What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is the Australian Government's in-home aged-care program. It is designed to help eligible older people remain independent, healthy and living at home for longer.
It replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
Rather than expecting everyone to need the same kind of help, Support at Home is based on your assessed needs, goals and circumstances.
How do I access it?
The process generally starts with My Aged Care.
You apply for an aged-care assessment. An assessment organisation considers your needs and circumstances and, if you are approved, you receive information about the care and services you are eligible to access.
Once funding is allocated, you choose a registered provider and enter into appropriate service arrangements. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
A simple way to think about it is:
Contact My Aged Care → Assessment → Approval → Funding allocation → Choose a provider → Plan your care → Services begin
What kinds of services are available?
Support at Home services fall into three broad categories.
Clinical Supports can include services such as nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nutrition.
Independence services can include services that help you remain independent and connected, such as respite, transport and other approved supports.
Everyday Living services can include practical help such as domestic assistance, home maintenance and meal-related support. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
Your approved services must relate to the needs identified through your assessment and documented in your support plan.
Are there short-term services?
Yes. Support at Home also includes short-term pathways and funding arrangements for eligible people, including Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, Restorative Care and End-of-Life care. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
Will I have to pay?
It depends on the service and your circumstances.
Clinical Supports such as nursing are fully government-funded under Support at Home, while contributions can apply to Independence and Everyday Living services. The amount can depend on the person's income and assets and applicable program rules. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
There is also an important change taking effect on 1 October 2026: approved personal-care services move into the Clinical Supports contribution category. This means participants approved for personal care who have available Support at Home funding will no longer make an out-of-pocket contribution for those personal-care services delivered from that date. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
What does a care partner do?
Support at Home includes care management. A care partner works with the participant to plan and review care and services, monitor needs and risks, coordinate services and help the person make informed decisions about their care. Dept of Health, Disability & Ageing
Where does SA Community Support fit?
SA Community Support is an Associate Provider of Vitalcare Support Pty Ltd, the registered Support at Home provider.
This means we can deliver agreed services under the relevant registered-provider arrangements and the participant's approved care and service arrangements.
We do not decide whether someone is eligible for government-funded aged care. That process occurs through My Aged Care and the aged-care assessment system.
Not sure where to start?
You do not need to understand the entire aged-care system before asking for help.
Call us and tell us what is becoming difficult. We can explain where our services fit and help you understand the next practical step.
Office: 08 6388 0982 Dial # 2
Clinical Care Manager: 0494 722 663
connect@sacommunitysupport.com.au