HomeSupport at HomeGetting Started
Getting Started

What is Support at Home?

Australia's government-funded aged care program — gives eligible older Australians a yearly budget to spend on care services at home, with the provider they choose.

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5 min readUpdated November 2025Free for families
8
Funding levels
$10K–$78K
Annual budget range
900+
Approved providers
65+
Eligible age (50+ ATSI)
Why this matters

The Support at Home system is genuinely complex — eight funding levels, hundreds of approved providers, income-tested contributions, and waitlists that vary by location and level.

Most families are navigating it for the first time, often under pressure. WithSally was built to change that — giving you clear, plain-English information so you can make confident decisions for yourself or someone you love, without having to figure it out alone.

Daughter and elderly mother reviewing Support at Home paperwork together at home

The basics

Support at Home is a government-funded program that gives eligible older Australians an annual budget to purchase approved care services at home. The goal is to help people stay in their own home for longer — safely and with dignity — rather than moving into a residential aged care facility before they need to.

You choose your own approved provider. Your budget is yours — unspent funds may roll over subject to program rules. If you're unhappy with your provider, you can switch at any time.

Replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025

If you or a family member were on an old Home Care Package, you were automatically transitioned to Support at Home. Your funding level and provider remain the same unless you choose to change. No action was required.

Who is eligible?

To access Support at Home, a person must:

Be aged 65 or older — or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder
Have care needs that can be met at home
Have been assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)

Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Eligibility criteria are subject to change — always confirm with My Aged Care (1800 200 422).

What can your budget be spent on?

Support at Home covers a broad range of services. Your care plan determines exactly what you receive — and it can be adjusted as your needs change.

Personal care
Showering, dressing, grooming
Nursing & clinical care
Wound care, medication management
Allied health
Physio, OT, podiatry, speech therapy
Domestic assistance
Cleaning, laundry, home tasks
Meal preparation
Cooking, nutrition support
Transport
Appointments, shopping, outings
Social support
Companionship, social activities
Home modifications
Rails, ramps, grab bars
Assistive technology
Equipment to support independence
Respite care
Short-term relief for family carers

The 8 funding levels

Your ACAT assessment determines which level you are approved for. Each level provides a set annual government subsidy:

⚠️ Amounts are indicative subsidy rates effective 1 November 2025. Individual amounts may vary based on your income-tested care fee. Source: Department of Health and Aged Care.

Level 1
$10,731
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$206/wk
Basic assistance with everyday tasks at home
What a typical week looks like
1 × personal care visit per week (showering, dressing)
Fortnightly domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
Medication reminders and health monitoring
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 2
$16,034
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$308/wk
Regular help with personal care and domestic tasks
What a typical week looks like
2 × personal care visits per week
Weekly domestic assistance
Monthly allied health session (e.g. physiotherapy)
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 3
$21,966
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$422/wk
Moderate support including allied health and nursing
What a typical week looks like
3 × personal care visits per week
Weekly domestic assistance
Fortnightly physiotherapy or occupational therapy
Nursing support as needed
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 4
$29,696
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$571/wk
Complex needs — daily assistance and care coordination
What a typical week looks like
3 × personal care visits per week
Weekly domestic assistance and meal preparation
Weekly nursing visit (medications, wound care)
Weekly allied health session
2 × transport trips (GP, shopping)
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 5
$39,697
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$763/wk
High-level daily support and clinical care
What a typical week looks like
Daily personal care visits
Weekly domestic assistance
2 × allied health sessions per week
Weekly nursing visit plus on-call clinical support
Regular transport and social activities
Care coordination
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 6
$48,114
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$925/wk
Intensive support — nursing and specialist services
What a typical week looks like
Daily personal care including evening check-ins
Weekly domestic assistance
3 × allied health sessions per week
Twice-weekly nursing visits
Regular specialist services (e.g. dementia support)
Full care coordination
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 7
$58,148
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$1,118/wk
Very high needs — near-daily clinical attendance
What a typical week looks like
Twice-daily personal care visits
Regular domestic and meal support
Near-daily allied health support
Multiple nursing visits per week
Specialist clinical services
Full care coordination and case management
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Level 8
$78,106
approx. per year — subject to indexation
~$1,502/wk
Highest level — complex medical and personal needs
What a typical week looks like
Multiple daily visits including complex personal care
Daily nursing care and clinical management
Intensive allied health across multiple disciplines
Specialist and palliative support as needed
Equipment, assistive technology, home modifications
Full care coordination — near residential-equivalent support at home
Indicative example only. Actual mix depends on your care plan and provider pricing.
Real-world example

What does a Level 4 package actually look like week to week?

A typical week at Level 4 might include:

3 × personal care visits (showering, dressing)
1 × domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
1 × nursing visit (medication management)
1 × allied health session (physiotherapy)
2 × transport trips (GP, shopping)

This is an indicative example only. Actual service mix depends on individual care needs, provider pricing, and care plan.

How to apply

The process involves five steps. Most families find step 4 — choosing the right provider — the hardest.

1
Contact My Aged Care
Call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Register your details and request an assessment. A family member or carer can call on your behalf.
2
ACAT assessment at home
An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) member visits you at home. Wait times vary by location and urgency — contact My Aged Care for current timeframes in your area. They assess your care needs, health, and living situation to determine your eligibility and funding level.
3
Receive your approval letter
You'll receive written confirmation of your Support at Home level and annual budget. You are then placed in a national queue — wait times vary by level and location.
4
Choose your provider
WithSally helps here
Once your package is assigned, you choose an approved Support at Home provider. This is the most important decision — and the one WithSally helps you get right.
5
Sign your service agreement
Once you've chosen your provider, you sign a service agreement. Your services begin and your annual budget is used to fund your care plan.

Common questions

No. Receiving Support at Home does not affect your Age Pension entitlement. The two programs are completely separate. You may be asked to pay an income-tested care fee based on your financial situation, but this is separate from your pension.
Yes — in most cases. If your current provider is registered with Support at Home, your services continue as normal. If you were on a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, you were automatically transitioned and your existing arrangements stay in place unless you choose to change them.
You can request a reassessment at any time through My Aged Care (1800 200 422). If your needs have increased, you may be approved for a higher funding level. Your care plan should be reviewed at least annually.
Yes. Within the approved service categories, you and your provider work together to build a care plan that reflects your goals, preferences and needs. You are not locked into a fixed set of services.
The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) supports Australians under 65 with a permanent disability. Support at Home is for Australians aged 65 and over (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) with age-related care needs. If you are on the NDIS and turn 65, you can choose to stay on the NDIS or transition to aged care.
How WithSally helps

Choosing the right provider is the hardest part. We make it simple.

There are hundreds of approved Support at Home providers across Australia. Some specialise in dementia care. Some have stronger cultural and language support. Some have carers your mum or dad will actually get along with. Comparing them is genuinely difficult without expert guidance.

We take the time to understand your situation — the care needs, the personality, the location, the language. Then we give you a shortlist of recommended providers and call you back within one business day. Free, always.

Find my provider — it's free →