Support at Home Program Guide | Five Good Friends

Australia's aged care system is being transformed to better support older Australians with the launch of the Support at Home program on November 1, 2025. This program replaces the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs, offering a more responsive, needs-based model of in-home care. Alongside the Support at Home program, a new Aged Care Act and enhanced Quality Standards will also come into effect, placing the rights and choices of older people at the heart of aged care.

Key takeaways:

The Support at Home program launches on November 1, 2025, replacing HCP and STRC.
The new program features eight care levels, quarterly budgets, and new service categories.
Five Good Friends is fully prepared to guide Members through the change.

What is the Support at Home program?

The Support at Home program is a government initiative designed to simplify in-home aged care by replacing multiple programs, including HCP and STRC. It offers:

Eight funding levels (up from four in HCP), providing more tailored support.
Quarterly budgets that reset every three months, with limited fund rollover.
A single, unified assessment process using the new Integrated Assessment Tool.
Three clear service categories: Clinical Care, Independence Support, and Everyday Living.

Learn more in the Support at Home Program Manual.

Why has the Support at Home program been introduced?

Australia's aged care system is going through significant changes to make life better for older Australians. These changes started after the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety showed that our system needed to be improved. Put simply, the changes are designed to ensure Australia’s aged care system better supports a greater number of older people to live independently and safely in their own homes for longer periods. They aim to create a system that:

Is easier to understand and navigate.
Provides better quality care and support.
Respects the dignity and choices of older Australians.

At Five Good Friends, we welcome the changes.

Let's look at the key reforms including the new Support at Home program.

Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act

The old Aged Care Act from 1997 is being replaced with a new Act that puts older people at the centre of everything. The new Act:

Makes the rights of older people the foundation of aged care.
Sets clearer responsibilities for aged care providers.
Establishes better oversight of the whole system.

The new Aged Care Act is fundamental to the reforms. It represents a fresh start with rules that underpin a person-centred, quality aged care system.

Enhanced quality standards under the Support at Home program

The quality standards that providers must meet have also been reviewed and enhanced. The new standards:

Are more detailed about what good care looks like.
Aim to empower older Australians with greater choice and control over their care.
Focus more on outcomes for older people.
Provide clearer expectations for aged care providers.
Create a framework for measuring and assessing the quality of services.

The standards aim to prioritise the rights, needs, and wellbeing of the person receiving care. Home Care Providers are regularly audited against the Standards. Results are published on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website. Five Good Friends was last audited in September 2024 and was assessed as meeting all Standards.

Transitioning to the Support at Home program

One of the biggest changes is replacing the old HCP program with the new Support at Home program. It is designed to simplify and improve in-home aged care by replacing multiple existing programs with a more flexible, needs-based model.

The government has stated that:

The transition from the HCP program will not affect a person's current level of funding. People will continue to receive the same level of funding they do now.
Any unspent HCP funds a person has will remain available for them under the new Support at Home program.
If a person's needs change and they are assessed as requiring a higher level of support, funding will be adjusted accordingly.

Importantly, the Government has introduced a ‘no worse off’ principle relating to personal contributions that apply to all people who as of 12 September 2024 were:

Receiving a HCP.
On the National Priority System awaiting a HCP.
Assessed as eligible for a package.

This means their contributions under Support at Home will be the same, or maybe even lower, than they would have been under the current HCP program.

For Members who are part of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), the Government has stated there will be no changes until July 2027 at the earliest.

These guarantees provide peace of mind for Five Good Friends Members, ensuring that your care remains consistent and affordable as you move into the new program.

Changes to Home Care Packages under Support at Home

Here’s how the new Support at Home program compares to the old Home Care Package program and the benefits it aims to provide.

▸Simplified Assessment Process

A new Single Assessment Process simplifies and streamlines the way older Australians are assessed for care. Instead of dealing with multiple assessors, everyone now goes through one unified assessment regardless of the level of support needed. This reduces duplication, ensures a more consistent and person-centred experience, making it easier to access aged care services.

▸Flexible Quarterly Budgets

The Support at Home program introduces quarterly budgets that can be reset every three months based on your changing needs. Currently, Home Care Packages are based on annual funding, which can make it harder to respond to short-term health changes or urgent needs.

▸Expanded support levels

Where the Home Care Package program offers four funding levels, Support at Home increases this to eight. This means your care can be more closely matched to your specific needs. Funding can reach up to approximately $78,000 per year.

▸Clearer service categories

Under the Support at Home program, services will be organised into three straightforward categories (called contribution categories).

Clinical Care (such as nursing and physiotherapy).
Independence Support (like help with daily activities and social connection).
Everyday Living Assistance (including domestic assistance and meals).

The new structure aims to help people better understand what support is available and how it is delivered.

▸Co-contributions based on capacity and services used

Under the Support at Home program, all Clinical Care services will be fully funded by the government. For other services under the categories of Independence Support and Everyday Living Assistance, you may be asked to contribute. The amount is means tested and will be determined by Services Australia as part of the assessment process. This approach is intended to be more transparent and equitable than the current fee structure under Home Care Packages. Most participants will receive a letter outlining the contribution that they have to pay in November 2025.

▸Specialised care options

The new Support at Home program includes dedicated care pathways and separate funding for people who are recovering from illness (a twelve-week Restorative Care option) and those nearing the end of life (a twelve-week End-of-Life Care option). While short-term restorative care exists now, these supports will be more integrated and accessible under Support at Home.

▸Separate funding for equipment and modifications

The Support at Home program will provide dedicated funding for assistive technology and home modifications, such as bathroom rails or mobility aids. This funding will be separate from your regular care budget, removing the trade-offs many people currently face when deciding between personal care and necessary equipment. Funding will be made available upfront for 12 months. In some cases, a health professional’s recommendation will be needed.

Support at Home vs Home Care Packages – Key differences

The table below details key differences between the old HCP and the new Support at Home program.

Feature	Home Care Packages	Support at Home program
Levels of support	Four	Eight
Funding structure	Annual budgets	Quarterly budgets with some rollover
Assessment process	Multiple systems	Single Assessment System
Service categories	Mixed	Clinical, Independence, Everyday Living
Equipment/modification funding	From core budget	Separate, upfront funding
Contribution model	Flat fees	Means-tested by service type

Five Good Friends: Ready for the Support at Home program

As Australia's aged care system evolves, it's natural to wonder how these changes will affect you or your loved ones.

A new model aligned to the Support at Home program

At Five Good Friends, we're not just watching these changes unfold – we have been actively preparing for this new era of aged care. Twelve months ago, we formed a dedicated team to understand the changes and how they may affect our Members, their trusted loved ones, and the way we provide care.

As a data and technology-enabled provider, a number of the governance and reporting enhancements required under the reforms are already part of how we provide care. These include:

A service and experience designed with our Members and their trusted loved ones at the centre
The composition and skills of our Governing Body
The reporting and information our Governing Body has access to
The way we use technology to share information and improve oversight and transparency
Other changes, such as the formation of a consumer advisory body, have been quickly embraced as another way of gathering and sharing feedback from our Members.

Helping you maximise your quarterly Support at Home funding

Under the new Support at Home program, people receive funding on a quarterly basis, based on assessed care needs. For new entrants, unlike the previous HCP program where unused funds could accumulate, Support at Home is more like a 'use it or lose it' system.

This makes it more important than ever to understand how to make the most of your funding. We're committed to helping our Members maximise every dollar, ensuring their funding goes towards the services that have the greatest impact on their quality of life and independence.

Innovation and flexibility with the Support at Home program

The new Support at Home program emphasises flexibility and personalisation. It opens up opportunities for innovation through new programs and services that:

Place more emphasis on preventative measures (like exercise and wellbeing programs)
Enable easier access to assistive technology and home modifications
Provide greater flexibility to include allied health services, reducing the risk of hospitalisation

This is one of the most exciting aspects of the reforms. We will have more to share with our Members about new programs and services as we approach 1 November 2025.

Ongoing communication through the Support at Home transition

To keep you informed as we approach the start of Support at Home on 1 November 2025, we will continue to share updates, including formal notifications required by the Government.

While 1 November marks the beginning of these important reforms, it is just the first step in a new chapter for home care in Australia. We expect it may take twelve months for the new system to deliver the full benefits intended by the government. Throughout this transition, we are committed to supporting our Members, and their families, to ensure they receive the greatest possible value and outcomes.

Regardless of the new Aged Care Act, Quality Standards and funding model, our purpose remains consistent and enduring: to provide services and experiences that keep our Members connected to the families, friends, homes and communities they love, for as long as they desire. It is an honour to help you.

Want to know more about Support at home? Contact us to get personalised help now.

Support at Home program FAQs

▸Do I need to be reassessed when Support at Home begins?

No. If you’re currently receiving a Home Care Package, you will automatically transition to Support at Home without needing a new assessment. Your current funding level will remain the same.

▸I already have a Home Care Package. How will my funding work under Support at Home?

You’ll continue to receive the same annual funding amount, but it will now be divided into quarterly budgets—released every three months. These budgets can be used to pay for the approved services and support outlined in your help plan.

We’ve included a table below showing how annual amounts are broken down into quarterly budgets.

Home Care Package Level	Quarterly budget	Annual amount
Level 1	$2,708	$10,833
Level 2	$4,762	$19,049
Level 3	$10,365	$41,460
Level 4	$15,713	$62,853

▸Will I lose any unspent funds from my Home Care Package?

No. Any unspent funds you have at the time of transition will carry over in full and remain available for your use under Support at Home.

▸Will I keep accumulating unspent funds?

No. While you will keep your unspent funds from the Home Care Package program, you will no longer be able to accumulate unspent funds under Support at Home.

▸What happens if I don’t spend all of my quarterly budget?

You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) into the next quarter. This ensures you have some flexibility for unplanned or future needs.

▸What if my circumstances change and I need more support?

If your care needs change in the future, your funding can increase to match your needs.

▸Will I have to pay more under Support at Home?

If, on 12 September 2024, you were:

Receiving a Home Care Package
Already assessed as eligible for a package,

you’ll be protected by the government’s ‘no worse off’ policy. This means your contributions under Support at Home will be the same or lower than what you would have paid under the previous Home Care Package program.

Stay Informed

Five Good Friends will keep you updated as we approach November 1, and beyond. Our mission remains unchanged: to help you stay connected to the people and places you love, for as long as possible.

Written by

Simon Lockyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Five Good Friends

Support at Home program 2025: What’s changing in aged care