Support at Home Is Here (From 1 November 2025): What Changed, What It Covers, and What to Do Next in Sydney

The big change

From 1 November 2025, Australia launched Support at Home, the new government program that replaces Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC). (The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will move later—no earlier than 1 July 2027.)

If you already had a Home Care Package, you were moved across automatically—you didn’t need to apply again.

How Support at Home works now

You still get help to live independently at home, but services are organised under a defined service list (e.g., clinical supports, independence, everyday living).
People are placed into funding classifications (eight bands) based on assessed needs, with quarterly budgets and annual indexation.
Budgets are quarterly, agreed with your provider, and you can carry over a small amount of unspent funds (up to $1,000 or 10%, whichever is higher) into the next quarter.
Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM) now have separate funding (not taken from your ongoing budget), with tiered amounts (low/medium/high) available after assessment.

What you can get under Support at Home (examples)

Clinical supports: nursing, allied health (OT, physio, podiatry, speech), continence support, wound care.
Independence supports: personal care, therapy to maintain function, reablement, exercise programs.
Everyday living: cleaning, shopping, meal prep, transport, social support, gardening (safety-focused).
AT-HM: rails, ramps, shower chairs, mobility aids, minor home changes—funded separately via AT-HM.

What you pay (new co-contribution rules)

Support at Home introduces service-category contributions based on your income and assets assessment:

Clinical supports: 0% contribution for all groups
Independence supports: up to 5%–50% depending on means
Everyday living: up to 17.5%–80% depending on means

(Full pensioners contribute 0% clinical, 5% independence, 17.5% everyday living. Tapering applies for part-pensioners/self-funded.) Always check your exact notice from My Aged Care.

If you were on HCP, what actually changed?

Your services migrated to the new categories and budgets from 1 Nov 2025.
You’ll receive quarterly budgets and clearer statements.
AT-HM (equipment/mods) is now handled separately—often faster and more transparent.
CHSP stays as is for now (no earlier than 1 July 2027 to move).

Step-by-step: What to do next (Sydney checklist)

Get your new plan explained – ask your provider to show:
- your quarterly budget,
- expected weekly hours by category,
- any co-contributions and how they’re calculated.
Ask for a written roster – days, times, tasks (so you know your real hours, not just dollars).
Review AT-HM needs – rails, ramps, seating, aids: request an AT-HM assessment if not already done.
Keep a simple diary – if needs have increased (falls, missed meals, carer fatigue), request a reassessment for a higher classification.
Compare providers if needed – continuity, price transparency, after-hours support, start date. (You can change providers; unspent funds and your plan move across under the new arrangements.)
HM: faster access to the right gear

The AT-HM scheme gives up-front funding for equipment and modifications in tiers (low/medium/high) determined by your assessment—so rails or ramps don’t chew through weekly care hours.

Quick FAQs

Will my services stop during the changeover?
No—HCP recipients transitioned automatically on 1 Nov 2025. Your provider should confirm your first quarter plan.

Are my contributions changing?
Possibly. Contributions now depend on service category and your means test. Check your My Aged Care letter for your exact rate.

Can I carry unspent funds?
Yes—up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) can roll into the next quarter.

What about CHSP?
CHSP doesn’t move yet—transition is no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Do you cover my suburb?
Sydney Care Support covers Greater Sydney with strong coverage in the Hills District (Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Box Hill). Share your postcode for same-week confirmation.