Self-managing home care is a popular option for seniors wanting more control, flexibility, and value from their funding. When Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, what will happen to self-managed home care?
What is self-managed home care?
This Home Care model lets people choose and onboard their own care workers, which can be a great option — especially for those living in remote areas where finding care workers through traditional providers can be harder due to high demand.
When you self-manage your home care, you take greater responsibility for:
- Deciding how your funding is spent.
- Choosing and appointing care service providers
- Scheduling and booking service providers and carers.
- Physically paying for the services you receive.
- Making sure the funds you spend match your care plan and budget.
Anyone receiving government-funded home care can choose to self-manage, or have a carer, family member or other representative assist.
When you self-manage, you are legally required to engage a home care provider to receive and hold onto your funds until you use them to purchase approved supports and services. You need to coordinate with your provider to ensure the services you receive are compatible with your assessment and care plan, and that your spending is tracked and reported properly.
Here’s a snapshot of the pros and cons of this model, giving you a deeper insight into what this entails as a whole:
PROS | CONS |
You have control over who your workers are and when they come. | More admin and paperwork — you’re responsible for collecting receipts, quotes, and sending them off. |
Self-managed providers usually charge a much lower management fee. | If your care worker is sick or unavailable, it’s unlikely you’ll get a quick replacement — this can be stressful. |
You can shop around more easily and choose how and where to spend your budget. | You are responsible for following Home Care regulations — some providers may not agree with your choices. |
From November 2025, the new Support at Home program will offer better tools and resources to help with self-management. | If you don’t follow the rules properly, you could be out of pocket — providers might not refund you if they don’t agree with your expenses. |
All workers you engage must have an ABN, Public Liability Insurance, and sometimes a Blue Card — giving peace of mind around qualifications. | It can be stressful and time-consuming, especially for higher-level Home Care Packages. |
Will I be able to self-manage Support at Home?
Yes, but how you self-manage your home care will change. The Support at Home program will require self-managed home care recipients to follow different rules, apply more structure to care coordination and accept more provider involvement than under the current Home Care Package program.
The good news is, you’ll still have choice and flexibility over the types of services you receive, and you’ll still be able to choose who delivers your care, as long as they meet the program’s requirements.
Read more: How to self-manage home care
The following changes to self-managed home care will apply from 1 November 2025:
Standardised pricing for services
From 1 November 2025, providers will set their own prices for services, based on government guidelines. Every provider will have to publish their prices on the My Aged Care website so you can compare prices and decide whether your current provider is delivering value for money.
From 1 November 2026, the government will introduce set prices for most home care services.
As a self-managed home care recipient, you will not be able to negotiate lower rates with care workers or services outside the approved pricing schedule. Also, cost savings from hiring directly or using informal supports will be reduced or no longer allowed.
The Department of Health and Aged Care have published a summary of indicative Support at Home prices to outline the price ranges you can expect for most home care services.
Mandatory use of approved providers
Under Support at Home all services must be delivered by approved Support at Home providers. If you currently hire care workers directly, this option will be restricted unless those workers are registered or subcontracted through an approved provider.
If your current carers are not approved under Support at home, you can:
- ask them how they’re preparing for Support at Home.
- encourage them to connect with an approved provider.
- start exploring your options now in case you need to change providers.
Aged Care Decisions can help you compare home care options.
Our custom-built software can take your care needs, location, budget, and personal preferences, and match you with appropriate and available home care providers in your area.
Our home care support service makes it easy, fast and 100% free to explore your home care options to make sure you keep getting quality care and value for money when Support at Home starts.
Capped fee for a Care Manager
Even if you keep self-managing your care, you will be assigned with a Support at Home Care Manager who will help you update your care plan, ensure your spending complies with guidelines and be your contact person if you have any issues with service delivery.
For the services of this Care Manager, you will pay a set administration fee, which will be capped at 10% of your Support at Home budget.
These administration fees currently vary widely between providers, sometimes taking up 20–40% or more of a Home Care Package budget.
Stricter reporting and budget rules
As a self-managed home care recipient, you will spend more time on administrative tasks from 1 November 2025. You will need to:
- Maintain accurate records: Keep detailed records of all services received, including dates, times, tasks performed, and the names of the support workers involved.
- Collect invoices and receipts: Collect invoices and receipts for all services and purchases made using your Support at Home funds, ensuring they align with your care plan and budget.
- Use the new Support at Home centralised digital system: Create and manage your care plan, report on your budget and spending and track the delivery of the services you receive.
The Government will regularly check that your spending aligns with the approved services list, and they will make sure your service payments, purchases and unused funds are accounted for properly.
Can you switch to self-management if you already have a provider?
Yes. Some providers allow clients to move from a standard agreement to a self-managed model. If your current provider doesn’t offer self-management, you can switch to one that does. Changing home care providers is easy and costs nothing. Providers cannot charge you an exit fee, and any unspent funds move with you.
To start the process, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask for a referral code for your new provider.
Get free assistance now!
Aged Care Decisions can help you understand exactly how home care is changing and how the changes will affect you. We regularly share the most up-to-date home care news and information with our families.
We assist tens of thousands of Australian seniors to navigate every stage of their home care journey.
Here’s how our FREE home care support service works:
Our home care support service is 100% free, independent and obligation free. Connect with us now to get started.
Read more about Support at Home.
