HCP vs Support at Home: What’s Changing for Clients?

As of 1 November 2025, the Australian Government’s new Support at Home Program has officially replaced the Home Care Packages (HCP) system.
This reform marks one of the biggest changes in Australian aged care — simplifying access, improving flexibility, and ensuring older Australians receive the right level of support to stay independent at home. Right at Home, experts in Support at Home takes you through the changes.

From Two Assessments to One

Under the old model, clients needed to complete separate assessments:

• RAS (for Commonwealth Home Support)

• ACAT (for Home Care Packages)

Now it has merged into a single Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) — streamlining access to aged care and ensuring that everyone is assessed consistently across Australia. 

Simplified Service Categories

Under Support at Home, services are grouped into three clear categories, making it easier to understand what kind of support is available:

• Clinical Services – nursing, wound care, medication management, and other health supports such as Allied Health.

• Independence Services – help with mobility, personal care, and rehabilitation as well as social support and community access.

• Everyday Living Services – assistance with cleaning, cooking, shopping, gardening, and companionship.

View our Right at Home, Support at Home Service Categories resource here

There are also three specialised funding pathways for extra help when it’s needed most:

• Assistive Technology & Home Modifications – up to $15,000 for equipment and up to $15,000 for home modifications. Download our AT-HM resource here

• Restorative Care Pathway – up to $12,000 over 12 weeks for short-term recovery. This replaces the Short Term Restorative Care (STRC) program.  Download our Restorative Care Pathway resource here

• End-of-Life Pathway – $25,000 for palliative care over three months. Download our End-of-Life Pathway resource here

Quarterly Budgets and Annual Funding 

Annual Funding levels have been expanded — there are now eight classifications levels instead of four package levels so that care plans can better match each person’s needs.

Instead of monthly budgets, Support at Home will move to a quarterly funding model, giving clients and providers more flexibility and time to plan services.

To learn more about Budgets, Statements, and How They Work read our blog. 

What Happens to Current Home Care Package Clients?

If you were already receiving a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you are considered a Grandfathered Client.
This means:

• Your fees remain protected — you won’t pay more under Support at Home.

• You automatically transition to Support at Home on the same HCP funding level and your services continue without interruption.

• Your unspent  HCP funds have carried over and can still be used for additional supports, home modifications, or restorative care.

Nothing about your care is reduced — but you’ll now benefit from a simpler and more flexible system.

For Non-grandfathered clients who were approved for a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024 this means:

• You automatically transition to Support at Home on the same HCP funding level and your services continue without interruption however, you may want to re-organise your care plan within your funding budget and co-contributions required.  

• You pay the new Support at Home co-contribution fees.

• Your unspent HCP funds have carried over and can still be used for additional supports, home modifications, or restorative care.

To learn more about Grandfathering read our blog or download our resource.

New Co-Contribution Model

Clients joining the system after 1 November 2025 will contribute based on their income and service type.

• Full pensioners: 0% for clinical services; small contributions for independence and everyday living.

• Part pensioners: Between 5%–80% depending on assets, income and service type.

• Self-funded retirees:  Between 50% and 80% depending on assets, income and service type.

This approach aims to make funding fairer and ensure government subsidies are directed to those who need them most.

To learn more about Co-Contribution read our blog or download our resource.

How Right at Home Can Help

Right at Home remains committed to helping older Australians navigate these changes with confidence.
Our experienced local teams can:

• Explain how your funding level works under Support at Home.

• Help you access additional pathways, such as Assistive Technology or Restorative Care and End-of-Life.

• Coordinate all your care needs through our nurse-led, person-centred approach.

Right at Home are the experts in home care and support. If you have any questions about the new Support at Home program, we’re here to help.
Give us a call and one of our friendly Care Managers can answer your questions or can visit you at home to explain and navigate the Support at Home system and guide you through your options.

Call 1300 363 802 to speak to your local Right at Home team today.

For a great summary of the Home Care Packages program features versus the Support at Home program features, view our Support at Home page and download our resource. 

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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