Support at Home

Get the help you need at home. Explore VMCH’s Support at Home program.

An older lady and a home care support worker in the kitchen

What is Support at Home?

The Support at Home Program is a new aged care system introduced by the Australian Government. It was developed in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Support at Home brings together several existing in-home aged care programs into one simpler, fairer system. It helps older people stay at home longer with the right support.

Key changes

Support at Home commenced 1 November 2025: Replaces the
Home Care Package (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
From July 2027 (at the earliest): Will also include the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).

Commonwealth Home Support Program

Home Care Packages

Find out more with the free VMCH Support at Home guide

Discover everything you need to know in one easy-to-read resource.

Support at Home guide

Your transition to the Support at Home Program

How you transition depends on your aged care status as of 12 September 2024.

Grandfathered participants

If you were already receiving aged care services, you’ve been transitioned to Support at Home with no major changes.

Hybrid participants

If you were assessed between 12 Sept 2024 and 31 Oct 2025, you’re considered a transitional ‘hybrid’ participant. You’ll need to co-contribute to your care costs under the new program.

New Prioritisation and Assessment System

To apply, you’ll need to register with My Aged Care. We can support you through the process.

How to access Support at Home

New Prioritisation System

People are now prioritised based on their assessment results. This ensures those with the highest needs receive support faster.

Single Assessment System

Since 9 December 2024, aged care assessments are done through the Single Assessment System. This makes it easier to apply for aged care services and adjust your care as your needs change.

An older man sitting at a table with a VMCH support worker looking at paperwork

Support at Home classification and funding

The program uses a new classification system to match services to your needs. This includes Ongoing Support and Short-Term Pathways.

Ongoing Support

Eight ongoing Support at Home funding levels, plus four for people transitioning from a Home Care Package
Each classification comes with a quarterly budget, giving you access to government-funded services tailored to your assessed care needs
Depending on your classification, you could receive between $11,000 and $78,000 per year in funding.

Reassessments are available over time to ensure your care matches your changing needs.

Classification and funding changes

Short-Term Pathways

Restorative Care Pathway

Approximately $6,000 for 12 weeks (may increase to $12,000)

Learn more

End-of-Life Pathway

Approximately $25,000 for 12 weeks.

Learn more

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM)

Low: $500, Medium: $2,000, High: $15,000 (lifetime cap).

Learn more

Understanding Support at Home pricing

As part of the Support at Home program, you’ll be asked to contribute to the cost of services that support your independence and daily living, like help around the house or transport. You won’t need to contribute to clinical services, such as nursing care.

The price of each Support at Home service reflects the full cost of delivering that service, including things like administration and transport. This is a change from the previous Home Care Packages system, where administrative costs (known as ‘package management’) were charged separately from direct services.

Support at Home price list