Australia’s aged care system is undergoing a significant transformation to better support older Australians who wish to live independently at home.
The current Home Care Packages (HCP) program in place since 2013 has been a vital resource for many; however, in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Australian Government is replacing this with the Support at Home (SAH) program on 1 November 2025. This new program consolidates HCP and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) program into a single, streamlined system designed to reduce complexity, enhance flexibility, and give seniors greater control over their care.
Let’s take a closer look at both the HCP and SAH programs side-by-side for a clearer picture.
What is the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program?
The Home Care Packages program provides government-funded support to help older Australians live independently with tailored, long-term care. It operates on a consumer-directed model, allowing recipients choice, flexibility and control over their services within a budget managed by an approved provider.
Key Features of HCP
- Structure: Four levels (1–4), from basic assistance (Level 1) for minimal needs to complex care (Level 4).
- Eligibility: Open to those aged 65+ (50+ for Indigenous Australians), formerly assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) for higher needs or Regional Assessment Service (RAS) for lower needs. This is now assessed via the Single Assessment System.
- Funding: Annual budgets range from $10,931 (Level 1) to $63,440 (Level 4). Providers deduct administration and case management fees, often 20–40% of the budget. Recipients select services and providers, but funds are provider-managed. Unspent funds roll over annually.
- Services: Includes personal care (e.g., bathing, dressing), domestic help (e.g., cleaning, laundry), nursing, allied health (e.g., occupational therapy), transport, meal preparation, and home modifications to name a few.
- Challenges: Long wait times (up to 12+ months for higher levels) and limited flexibility for short-term or specialised needs.
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What is the Support at Home (SAH) Program?
From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will introduce the Support at Home Program, which will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
This is aimed at making the system more streamlined for older Australians to access the right care and support at home. It will provide more tailored assistance to help people stay independent, such as access to assistive technology and home modifications, along with a new classification and funding model that better matches each person’s needs. Participant contributions will also be based on assessments of income and assets, replacing the current means testing system.
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will join the Support at Home system no earlier than 1 July 2027.
Until that transition occurs, CHSP will continue to run as a separate program, ensuring that current clients keep receiving their existing services and that new clients with lower-level care needs can continue to access entry-level support.
Key Features of SAH
- Structure: Eight classifications (1–8), from minimal support (Classification 1) for light tasks to intensive palliative care (Classification 8).
- Eligibility: Assessed through the Single Assessment System (introduced December 2024), open to the same age groups as HCP, but expanded to include lower-level needs for early intervention.
- Funding: Quarterly budgets with up to $78,106 annually. Clinical care is fully government-funded; non-clinical services require income-based contributions.
- Services: Covers HCP services plus reablement-focused options, Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (up to $15,000), a 16-week Restorative Care Pathway ($6,000), and a 12-week (extendable to 16 weeks) End-of-Life Pathway (up to $25,000).
- Excess Funds: Unspent funds roll over quarterly (up to $1,000 or 10%).
- Advantages: Shorter wait times (target: 3 months by July 2027), capped admin fees (10%), transparent pricing, and a $130,000 lifetime cap on non-clinical contributions.
Key Differences: A Detailed Comparison
Let’s compare HCP and SAH across key areas.
1. Structure and Classifications
HCP’s four levels provide broad categories, while SAH’s eight classifications offer more precise support tailored to individual needs.
Feature | Home Care Packages (HCP) | Support at Home (SAH) |
Number of Levels/Classifications | 4 Levels (1–4) | 8 Classifications (1–8) |
Focus | Basic to high care, fixed annual funding | Minimal to intensive palliative care, quarterly funding, plus restorative and end-of-life pathways |
Example Services | Level 1: Occasional cleaning, transport Level 4: Daily nursing, personal care | Classification 1: Light domestic tasks, welfare checks
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SAH’s expanded classifications allow for more precise funding, ensuring care matches specific needs, from light assistance to complex support.
2. Eligibility and Assessment
Feature | Home Care Packages (HCP) | Support at Home (SAH) |
Assessment Process | Separate RAS (low needs) and ACAT (high needs) | Single Assessment System: One team using an integrated tool |
Eligibility | 65+ (50+ Indigenous); coordinated care needs | Same age; includes lower needs for early intervention |
The Single Assessment System, effective since December 2024, evaluates physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors, reducing duplication and speeding up access.
3. Funding and Budgets
SAH includes quarterly budgets with capped rollovers and dedicated funding for extras.
Feature | Home Care Packages (HCP) | Support at Home (SAH) |
Budget Frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
Annual Funding (approx) | $10,000 (Level 1) to $63,000 (Level 4) | Up to $78,000 (Classification 8) |
Unspent Funds | Full annual rollover | Quarterly rollover (up to $1,000 or 10%) |
Extras | Save from budget for tech/mods | Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme (up to $15,000); Restorative Care ($6,000/16 weeks); End-of-Life ($25,000/12 weeks) |
Current HCP users transition with the same funding under the “no worse off” principle.
4. Services and Supports
Both programs cover core services, but SAH adds specialised options for reablement and targeted needs.
- Shared Services: Personal care (e.g., showering, dressing), domestic assistance (e.g., cleaning), nursing, allied health, transport, meal preparation, and home modifications.
SAH Additions:
- Fully Funded Clinical Care: Includes nursing (e.g., wound management), physiotherapy, continence support, and nutrition (e.g., tube feeding).
- Restorative Care Pathway: 1 weeks, $6,000 to aid recovery post-injury or hospital stay.
- End-of-Life Pathway: 12 weeks, up to $25,000 for home-based palliative care, covering symptom management and emotional support.
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme: Up to $15,000 for mobility aids (e.g., wheelchairs), safety equipment (e.g., alarms), or home upgrades (e.g., ramps, stair lifts).
Self-managed care continues in SAH, but requires approved providers, a capped 10% care manager fee, and stricter reporting via a centralised digital system.
5. Fees and Contributions
SAH includes a user-pays model for non-clinical services with a lifetime cap.
Feature | Home Care Packages (HCP) | Support at Home (SAH) |
Provider Fees | Variable (20–40% admin/case management) | Capped at 10% admin |
Clinical Care | Partial subsidy | 100% government-funded |
Non-Clinical Contributions | Income-tested fees on all services | Full pensioner: 5% (independence), 17.5% (daily living) Part pensioner: 5–50% (independence), 17.5–80% (daily living) Self-funded retiree: 50% (independence), 80% (daily living)
Lifetime cap: $130,000 |
Pricing | Provider-set (Providers determine their own prices for services), variable | Provider-set until July 2026; then government-capped
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6. Support at Home Program Categories
SAH categorises users to ensure smooth transitions:
- New Participants (Assessed from 1 Nov 2025): First-time users; full SAH assessment.
- Transitional Participants (Assessed after 12 September 2025 and before 1 Nov 2025): Moving from hospital or other programs; may have temporary overlaps.
- Grandfathered Participants (Assessed before 12 September 2024): Continue under existing terms until reassessed.
Current HCP users transition automatically on 1 November 2025, with unspent funds carried over and no service gaps. No reassessment is needed unless care needs change.
To prepare, start by contacting My Aged Care (1800 200 422) for assessments. Switching providers is free, and unspent funds transfer with you.
Navigating the Change
- Review Your Current Plan: Check your HCP budget and services.
- Discuss with Your Provider: Ask about SAH’s impact, pricing, and new agreements.
- Request Reassessment if Needed: For increased support or pathways like restorative care.
- Compare Providers: Use free services like Aged Care Decisions to find providers that align with your needs.
Aged Care Decisions is here to help you work your way through this transition, from helping you determine your needs in your aged care journey and managing transitions, to narrowing down suitable providers. With a few basic details, we will generate a report for you in as little as 20 minutes for your convenience. 100% FREE of charge, our services continue to support tens of thousands of families across the country.
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