Support At Home 2025
Support at Home program commenced on 1 November 2025.
All older people who wish to access government funded aged care services must be registered with My Aged Care and undergo an assessment to determine which of the in-home aged care programs; Commonwealth Home Support Services or Support at Home, best suits their needs. Everyone assessed will receive notification of the outcome from their assessment, including eligibility to become a Support at Home participant and receive ongoing services. The outcome is called the Notice of Decision.
The Notice of Decision clearly outlines the approved services a participant can receive, aligned with their assessed classification and funding which is allocated in quarterly intervals. Funding amounts includes funding for care management activities. A 10% care management fee will be deducted from each participants’ budget by Services Australia. This is the only management fee you will be required to pay.
Participants who choose Longreach Home and Community Care as their sole registered provider, are required to sign a Service Agreement. The Service Agreement establishes the Terms and Conditions by which services will be delivered. It is a legal contract between both parties. We encourage all participants to ask questions and request a support person be present when completing the Service Agreement with our Support Care Partner, to ensure participants are making an informed decision about their care services, invoices and service agreement. All participants are provided with information that assists them to choose the services that best meet their needs and preferences within their allocated funding and budget plan.
A great care experience relies on mutual respect between all parties; therefore, participants are given the opportunity to exercise autonomy and choice. We provide a 7 -14 day review period to ensure participants have time to seek independent external advice (if required) and have considered the agreement and shared responsibilities. Once an older person is comfortable and the agreement is executed, care services will be provided in accordance with documented goals, needs and preferences.
Longreach Home and Community Care Inc. is committed to delivering person-centered care. We strive to collaboratively plan services to meet assessed healthcare needs, preferences and goals. As the registered provider of choice we can offer a range of aged care service types across three categories: Clinical Care, Independence and Everyday Living.
Our person-centred care promotes individual choice, preferences, healthcare goals and lifestyle choices. Our Support Care Partner and Clinical Care Partner work under a team-based model to create Care Plans aligned with approved services. All Care Plans are reviewed annually (or as required) to ensure the highest quality, safe and effective care is delivered. Participants’ budgets are tracked, and monthly Statements itemize services delivered, fees charged, co-contribution rates invoiced and/or owing and the remaining balance of the quarterly funding.
Our Clinical Care Partner is a registered nurse who is responsible for working with participants living with complex care needs. A clinical care delegate (Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse) will develop a Clinical Care Plan to meet the care service preferences and clinical care needs of older people with complex health care needs. Under Support at Home, clinical care is fully subsidized by the government. No participant contributions are required for approved clinical care services. All participants must be assessed and approved for clinical care services to be eligible to receive them. Approved services are listed on the participant’s Notice of Decision and accompanying support plan.
Our Support Care Partner is an experienced and trained aged care worker who has attained higher-level aged care related qualifications. It is their role to help participants decide what services they want to receive, consistent with their aged care assessment, and to decide how those services will be delivered. The support care partner is responsible for delivering a majority of care management activities for Support at Home and CHSP participants.
From 01 November 2025, home care package participants transitioned to the Support at Home program at their existing funded level. Any unspent funds rolled over with the participant’s budget. Under the Support at Home program there is no longer accrual of funds. It is expected that any unspent funds are used to pay for additional care or services that address the individual’s healthcare needs. This will be negotiated through the Support Care Partner, as all spending must meet government guidelines and be included in care plan and assessment documentation.
Support at Home funding is allocated quarterly. A 10% care management fee is deducted from each quarterly budget to cover the costs of administrative tasks and care management activities. A quarterly budget cannot go into deficit; therefore, care planning is important. The 10% care management fee is not optional, and you cannot opt out of paying it.
Should your age-related care needs change, you need to discuss this with our team as you may be required to have a reassessment for a higher-level classification.
Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) participants will transition to the Support at Home program no earlier than July 2027.
Everyday Living - Domestic Assistance : General house clean, Laundry services and Shopping Assistance
Under the Support at Home Program, domestic assistance is listed under the category of Everyday Living. This in-home aged care service is provided to eligible Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Support at Home participants. Domestic Assistance services we offer are: general house cleaning, laundry and shopping assistance. Services which are not included are: spring cleaning, blanket/curtain washing, cleaning up after pets, polishing floors/silver, cleaning venetian blinds, looking after boarders/ or family visitors, cleaning up after visitors and moving heavy furniture or tasks involving climbing on ladders or at-height work.
CHSP participants must undergo an aged care assessment and receive a My Aged Care domestic assistance referral code to be eligible to receive this service.
.A co-contribution fee of $12.50 per hour is charged for Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) participants.
Support at Home participants may be required to pay a co-contribution, a percentage of the hourly rate for this service as determined by Services Australia. Domestic assistance services attract the highest co-contribution rate between 17.5% – 80% of the hourly rate, per hour of service delivery. Domestic services must be an approved service type and recorded in the service agreement, care plan and quarterly budget for the participant to receive the services.
This in-home care service is not provided on weekends, public holidays or between Christmas and New Year.
Support at Home participants requiring services on weekends and public holidays must have this included in their Care Plan and quarterly budget, as a higher hourly rate & contribution rate applies. No budget can be in deficit. Our Support Care Partner will work with you to carefully consider your quarterly budget allocation and care services to meet your health goals, needs and preferences.
Independence - Personal Care
Personal Care services are currently listed under the category of Independence. As of 01 October, it will be listed under the category of Clinical Care and be fully subsidized by the government; you will not be required to pay a co-contribution fee for personal care services.
Personal care services are assistance with showering, dressing, grooming and oral hygiene; continence management and assistance with self-administration of medication. Personal care services are delivered by suitably qualified personal care workers.
For CHSP participants this service is delivered with a reduced schedule over the Christmas holiday period, because many of our staff members take well-deserved leave. Only clients with complex care needs will receive Personal Care support at this time.
CHSP participants will be charged a contribution rate of $10 for each occasion of service delivery.
No personal care services will be available on public holidays for CHSP participants.
Support at Home participants will be charged a co-contribution rate, per occasion of service, as determined by Service Australia, until 30 September 2026.
Independence - Social Support and Community Engagement Group Social Support
Group Social Support is listed under the Independence category. As a service type it is known as Social Support and Community Engagement.
Attendance and participation in structured group excursions and activities is designed to develop, maintain and support independent living and social interaction. Longreach Home & Community Care offers weekly activities such as: cards, BINGO, morning teas and lunches at venues across our local community and surrounding areas.
CHSP participants will make a co-contribution of $3 per group social activity session eg Cards / Bingo. As of 11 August 2026, participants requiring transport to attend a centre-based activity or community venue will note the cost of transport is included in their service unit price and an adjusted co-contribution rate will apply accordingly.
Participants are required to pay for any additional costs associated with participating in structured group excursions and lunches within the community.
Support at Home participants must have this as an approved service type prior to engagement. Access to this service must be noted on a participant’s Care Plan. Payment and collection of co-contributions will be noted on the participant’s service agreement and budget planning.
Independence - Social Support and Community Engagement Social Support Individual
CHSP recipients requiring individual social support to participate in community life and/or assistance to maintain personal affairs ie , complete weekly shopping, banking, and/or library visits will be asked for a client contribution fee of $5.
As of 11 August 2026, CHSP participants requiring accompanied shopping or accompanied support to complete personal business in the community will pay $5 per hour.
Support at Home participants requiring individual social support (in-home visits, contact via telephone, accompanied shopping, banking, attending medical appointments) will be charged a co-contribution rate per hourly rate of service delivery, as determined by Services Australia. This percentage may be 17.5% – 50% of the hourly rate.
Support at Home participants will receive a fortnightly co-contribution invoice for services delivered. It is the responsibility of the individual to pay this contribution rate.
Everyday Living - Assistance with Home Maintenance and repairs and Home Assist Secure (HAS)
CHSP participants require a My Aged Care referral code to receive home maintenance services. Minor home maintenance services assist in creating a home environment that is safe. An aged care assessment is required to ascertain eligibility for home maintenance services – minor repairs and yard maintenance. Once approved, participants will receive a My Aged Care referral code to allow commencement of a service.
CHSP participants will be charged a contribution fee of $10 per call out for home repairs and $10 per hour for yard maintenance (mowing and whipper snipper). Home maintenance services have exclusions which are monitored and enforced by Longreach Home & Community Care coordinator. Home maintenance services are linked directly to safety and accessibility. Home renovations or cosmetic upgrades is the financial responsibility of the home owner and is not in scope of work for home maintenance officers. Our service will provide assistance to: change light bulbs, install grab rails or handrails for safety, fix leaking taps or unblock minor drains, clear gutters, fix trip hazards. It is the financial responsibility of the participant to pay for the cost of materials used by suitably qualified tradespeople.
Home Assist Secure is a home maintenance service available to older people or persons living with a disability, who are low-income earners and own their own home. To be eligible for HAS, participants may not be able to access any other government funding for this service ie CHSP and Support at Home participants are not eligible for Home Assist Secure. Additionally, Home Assist Secure does not undertake maintenance or repairs considered to be the responsibility of a landlord. Funding of $550 is available to eligible persons per financial year.
Support at Home participants requiring minor home maintenance and repair services must have this as a listed and approved service on their Support Plan and Notice of Decision. If a participant has Home Care Package unspent funding in their account, it is expected this will be used to pay for additional services to mitigate the risk of a budget deficit. A participant’s co-contribution rate will be determined by Services Australia. Co-contribution percentage rates for this service may be 0% – 80% of the hourly rate. It is the responsibility of the individual to pay the contribution rate for services delivered. Invoices will be issued on a fortnightly basis.
Gardening service includes mowing, whipper snipping, trimming hedges. Landscaping and other aesthetic work will NOT be included in this service delivery. Participants will pay a contribution rate of 17.5% – 80% of the hourly rate of service delivery. An invoice for this service will be sent fortnightly.
Any work requiring specialist tradespeople, as third-party contractors, will require a quote and approval from the Coordinator before commencement of works. All third-party contractors must meet Longreach Home and Community Care’s workforce requirements prior commencement of work. All mutually agreed responsibilities and obligations for third-party providers will be documented on a Third-party Agreement. The final pricing for services by third-party contractors that will be charged to the participant’s budget, must be at agreed and documented on the Service Agreement. Should the third-party contractor be unable to meet any mandated requirements, Longreach Home and Community Care, as the registered provider, have the right to decline engagement of their services. Participants are required to make contributions towards the cost of the final service price for any services delivered by a third-party contractor.
Support at Home and home care funding cannot be used for tasks considered standard, everyday property maintenance. Home owners must pay for standard wear-and-tear repairs. Home owners are also financially responsible for the cost of specialised materials or parts required for repairs. Work intended solely to increase property value or aesthetics is not covered.
Home modifications is funded separately to Support at Home ongoing support funding. Participants must undergo another assessment to be eligible for ATHM funding. Our Support Care Partner and Finance Officer are available to explain eligibility guidelines and requirements.
Our Finance Officer manages budget planning to ensure services are delivered within the allocated funding per quarter. Participants are able to monitor their budget expenditure via the Lookout Members app and Lookout finance platform. This platform accessibility allows transparency of funding management to ensure individuals do not exceed their quarterly budget allocation and track their statements, payments and invoices.
Should you have any questions about your quarterly budget, please contact our friendly Finance Officer during business hours (Mon-Thurs 8.30am – 5.00pm) on 4658 1416 and ask to speak with Ann.
Clinical Care - Nursing Care
Under Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) nurses provide clinical care services such as wound dressings, diabetes management, administering of medications, assisting self-administration of medicine, delivering post-operative care and monitoring of general health for participants in their own homes. Nail care is not included in this service. A contribution fee of $5.50 for clinical care services is charged and invoiced per month.
Additionally, a $10 contribution fee for CHSP nursing services will be charged for wound care. The registered nurse will create a wound care plan to support clinical wound care management. Should special dressings be required, the cost of these dressings will be the responsibility of the participant.
Under the Support at Home Program, nursing services are listed under the Clinical Care category. Clinical care is fully funded by the government for all participants. Therefore, Support at Home participants requiring nursing services will not be charged a co-contribution fee.
To be eligible for clinical care services, a participant must have this service category listed in their Notice of Decision and support plan. It is a service assessed on a needs basis.
Everyday Living - Home and Yard Maintenance
Home maintenance and light gardening services are listed under the Everyday Living category.
Essential light gardening services eg lawn mowing, pruning and yard clearance for safe access is available for Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Support at Home participants. However, out of scope yard work includes: professional gardening services that would usually be paid for such as tree lopping, landscaping, removal of trees, building water features. Any yard work related to creating or maintaining visual appeal, rather than safety or accessibility is out of scope and participants will be expected to pay contractors for this type of service privately.
To be eligible for yard maintenance, CHSP participants must have a My Aged Care referral code for this specific service. A contribution fee of $10 will be charged per hour of service delivery. Yard maintenance and gardening services directly relate to ensuring client safety, rather than maintaining a garden’s visual appeal. All lawn mowing services are capped at one hour per service and the frequency of service delivery will be seasonally adjusted.
This service DOES NOT include:
- paving, concreting / landscaping
- creating / removal of garden beds
- compost heaps
- watering systems / water features / rock gardens
- planting and maintaining crops
Support at Home participants must have this as an approved service on their Support Plan and Notice of Decision and documented in the service agreement, care and budget plans. The frequency of yard maintenance must be listed on the participant’s Care Plan and be aligned with their budget.
Participant co-contribution rates for yard maintenance and home maintenance services will be determined by Services Australia. Contribution rates may be between 17.5% – 80% of the hourly service rate.
Participants will be invoiced fortnightly, for this service. It is the individual’s responsibility to pay their contribution fees for services delivered as agreed in the Service Agreement and Care Plan.
Independence - Direct Transport
Direct transport can be arranged for participants to attend medical appointments, chemist, optometrist, dental and other medical services and/or to assist an older person to connect with their usual activities.
There is a $12 return fee for transport service for CHSP participant. All transport bookings are to be made with a minimum of 24-hour notice to support scheduling of rosters for our support workers.
Transport for CHSP participants, attending group social excursions outside the township of Longreach, will be charged a higher fee – maximum of $20 per person return.
Support at Home participants must have approval to receive direct or indirect transport services, as noted in their Support Plan and Notice of Decision. Budget and Care planning will include frequency of service provision to ensure the access of this service meets budget allocation. No budget is to be in a deficit. Participant co-contribution rate will be between 17.5% – 50% of the hourly rate, as determined by Services Australia.