How can I tell if a provider's price is reasonable?
Compare the price with government benchmarks and other providers, confirm exactly what is included, calculate how many service hours your budget will buy and ask the provider to justify any significant difference. A reasonable price should be transparent, explainable and proportionate to the service being delivered.
Key points
- Compare the price with other providers, check what is included and ask how much direct service your budget will buy.
- The agreed provider price and the participant's contribution percentage are different things.
- Statements and written price information should allow the charge to be checked.
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01Guide sectionHow can I tell if a Support at Home provider’s price is reasonable?
Start by comparing the provider’s price with:
prices charged by other local providers
the government’s published national pricing information
what is included in the service
the qualifications and experience of the worker
the location, timing and complexity of the service.
Support at Home providers can currently set their own prices. However, those prices must be reasonable, transparent and based on the cost of delivering the service. Providers must also publish pricing information and agree the price with you before providing the service.
02Guide sectionCompare the price with the government benchmarks
The Australian Government publishes a National Summary of Support at Home Prices showing the median and range of prices charged across Australia.
The first national summary was published in May 2026 using services claimed between November and December 2025. The government has indicated that updated national pricing information will be published quarterly.
Some national weekday median prices in that release included:
personal care: about $115 an hour
domestic cleaning: about $110 an hour
individual social support: about $111 an hour
flexible respite: about $115 an hour
registered nursing: about $180 an hour
physiotherapy: about $194 an hour
occupational therapy: about $222 an hour
podiatry: about $165 an hour
gardening: about $118 an hour.
These figures are useful comparison points, but they are not price caps or mandatory rates.
A provider charging above the median is not automatically overcharging. A price below the median is not automatically good value.
03Guide sectionCompare several providers
Use the My Aged Care provider comparison tool and ask at least two or three providers for their price schedules.
My Aged Care allows consumers to compare Support at Home provider prices.
Make sure you are comparing the same service.
For example, one personal-care price may include:
travel
worker supervision
care documentation
weekend penalties
a qualified or experienced worker.
Another apparently cheaper price may apply only during weekday business hours or require a longer minimum visit.
04Guide sectionAsk what the price includes
Support at Home prices should generally be all-inclusive.
Ask whether the quoted price includes:
worker wages and employment costs
travel time
vehicle expenses
administration
clinical supervision
care notes and reporting
subcontractor charges
equipment used during the service
weekend or public-holiday penalties.
The provider should keep records explaining what its prices include.
Be cautious if a provider advertises a low hourly price but adds several separate charges later.
05Guide sectionCheck the minimum visit time
A low hourly rate may still be expensive if the provider requires long minimum visits.
For example:
Provider A charges $105 an hour with a two-hour minimum.
Provider B charges $120 an hour with a one-hour minimum.
For a person needing only one hour, Provider A would cost $210 while Provider B would cost $120.
Ask:
What is the minimum visit?
Are services charged in 15-minute, 30-minute or one-hour units?
Is travel billed separately?
Is there a minimum charge even when the visit is shorter?
What happens when a worker arrives late or leaves early?
06Practical actionLook at how many hours your budget will purchase
The practical impact of a price is how much support it allows you to receive.
For example, if you have $3,000 available for direct services during a quarter:
at $100 an hour, the budget buys 30 hours
at $120 an hour, it buys 25 hours
at $150 an hour, it buys 20 hours.
A difference that appears small on an hourly basis can materially reduce the number of visits available over a year.
07Guide sectionConsider why the price may be higher
A higher price may be reasonable where the service involves:
a rural or remote location
substantial worker travel
complex dementia or behavioural support
specialist clinical qualifications
difficult manual handling
language or cultural requirements
evening, weekend or public-holiday work
short or irregular visits
greater clinical supervision
a highly experienced regular worker.
Ask the provider to explain the specific reason rather than accepting a general statement that “all aged care is expensive.”
08Guide sectionCompare quality and reliability as well as price
The cheapest provider may not offer the best value if it:
frequently cancels visits
cannot provide a regular worker
relies heavily on unfamiliar subcontractors
has poor communication
cannot provide services at the required time
lacks the necessary clinical expertise.
A moderately higher rate may be worthwhile if the provider offers:
reliable workers
continuity of care
stronger clinical oversight
better communication
shorter minimum visits
greater availability
workers with suitable language or cultural skills.
Price should be considered alongside quality, availability and suitability.
09Guide sectionCheck the published price against your agreement
Providers must publish the price they most frequently charge for each service.
The price in your service agreement may differ because of location, timing or complexity, but the provider should clearly explain:
why your price is different
what additional costs apply
when the price may change
how much notice you will receive.
You should have enough time and information to understand fees and agreements before accepting them.
10Guide sectionWatch for warning signs
A price may require closer examination where:
it is substantially above the government’s published range
the provider cannot explain what it includes
separate administration or management fees are added
travel is charged twice
the price changes without proper notice
the invoice differs from the service agreement
the provider charges for time not delivered
subcontractor costs are heavily marked up without explanation
minimum visits are not disclosed
the provider refuses to provide a written price list.
A high price is not automatically unlawful, but the provider must be able to justify how it relates to the actual cost of delivering the service.
11Practical actionAsk these questions before agreeing
Ask the provider:
What is your standard price for this service?
How does it compare with your published My Aged Care price?
What is included?
Is travel included?
What is the minimum visit time?
Are evenings or weekends charged differently?
Is the worker employed directly or subcontracted?
What qualifications will the worker have?
How much notice is given before a price increase?
How many hours will my quarterly budget purchase?
Why is your price above the national or local comparison rate?
Ask for the answers in writing where the cost is significant.
12Guide sectionWhat if the price still appears unreasonable?
First, ask the provider for a written explanation and request a review.
You can also:
compare alternative providers through My Aged Care
seek independent assistance from OPAN on 1800 700 600
raise a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822
change providers if another organisation offers better value and suitable services.
The Commission can monitor or investigate providers that fail to meet Support at Home pricing requirements. Providers that cannot justify their prices may be referred for regulatory attention.
13Guide sectionWhat should I do next?
Write down the services, times and practical outcomes you need.
Ask at least two providers for written prices and an example service schedule.
Check the agreement, local availability and worker backup arrangements before signing.
14Guide sectionHelpful Local Home Help resources
15Guide sectionCheck the official guidance
Check current official costs and pricing guidance. Aged care rules, funding amounts and program guidance can change, so check the current official information before making an important care or financial decision.
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