How Home Care Packages Became Support at Home
The home care package to Support at Home change explained: what happened on 1 November 2025, what stayed the same, and what recipients needed to do.
What changed and when
What happened to existing recipients
How contributions were protected
The move to quarterly budgets
Did anyone need to be reassessed?
What people waiting for a package experienced
What to do now
Frequently asked questions
When did Home Care Packages become Support at Home?
On 1 November 2025, Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care were replaced by the single Support at Home program under the Aged Care Act 2024. Existing recipients were moved across automatically with equivalent funding and no break in service.
Did I need to reapply for Support at Home?
No. Active Home Care Package recipients were automatically transitioned on 1 November 2025, with no reapplication and no new assessment required. Funding equivalent to your old level was allocated, and unspent funds carried over in full.
Will my costs change moving to Support at Home?
They should not rise, thanks to the no worse off principle. If you paid no income-tested fee before, you keep paying nothing; if you did, you moved to discounted arrangements that are the same or lower. Contributions for protected recipients are based on income alone.
What is different about Support at Home?
The main changes are eight classifications instead of four levels, quarterly budgets instead of a single annual one, a national service list defining what is covered, and a new contribution model. The purpose — helping people stay safely at home — is unchanged.