ServicesAged CareSpectrum Home Care PackagesSupport At Home

Changes to Home Care Packages

Information about Support at Home, and other changes to Aged Care in 2025

Aged Care is changing

The Australian Government has announced several changes, called reforms, to the Aged Care system in Australia.

One of these changes is the launch of the new Support at Home program, which will replace the current Home Care Packages program on 1 November 2025.

Support at Home

Here are the main changes that the new Support at Home program will bring:

More funding levels to make it easier for older people to get the specific support that they need
Quarterly funding, to reduce waiting times for services as care needs change
Three funding categories – clinical care, independence support, and everyday living
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme to help seniors stay mobile and live independently
The Restorative Care Pathway, to maintain and improve your independence with support from health workers like physiotherapists and dietitians
The End-of-Life Pathway, with extra funding to support older people to stay at home in their last 3 months of life

If you are already a Spectrum Home Care Package client, you will have heard from us about some of the changes that will happen.

But we understand you may have questions. Here are some of the questions that others have asked.

Frequently asked questions

Support at Home is a new program that will start on 1 November 2025. It will replace the current Home Care Package program.

You don’t need to do anything, and you will continue receiving services. If you already have a Home Care Package, you will automatically move to Support at Home. Your budget will stay the same as it is now.

No. If you already have a Home Care Package, you will not pay more than you do now. For example, if you are on a full pension and don’t pay any fees now, you will not pay any fees under Support at Home. If you are paying Income Tested Care Fees under your Home Care Package, you will pay the same, or less, than what you are paying now.

Instead of getting your budget once a year, you will now receive it every three months (quarterly). This change helps the government support more people and reduce waiting times.

You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is more) to the next quarter.

Any money you haven’t used from your current Home Care Package will still be available to you. You can use it if you need more services and your quarterly budget is used up, or if you are approved for equipment, products, or home changes through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme.

In the future, if your support needs increase, you will be able to receive a new assessment of your care needs from the Single Assessment Service.

Other changes to Aged Care

The switch to the Support at Home program is one of several changes happening in Aged Care in Australia in 2025.

Some of the other changes include:

A new Aged Care Act, which aims to deliver higher quality care to seniors, and make it easier to understand the rights of older people
A new Single Assessment system, which will make it easier and simpler to be assessed for Aged Care Services