Support At Home 2025
Longreach Home and Community Care Inc. recognises that services provided to the elderly and people with a disability must be person-centred, meeting a person’s identified aged-related care needs, preferences, goals and lived experiences.
We offer a range of aged care services under three categories: Clinical Care, Independence and Everyday Living. Each of the service types are designed to make life easier for consumers of aged care programs, 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 collaboratively with assessed participants to create a Care 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.
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.
In January 2024, Longreach HACC, commenced the delivery of Home Care Package services to aged care assessed residents in Longreach on behalf of Trilogy Care.
We currently, deliver services to Home Care Package participants on Levels 1 – 4. , Longreach Home and Community Care will continue to provide Commonwealth Home Support Program and Support at Home care services to eligible older persons living in our community.
As of the 1st July, with the introduction of a new in-home aged care program – Support at Home, there will be changes. This is a government initiative in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care. All Home Care Package (HCP) participants will automatically transition to the new Support at Home program. Home Care Package (HCP) funding will cease.
Under Support at Home, transitioning participants will be assigned a level equal to their Home Care Package funding. Any unspent funds will roll over to the participant’s budget; however, there will no longer be accrual of funds. From the 1 July, 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 your 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 services will continue to include:
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.
An initial assessment with an aged care assessor determines eligibility for Support at Home services. Approval for services is noted on the participant’s Support Plan, alongside the Notice of Decision. The Support Plan summarises the findings of the assessment. The Notice of Decision includes a list of approved services. Domestic services must be an approved service type for the participant to begin to receive the service.
Additionally, Support at Home participants are required to have an assessment with Services Australia of their income and assets to determine their contribution rate for this service.
In-home care is not provided on weekends, public holidays or between Christmas and New Year for CHSP participants.
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.
Independence - Social Support and Community Engagement - Social Support Individual
CHSP clients requiring individual social support to participate in community life, complete weekly shopping, banking, and/or library visits will be asked for a client contribution fee of $5 as of the 1 July 2025.
Direct transport for social support activities will be charged at $10 a return trip for CHSP participants.
Support at Home participants requiring individual social support (in-home visits, contact via telephone, supported shopping, banking, library visits, attending medical appointments) will be charged a co-contribution rate determined by Services Australia.
Support at Home participants requiring direct transport to attend medical appointments, chemist, optometrist, Flying Surgeon appointments, dental, GP clinic, blood tests will be charged a co-contribution rate determined by Services Australia.
Everyday Living - Home Maintenance and Home Assist Secure (HAS)
CHSP participants may be eligible 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 of 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 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.
Any work requiring specialist tradespeople will require a quote and approval from the Care Partner before commencement of works.
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 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.
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.
Independence - Direct Transport
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 per CHSP participant. All books are to be made with 24-hour notice for transportation.
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 determined by Services Australia.