HomeSupport at HomeWhat Your Budget Covers
Funding Guide

What can your Support at Home budget be spent on?

Your budget covers a wide range of services — but not everything. Knowing the rules helps you make the most of your funding.

Find your provider freeSee what's covered ↓
4 min readUpdated November 2025Free for families
5
Approved service categories
Flexible
Care plan can be adjusted
900+
Approved providers
Free
Referrals via WithSally
The basics

Your Support at Home budget is funded by the government — and, if means-tested, a portion contributed by you. You can only spend it on approved services within approved categories.

Your provider helps you build a care plan within these categories. The plan can be adjusted as your needs change.

What your budget covers

1
Clinical care
Nursing — wound care, medication management, catheter care
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Podiatry
Speech pathology
Dietetics
Social work
2
Independence support
Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming
Mobility assistance
Continence support
Equipment setup and support
3
Everyday living
Domestic assistance — cleaning, laundry
Meal preparation
Transport to appointments or activities
Shopping assistance
4
Social support
Companionship visits
Group social activities
Community access and outings
Supported volunteering
5
Assistive technology and home modifications
Mobility aids
Communication devices
Personal alarms
Grab rails and ramps
Bathroom modifications

Service categories are subject to government guidelines. Your provider can advise on specific approved items within your care plan. Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

What is NOT covered

Your Support at Home budget cannot generally be spent on:

Food and groceries (except meal delivery as a service)
Rent, mortgage, or utilities
Holidays or entertainment
Items already covered by Medicare or other programs
General household maintenance unrelated to care needs
Services that don’t relate to your care goals

Note: your provider can advise on what is and isn't approved for your specific situation.

Can I change my care plan?

Yes. Your care plan is not fixed. As your needs change, you and your provider can adjust the services. You can:

Add or remove services
Change the frequency of visits
Reallocate your budget between categories

Your plan should be reviewed at least annually, but can be adjusted at any time.

Unspent funds

Under Support at Home, unused funds in your budget may roll over between periods, subject to program rules. Speak with your provider about how your budget is managed and what happens to unspent amounts.

Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

How WithSally helps

Your provider makes a huge difference in how well your budget is used.

WithSally connects you with providers experienced in your specific care needs — free, always.

Get started free →