At a glance:

Australia's aged care system is undergoing significant transformation with the new Support at Home programme launching July 1, 2025. Changes also include a new Aged Care Act that places older people at the centre of care and enhanced Quality Standards with a greater focus on outcomes for older Australians.

The Support at Home programme replaces Home Care Packages with a more flexible, needs-based model featuring eight support levels (up from four) with funding up to $78,000 annually. Key changes include:

• Quarterly budgets that can be reset every three months based on changing needs. Unspent funds at the end of each quarter no longer accumulate. This makes it important to utilise allocated funding to receive the full range of care benefits available.
• The programme introduces three categories (called contribution categories) under which service types are grouped: Clinical Care, Independence Support, and Everyday Living.
• The provision of separate funding for Short Term Restorative Care, End of Life Care, and Assistive Technology and Home Modifications.

Members who are currently part of the Home Care Package programme will maintain their funding levels, and any unspent funds, with a "no worse off" principle for personal contributions. These reforms aim to create a system that's easier to navigate while providing better quality care that respects the choices of older Australians.

The journey to better aged care

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 programme which commences on July 1, 2025.

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

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.

From Home Care Packages to Support at Home

One of the biggest changes is replacing the Home Care Packages Programme with the new Support at Home Programme. It is designed to simplify and improve in-home aged care by replacing multiple existing programmes with a more flexible, needs-based model. It commences on July 1, 2025.

The government has stated that:

• The transition from the Home Care Package Programme 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 Home Care Package funds a person has will remain available for them under the new Support at Home programme.
• 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 Home Care Package.
• On the National Priority System awaiting a Home Care Package.
• 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 Home Care Package Programme.

For Members who are part of the CHSP programme, 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 programme.

Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: What’s changing and why it matters

On July 1, 2025, the Australian Government will introduce the Support at Home programme, replacing the current Home Care Package system. Here’s how the new programme compares to the Home Care Package Programme 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. Support at Home 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 programme 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. 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 Support at Home, 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.

Specialised care options. The new programme 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. Support at Home 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.

In summary

Support at Home is designed to be a simpler, more responsive system that recognises your individual care needs, ensures essential health services are covered, and gives you more flexibility in how your support is delivered. It’s designed to help older Australians maintain their independence, dignity, and comfort at home, for longer.

For more information, visit the official page: Support at Home | Department of Health and Aged Care

Why Five Good Friends is ready for Support at Home and what this means for our Members.

1. A new model already aligned to the improvements.

As Australia's aged care system evolves, it's natural to wonder how these changes will affect you or your loved ones. At Five Good Friends, we're not just watching these changes unfold – we have been actively preparing for this new era of aged care. 12 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. This is the group of people responsible for the oversight and performance of Five Good Friends.
• 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.

2. Ensuring your funding is being used in the best way, at all times.

Under the new Support at Home Programme, people receive funding on a quarterly basis. Funding is based on assessed care needs. For new entrants, unlike the previous Home Care Package Programme where unused funds could accumulate over time, 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. As we navigate the new Support at Home Programme, 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.

3. Innovative solutions for changing needs.

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

• Place more emphasis on preventative measures, such as exercise and a wellbeing program, to keep people independent for longer.
• Enable easier access to assistive technology and home modifications, reducing the need for crisis interventions.
• Provide greater flexibility to include allied health services, reducing the risk of hospitalisation.

This is one of the most exciting changes of the new reforms. We will have more information to share with our Members on the development of new programmes and services as we approach July 1, 2025.

Here for our Members through the changes ahead

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

While July 1 marks the beginning of these important reforms, it is just the first step in a new chapter for home care in Australia. At Five Good Friends, we expect it may take twelve months for the new system to deliver the benefits the government has intended. Throughout this transition, we are committed to supporting our Members and their families, ensuring they receive the greatest possible value and outcomes from the changes.

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