
• Social support and community engagement (including group social support, accompanied activities and individual social support)
• Therapeutic services for independent living (including remedial massage, chiropractor, etc)
• Respite care 
• Transport
• Assistive technology and home modifications (for which there is a separate funding pool unless you have unspent HCP funds and then these are used first)

Everyday Living

Supporting your home environment:

• Domestic assistance (e.g. cleaning, laundry)
• Home maintenance and repairs (such as gardening, assistance with home maintenance and repairs and some expenses for home maintenance and repairs eg changing a light bulb)
• Meal preparation and delivery

Short-Term Pathways for Extra Support

In addition to your regular services, two short-term pathways offer targeted funding when you need extra support:

Restorative Care Pathway

• Short-term, goal-based support (up to 12 weeks)
• Focused on regaining or maintaining independence after a health setback
• Includes funding of $6,000–$12,000 for allied health services

End-of-Life Pathway

• Urgent, high-priority care for individuals diagnosed with less than three months to live
• Up to $25,000 in funding available over three months to support care at home

These pathways work alongside your ongoing services to provide additional help when life circumstances change.

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme

Separate from your ongoing or pathway budgets, the AT-HM Scheme provides funding of up to $15,000 for equipment and home adjustments. This can include:

• Mobility aids like walkers and personal alarms
• Home modifications such as ramps, grab rails, or bathroom adjustments

Note: Some wrap-around prescription services are classified as clinical and are fully government-funded with no co-contribution required.

Wellness and Reablement: More Than Just Care

A central feature of Support at Home is its focus on wellness and reablement — helping you build or maintain skills, strength, and independence rather than only providing ongoing assistance.

What does this mean for you?

• Wellness: Supporting you to do as much as you can for yourself
• Reablement: Short-term, goal-directed care that helps you regain function after illness or injury

Support at Home providers like Right at Home are required to embed wellness and reablement principles into your care plan, so every service helps you live well on your terms.

Supporting Diverse Needs and Dignity of Risk

Support at Home recognises that every person’s care journey is different. The program is designed to provide equitable access for people of all backgrounds, cultures, and identities. The concept of diversity and dignity of risk is embedded in the program, supporting your right to make informed choices about your care — even if those choices involve some level of risk.

What About Client Contributions?

• No co-contributions are required for clinical services (like nursing or care management).
• Moderate contributions apply for independence services (like personal care and assistive tech).
• Higher contributions apply for everyday living services (like cleaning and gardening).

If you are grandfathered (an existing HCP recipient as of 12 September 2024), you are protected by a 'no-worse-off' principle. Your contribution rates will not increase beyond what you would have paid under the old system.

Pensioners who did not pay Income Tested Care Fees (ITF) under HCP will never be required to pay co-contributions under Support at Home. Wondering how this applies to you? Read our next blog in this series: “Support at Home: Grandfathering and Co-Contributions Explained”, where we break down the details of contribution rates, who is grandfathered, and how these changes impact your costs.

How Right at Home Supports You Through the Changes

At Right at Home, we know these changes may feel complex. But you are not alone.

Here’s how we can support you:

• Free in-home consultations to explain your options and as an existing client a visit from your care team to assist with transition.

• Personalised care planning that puts you and your goals first

• Ongoing support to navigate assessments, funding, and care adjustments

• Clear guidance on your rights and funding entitlements

Whether you are transitioning from HCP or entering the system for the first time, we’re here to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Book Your Free Consultation Today

The aged care system may be changing — but our commitment to your care and support at home remains the same. Contact Right at Home today to learn how we can support you or your loved one through the transition to Support at Home.

Coming soon in this series:

• What do “grandfathering” and co-contributions mean for clients?
• How do budgets and statements work under Support at Home?
• What is care management and how does it support you?

Right at Home Australia is a leading provider of quality in-home care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve ensuring the Right Care, Right at Home™.  We support people living with complex and post-operative care needs, dementia and cognitive decline, seniors, and adults living with a disability including NDIS participants. Our tailored services help clients to remain safe and independent in their homes. We are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide quality support at home under a government-funded home care package. We also offer private pay arrangements for those who do not have government funding, or who wish to pay privately for top-up care. Right at Home is all about you. We are available 24/7 so contact your local office today. You can also call our national number on 1300 363 802. 

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