Health
Support at Home is coming: will it actually make home care easier?
Big changes are coming to in-home aged care. The government’s new Support at Home program promises simpler, fairer services for older Australians, but will it deliver on that promise?
By Bron Maxabella
For those of us helping our parents stay comfortable at home – or quietly planning our own future care – there’s a big shift on the horizon. From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will roll out a brand-new in-home care system called Support at Home. It’s designed to make things simpler and fairer. But like most big reforms, what sounds straightforward in theory can feel messy in practice.
The new system will replace the Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs from 1 November 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will transition later – at this stage set for some time after 1 July 2027. That means nearly a million Australians who currently rely on some form of government-funded home help will eventually see changes.
The government says the shift will create a single, flexible, “person-centred” system where support better matches individual needs. On paper, it sounds like progress. But as always, the question is: progress for whom?
Aged care has been due for an overhaul
Let’s be honest, the aged care system has been confusing for far too long. Multiple overlapping programs, inconsistent pricing, long waitlists and endless forms have made it hard to understand what we’re entitled to and how to actually get it.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety made it clear that change was overdue. Support at Home is the government’s answer: a new framework built around rights, transparency and the ability to choose how you use your care funding.
So far, so good. The new system will introduce 8 funding levels from Level 1 (basic support needs) to Level 8 (very high support needs), which should make it easier to match care with need. It also expands what support can cover: from cleaning and meal prep to home modifications, mobility aids, allied health and even short-term care during illness or recovery.
This shift could be genuinely empowering for many older Australians who want to stay independent for longer. But as with most government reforms, the devil is in the detail… and the paperwork.
What if you’re already receiving care?
If you’re already on a Home Care Package, you’ll be automatically moved into the new system on 1 November 2025. You won’t need a new assessment or application, and the government has promised you’ll be “no worse off”.
That sounds reassuring, but, depending on your circumstances, “no worse off” could mean you still have the same access to services, but you have to pay more out of pocket.
Your care provider will reach out before the change to review your services and sign a new service agreement. While your overall level of support should stay the same, your fees and flexibility might not. The new system introduces a clearer expectation that older Australians contribute to the cost of their non-medical care, depending on their income and assets.
For some, that could mean paying more for the same services they already receive. And while the government will set price caps from July 2026, in the first year providers will still set their own prices, which could create confusion and inconsistency all over again.
Advocates are urging the government to tread carefully to avoid discouraging people from seeking the help they need. After all, staying independent at home is only possible if support remains affordable.
For those planning ahead
If you’re not yet receiving care but thinking ahead (because we’re all getting older and it’s good to be prepared), the changes will affect how you access support in the future.
Under Support at Home, you’ll still go through My Aged Care for an assessment, but instead of being slotted into one of 4 levels, you’ll be matched with one of the 8 new classifications. This should make care more flexible and personal.
You’ll also have more say in what your care looks like and you can spend your funding on a broader mix of services. For instance, if you need grab rails in the bathroom, a mobility scooter, or a physio session to recover from a fall, you’ll have greater freedom to use your funding where it helps most.
That’s the good news. The less good? You may also need to chip in more of your own money. The government says it’s “fair” that those who can afford to contribute do so, but for people already struggling with higher living costs, that’s a bitter pill.
And there’s still no guarantee that Support at Home will fix the chronic wait times that leave too many people without timely help. It’s little comfort knowing help is available if you can’t get it when you need it.
What we need to keep an eye on
At Citro, we’re cautiously optimistic. The vision of simpler, fairer, more flexible home care is one we all want to believe in. But the rollout will need to overcome some major hurdles:
- Cost creep: Introducing more user contributions could make essential services unaffordable for those on lower incomes.
- Provider confusion: Smaller community providers may struggle to adapt quickly to the new system, potentially reducing local options.
- Wait times: Without significant new funding, backlogs in assessments and care delivery could worsen before they improve.
- Equity: Regional and rural Australians – who already have fewer choices – risk being left behind yet again.
The government says Support at Home will give older Australians more control. That’s only true if we also have clear information, fair pricing and real choice in how that care is delivered.
So what should we do now?
If you or someone you love already receives home care, start preparing now. Talk to your provider about the upcoming changes, review your care plan and ask how your services might look under Support at Home.
If you’re planning ahead for future needs, stay informed. The My Aged Care website will release detailed guides in the coming months and community information sessions are expected closer to the launch date.
Above all, keep your expectations realistic. The new system could make care simpler and more personalised, but it’s also likely to come with teething problems, just as every major reform does.
Aged care is one of those things most of us prefer not to think about until we have to. But the sooner we understand how Support at Home will work, the better prepared we’ll be to make sure it actually supports us, not just on paper, but in real life.
Feature image: Canva/izusek
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