Under Australia’s Support at Home program, older Australians now have more flexibility and choice in how their home care is delivered. One of the decisions you’ll make is whether to self-manage your home care or have your provider manage it for you.
At Five Good Friends, we make sure that no matter which option you choose, you’re always at the centre of your care. Our goal is to help you live safely, confidently, and comfortably at home — in a way that fits your lifestyle and preferences.
What does self-managing your home care mean?
Self-management gives you the ability to take a more active role in how your care is arranged. You coordinate your Helpers and allied health professionals directly, using the tools and guidance we provide to make managing your care simple and stress-free.
You’re not on your own — our team and technology ensure you always have expert support at your fingertips.
Why do people choose to self-manage?
Many older Australians find that self-management helps them stay engaged and independent. Common reasons include:
- Wanting to choose which Helpers or allied health professionals come into your home
- Preferring to schedule services at times that suit your routine
- Having family or friends who can help coordinate your support
- Wanting full visibility over spending and services
Through our Member app, you can easily manage all aspects of your care — from reviewing Helpers to tracking your budget and booking appointments.
Regardless of whether you choose to self-manage or prefer a care managed approach through Five Good Friends' full service membership, you will always be informed and involved in decisions regarding your care.
Is self-management right for me?
You may find self-management is a great fit if:
- You’re comfortable making decisions about your care
- You’re confident (or have support) using digital tools
- You want to be more involved in how your care is delivered
It may not be ideal if:
- You prefer professionals to handle all coordination on your behalf
- You have complex or changing support needs
- You’d rather not manage scheduling or budgets
If that’s the case, a full service membership may be better suited — and you can always transition later if your situation changes.
Key features of our self-managed packages:
We’re here to make self-management easy with simple tools, expert guidance and an extensive network of over 4,000 care and allied health professionals.
Intuitive tools and resources to empower you:
- A smart and easy-to-use app to help you review care workers, book services, track spending, and update your help plan.
- Step-by-step video guides to walk you through how to get the most out of self-managing your care.
- Real-time budget visibility — giving you full control over your package funding.
A trusted network of verified service providers across Australia, covering a wide range of products and services, including:
- Allied health professionals like physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and more.
- Continence, lifestyle and mobility aids to support daily living.
- Pre-prepared meal services to suit dietary needs and preferences.
An embedded workforce of highly trained care workers (Helpers), ensuring you can find the right match for your needs and schedule.
- Helpers are fully verified, ensuring both quality and compliance with Aged Care & NDIS standards.
- Unlike traditional providers where Members may need to coordinate with agencies or worry about whether care workers will arrive on time, Five Good Friends' embedded carer network ensures consistent scheduling, reliable attendance, and clear communication.
- A nationally recognised, award winning in-house learning and development programme ensures your Helpers are highly trained, can upskill when your care needs evolve and provide you with consistent high quality care.
Backed by expert advice when you need it
When life gets a little tricky - because sometimes it does - you’ll have a reliable, trusted partner ready to step in when you need extra support. Our customer service team and care navigators are on hand to provide expert guidance.
Self-managing your home care is easy - with a little help from your friends. You’re never alone — just more empowered to manage care in the way that works best for you.
How to get started
Join the growing number of Australians who confidently self-manage their home care package with Five Good Friends. Our Members consistently rate us with Net Promoter Scores (NPS) of 60+, reflecting high satisfaction and trust.
Contact us today and start your in-home care journey.
Frequently asked questions about self-managing your home care
In this blog
Share
