Key Takeaways
- Under the Support at Home program, 10% of your quarterly budget is automatically allocated to care management.
- This is a government-mandated structure that replaces the confusing “Package Management” fees of the old system.
- A Care Partner acts as your dedicated project manager, handling staff scheduling, clinical oversight and budget tracking.
- Providers are required to deliver at least one direct care management activity (like a check-in call) every single month.
- This fee ensures you have a professional coordinating your care safely, so you do not have to do the administrative heavy lifting yourself.
When reviewing your Support at Home budget, seeing 10% automatically set aside for care management can feel like a frustrating administrative fee. However, this required allocation actually covers a dedicated expert who handles the logistical details, taking the burden off your shoulders.
We’ve put together this guide to help you understand exactly what a Care Partner (formerly known as a Care Manager) does. It explains their role, what they do behind the scenes, and why they are essential for getting the best value from your aged care funding.
Why is There a 10% Care Management Fee?
Under the Support at Home program, the Australian Government introduced a mandatory 10% care management pool. This means 10% of your quarterly budget goes directly toward the coordination and clinical oversight of your services.
This change was designed to make fees simpler and fairer. In the past, providers could charge different amounts for basic administration and package management. Now, the 10% rate is locked in across the board.
This funding is pooled at the provider level, which gives them the flexibility to deliver intense support if you have a health crisis, and lighter support when things are stable, without charging you extra hourly fees for phone calls or paperwork.
Learn more about Support At Home fees and contributions.
The Hidden Job of a Care Partner
Under the new system, the person managing your care is officially known as a Care Partner. They act as the central coordinator for all your health and domestic supports. Many families assume that scheduling workers and updating care plans happens automatically, but it actually requires constant management.
Your Care Partner takes on the invisible workload that keeps your services running smoothly. Their daily responsibilities include:
- Developing and updating your formal Support at Home care plan
- Finding replacement staff immediately when your regular worker calls in sick
- Tracking your quarterly budget so you do not run out of funds unexpectedly
- Navigating complex government compliance rules on your behalf
Essentially, they are the project manager for your health. When you have a question about your funding or need to change a service, they are the single point of contact who helps you sort it out.
Managing Your Health and Safety Behind the Scenes
Beyond just scheduling cleaners or gardeners, Care Partners provide essential clinical oversight to keep you safe at home. Even if you only receive a low level of support, having a professional review your file ensures subtle health issues are not missed.
They conduct thorough risk assessments in your home and coordinate communication between different workers. For example, if your cleaner notices you are struggling to walk down the hallway, they will report that to the Care Partner, who can then organise a physiotherapist to visit.
To ensure you are getting value for money, providers are required to deliver ongoing care management activities, including regular discussions and check-ins to review your mix of services and ensure they are still meeting your goals.
The Value of Stepping Back from the Paperwork
Whether you are managing your own services or helping a loved one, the real value of the care management fee is that it removes the stress of administration. Because this 10% deduction is a mandatory government requirement, you cannot opt out of paying it by doing the paperwork yourself.
Instead of acting as your own rostering coordinator, handling schedules, checking worker clearances and securing backup staff, you should let your Care Partner do the heavy lifting they are being paid for. This allows you to step back from those tasks and simply focus on your health and daily life.
When things go wrong (such as a sudden fall on a Sunday or a regular carer quitting) your Care Partner is the safety net. They are the ones scrambling to fix the issue, rather than leaving you or your family to handle the crisis alone.
Read more about the benefits of provider-managed vs self-managed home care.
Next Steps
Whether you are setting up Support at Home for the first time or looking to switch to a more proactive provider, here are the practical steps to take today:
- Check your eligibility: If you do not have funding yet, contact My Aged Care to request an assessment.
- Know your needs: Consider exactly what administrative and clinical tasks you want a Care Partner to handle for you.
- Ask the right questions: When speaking to potential providers, ask exactly how often their Care Partners conduct direct check-ins.
- Compare your options: Request a tailored Options Report to find trusted, available providers in your local area who offer excellent care management.
Contact us today to get your free Aged Care Provider Options Report.
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