Support At Home 2025
Support at Home program will commence 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 allocated in quarterly budgets. 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 registered provider, will be 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.
Longreach Home and Community Care Inc. recognises that services provided to the elderly and people with a disability must be person-centred, collaboratively planned to meet the individual’s identified care needs, preferences, goals and culturally sensitive to unique lived experiences. Under the Support at Home program, we offer a range of aged care service types listed across three categories: Clinical Care, Independence and Everyday Living. Each of the service types are designed to make life easier for participants and their carers, to ensure living at home is enjoyable and safe without sacrificing dignity and privacy.
Our person-centred care promotes individual choice, preferences, healthcare goals and lifestyle choices. Our Care Partners work under a team-based model, collaboratively planning with assessed participants to create a Care Plan and Quarterly Budget Plan, aligned with approved services and tailored to the individual consumer needs. The Care Plan is 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, participant contribution rates invoiced and/or owing and the balance remaining of the quarterly budget.
Our friendly, professional team take pride in fostering nurturing relationships that enhance the functional capacity and social and emotional wellbeing of our clients.
Longreach Home and Community Care Inc has a team-based approach to care planning; therefore, we employ two Care Partners: A senior Care Partner and a Clinical Care Partner. Our clinical care partner is a registered nurse who is responsible for working with participants living with complex care needs, to develop a Care Plan that meets their care service preferences and clinical care needs.
Under Support at Home, nursing and 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 senior 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 senior care partner will also be responsible for delivering a majority of the care management activities. The senior care partner and the clinical care partner will utilize a team-based approach to respond to participant needs.
Under Support at Home, transitioning home care package participants will be assigned a level equal to their current funding. Any unspent funds will roll over to the participant’s budget; however, there will no longer be accrual of funds. From the 1 November, if there are unspent funds in your budget at the end of each quarter, participants may only retain $1,000 or 10% of their quarterly budget, whichever is the higher amount.
Any unspent funds may be used to pay for care and services that address the participant’s healthcare needs. This can be negotiated with your care partner, as all spending must continue to meet government guidelines and be included in your care plan and assessment documentation.
The new Support at Home budget is calculated on a quarterly basis. Your budget will be split into four (4) quarterly budgets. A 10% care management fee will be deducted from each quarterly budget and paid to your service provider to pay for administrative tasks and care management activities they undertake to support you in your aged care journey. Your quarterly budget cannot go into deficit; therefore, it is crucial you plan the delivery of your care services carefully, with your care partner. The 10% care management fee is not optional and you cannot opt out of paying it.
When your age-related care needs change, you will need to discuss this with your care partner as you may be required to have a reassessment for a higher-level classification under Support at Home. If so, you will be reassessed by the Single Assessment Service, which will determine your eligibility for a higher Support at Home funding level and change to services. Before you are reassessed you may be required to use any unspent Home Care Package funds available to you. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that your quarterly budget can no longer cover the care hours and other supports you require.
Participants have choice and control over who they choose as their approved provider. The approved provider receives the government subsidies on their behalf and provides care management services to ensure participants receive the support they require to meet their assessed care needs.
CHSP consumers will become a part of the Support at Home program on 1 July 2027.
Our delivery of ongoing services include: Nursing care, Personal care, Assistance with self-administration of medication, Continence management, Social Support and Community Engagement, Direct transport, Domestic Assistance, Accompanied activities, Respite, Home maintenance and repairs, Yard maintenance, Linen services
Everyday Living - Domestic Assistance
Aligned with the new Support at Home Program, domestic assistance is listed under the category of Everyday Living. This service provides CHSP and Support at Home participants help with general house cleaning, and linen services. 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
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 $10 per hour is charged for this service 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. This is determined by Services Australia, from the individual’s income and asset assessment. Domestic assistance (general house cleaning) services will attract the highest co-contribution rate between 17.5% – 80% of the hourly rate, per occasion of service delivery.
The initial assessment with an aged care assessor determines an individual’s eligibility for Support at Home services. Domestic services must be an approved service type for the participant to receive the service.
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 budget to be eligible for services at these times, as a higher hourly rate & contribution rate applies. No budget can be in deficit.
Everyday Living services attract a higher contribution rate under the Support at Home program.
Independence - Personal Care
Personal Care services will be listed under the category of Independence. This category attracts a moderate contribution rate for Support at Home participants.
Personal care services assist CHSP and Support at Home participants to manage activities of daily living, particularly for those who have the loss of skills required to live independently. Personal care workers assist with routine activities of self-care such as bathing, dressing and grooming. Assistance may be provided, by suitably qualified staff members, with self-administration of medication and/or continence management.
For CHSP participants this service is reduced over the Christmas holiday period, due to reduced availability of staff. Only high priority clients, waiting for a Support at Home allocation, will receive Personal Care support at this time.
CHSP participants will be charged a contribution rate of $5 for each occasion of service delivery.
No personal care services will be available on public holidays or weekends for CHSP participants.
Support at Home participants will be charged a co-contribution rate, per occasion of service, as determined by Service Australia, once the income and assets assessment is finalised.
Independence - Social Support and Community Engagement - Group Social Support
Group Social Support is now listed under the Independence category. As a service type it will be known as Social Support and Community Engagement.
Attendance and participation in structured group excursions and activities is designed to develop, maintain and support the capacity for independent living and social interaction. These include cards, craft and games mornings, morning teas and lunches at venues across our local community and surrounding areas.
CHSP participants will make a co-contribution of $2 per group social activity session eg Cards / Bingo.
Participants are required to pay for any additional costs associated with participating in structured group excursions, craft activities and lunches.
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.
This service attracts a moderate co-contribution of the hourly service rate. This may be 17.5% – 50% of the hourly rate (see pricing list)
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 the 1 November 2025.
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 - Home Maintenance and repairs and Home Assist Secure (HAS)
CHSP participants require a My Aged Care referral code for home maintenance services to improve accessibility and independence and reduce health and safety hazards in their home. Maintenance services can also assist in creating a home environment that facilitates a participant’s wellness and reablement. An aged care assessment is required to ascertain eligibility for home maintenance services. 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 $5. The Commonwealth contribution to the cost of minor home and yard maintenance is capped at $1,000 per financial year and applies per eligible participant. Any cost exceeding this cap must be paid by the participant privately.
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, this may be used to pay for unexpected home maintenance services, to mitigate the risk of a budget deficit. A participant’s co-contribution rate will be determined by Services Australia. Percentage rates for this service may be 17.5% – 80% of the hourly rate. It is the responsibility of the individual to pay the contribution rate for services delivered.
Yard maintenance 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 senior Care Partner 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 must be documented. 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 will still be required to make contributions towards the cost of the final service price for services delivered by a third-party contractor.
Budget planning supports the use of allocated funding, and the tracking of funding use will support the management of monies to ensure individuals do not exceed their quarterly budget.
Clinical Care - Nursing Care
Under Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) nurses provide clinical care services such as wound dressings, monitoring diabetes, administering of medications, assisting self-administration of medicine, delivering post-operative care and monitoring of general health for CHSP participants in their own homes. Nail care is not included in this service. A contribution fee of $5 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 $5 will be charged per occasion 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
CHSP participants will not be eligible for services where there is a third-party responsibility for the maintenance of the property eg private rental landlord, government housing / social housing.
Support at Home participants must have this as an approved service on their Support Plan and Notice of Decision. 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.
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. A 19-seater wheelchair accessible bus is available for group transport.
There is a $10 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.