Why Support at Home marks a turning point for in-home aged care

The change is far greater than a simple name change. It signals a structural shift in how in-home aged care in Australia is delivered, regulated and experienced by older Australians.

A unified, simplified system replacing fragmentation

Until now, in-home aged care was delivered through multiple overlapping programs — notably Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short‑Term Restorative Care (STRC), plus the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). With Support at Home, these are being consolidated into a single, streamlined program, with more straightforward rules, consistent service definitions, and a unified assessment and funding model.

This means fewer confusing transitions for older people and their families - regardless of their level of need, there is now one system to understand and navigate.

Greater choice, control and transparency for people receiving care

At the heart of the reform is a stronger rights-based approach. The changes under the new Aged Care Act 2024, which underpins Support at Home, place older people’s choice, dignity and control front and centre:

• Care recipients have the right to make decisions about the supports they receive, and who helps them do so (e.g. a “registered supporter” such as a family member).
• Funding is now allocated via quarterly budgets rather than more ad-hoc or annual package funding, giving people more control over how and when supports are used.
• Government subsidies cover clinical services (e.g. nursing, allied health), while other supports (personal care, home modifications, everyday living) remain means-tested or co-contributed, and fees are now subject to more transparent rules.

This structure gives individuals and families more clarity about what they can expect, and greater power to tailor care around their lifestyle and needs.

Expanded support types — beyond conventional home care

Support at Home broadens the scope of in-home care with new pathways and funding categories designed to respond to real-life needs:

• It includes access to Assistive Technology and Home Modifications to make living spaces safer and more accessible (e.g. mobility aids, safety rails).
• A Restorative Care Pathway offers short-term intensive allied-health or nursing support to help someone recover after illness or injury, or to maintain function — replacing and expanding upon the previous STRC model.
• An End-of-Life Pathway provides dedicated support for those who wish to spend their final months at home, with tailored home-based palliative support.

These new supports reflect a more holistic understanding of what “aging in place” means - not just surviving at home, but living well, safely and with dignity.

Also read: New Support at Home program changes for existing customers

Improved regulation, oversight and accountability

Perhaps the most important part of why Support at Home is momentous: it’s underpinned by a much stronger regulatory framework. Under the new system:

• All providers delivering Support at Home must register under the new Act.
• They must comply with strengthened quality standards and a clear Code of Conduct, ensuring care is safe, respectful, and upholds clients’ rights.
• The regulatory oversight includes accountability mechanisms — clients have clearer avenues to give feedback or raise complaints if services fall short.

This oversight aims to raise the baseline quality across all providers (large and small), reduce variability in care experience, and safeguard vulnerable people.

Also read: Home Care Packages to Support at Home: what's changing and why it matters

Better targeting, equity and long-term sustainability

Support at Home is also about ensuring the system is fairer and more sustainable over time. Key reforms include:

• A new assessment and classification system — a single, more equitable assessment replaces a patchwork of previous assessments.
• Clearer contribution arrangements, and controls over provider fees and care-management costs — in some cases capped (e.g. a 10% care-management fee limit) to prevent excessive charges.
• The ability to support many more older Australians living at home: projections show hundreds of thousands more people could benefit from in-home care under the new model by 2030+.

These measures are aiming for a system that balances dignity, fairness, and long-term viability.

What this means for older people, families and the sector

For families and older Australians:

• The way you access care will be simpler, more transparent, and easier to understand.
• You will have more control over what supports you receive and when.
• You may have greater flexibility — e.g. home modifications, assistive technology, restorative services — tailored to your changing needs.
• There’s stronger protection of your rights and recourse if care fails to meet standards.

For the aged care sector and providers:

• There’s greater regulatory responsibility and obligations under the new Act.
• Providers must clearly demonstrate compliance with quality standards and service delivery.
• The sector must adapt to new administrative, funding and care-delivery models — but also has the opportunity to deliver more integrated, person-centred care.

Support at Home represents much more than a policy update. It’s a foundational reform that aims to reshape how aged care is delivered, experienced and regulated in Australia. By unifying fragmented programs, empowering older people with choice and control, expanding service types, boosting transparency and oversight, and improving equity and sustainability — the new system promises to redefine “home-based care” for the better. It is, quite simply, one of the most significant changes to aged care this country has seen in decades.

To learn more about the Support at Home program, get in touch or call 1300 160 170 (press 1).