If you or someone you support previously received a Home Care Package, you may be wondering what has changed under Support at Home.

The short answer is this:

Support at Home has replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. It is now the main Australian Government program for older people who need coordinated in-home aged care support.

But the bigger question is what that actually means in everyday life.

Home Care Packages were based on package levels

Under the old Home Care Packages system, people were approved for one of four package levels. Those levels were designed to reflect different levels of care need.

Many older Australians used Home Care Packages to access support such as personal care, domestic assistance, transport, nursing, allied health, equipment and other services that helped them remain at home.

For some people, the system worked well. For others, it could be confusing, slow or difficult to navigate.

Support at Home was introduced as part of wider aged care reform, with the aim of creating a clearer and more consistent in-home aged care system.

Support at Home uses classifications and service categories

Support at Home works differently.

If someone is approved for ongoing services, they are assigned a Support at Home classification based on their assessed care needs. My Aged Care explains that there are 8 ongoing funding classifications, plus transitioned Home Care Package classifications for people approved under the previous system.

Support at Home also uses a defined service list.

That list groups services into three main categories:

• Clinical Supports
• Independence Services
• Everyday Living Services

This matters because different categories can have different contribution rules.

Clinical Supports, such as nursing and Physiotherapy, are fully funded by the government. Independence Services and Everyday Living Services may require participant contributions, depending on the person’s circumstances.

What changed for people already on Home Care Packages?

People who transitioned from Home Care Packages have specific arrangements under Support at Home.

The government has applied a “no worse off” principle for people who were receiving, waiting for, or assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024. This means they should pay the same or less in contributions under Support at Home than they would have under Home Care Package arrangements.

For families, this is an important point. A change in program name does not mean someone has to start from the beginning without protection or transition arrangements.

What did not change?

The goal has not changed.

The purpose is still to help older Australians stay living at home for as long as possible, with support that meets their needs.

Older people still need to be assessed through My Aged Care. They still choose providers. They still receive services based on assessed need. And they still have the right to ask questions, compare providers and understand how their support is being delivered.

What has changed is the structure around how services are classified, funded and organised.

Where allied health fits in now

Under Support at Home, allied health sits naturally within the broader goal of helping older people remain safe, well and independent.

A person may need Physiotherapy after a fall. They may need Occupational Therapy because the bathroom has become unsafe. They may need Speech Pathology after a stroke or Dietitian support after unplanned weight loss. 

These are not small extras. They can be central to whether someone can keep living safely at home.

Bloom Healthcare provides aged care allied health services across Australia, including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology, and Psychology/Counselling. 

The role of allied health is not simply to provide therapy. It is to help people maintain function, reduce risk and keep participating in daily life.

The main difference in plain English

Home Care Packages were the previous system.

Support at Home is the new system.

The biggest practical changes are:

• Support at Home uses 8 ongoing classifications instead of the old 4 Home Care Package levels.
• Services are grouped into Clinical Supports, Independence Services and Everyday Living Services.
• Clinical Supports are fully funded by the government.
• Some other services may involve contributions depending on the person’s financial circumstances.
• Assistive technology and home modifications have a separate pathway.
• Short-term pathways are available for restorative care and end-of-life care.

For older Australians and families, the most important next step is understanding what has been approved in the person’s support plan, what services are needed, and which providers can help.

Need help understanding allied health options?

Bloom Healthcare can support older Australians and referrers with aged care allied health services that help maintain independence, safety and quality of life at home.

Make a Referral
Call 1300 771 465