How long does it take to change home care providers?
Choosing & Changing Providers
Changing Providers
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In short...
Changing providers may take several days to a few weeks. The main priority is not speed alone it is coordinating the exit and start dates so essential care continues without interruption.
The details...
How long does it take to change home care providers?
There is no standard waiting period for changing Support at Home providers.
The change can usually happen once:
you have chosen a new provider
the new provider has accepted your referral
both providers agree on the transfer date
you have signed the new service agreement
the new provider has workers available.
A simple transfer may be completed within several days. It may take a few weeks if the participant needs specialised workers, services at difficult times or a carefully managed clinical handover.
Find the new provider first
My Aged Care recommends finding a new provider before agreeing on an end date with the current provider. This reduces the risk of losing essential services during the change.
Confirm that the new provider can actually deliver:
the required services
the preferred days and times
essential personal or clinical care
suitable replacement-worker arrangements
any cultural, language or worker-gender preferences.
Does the current provider’s notice period apply?
Check the existing service agreement for any notice requirements.
The exit date should be agreed between you and the current provider. It should take account of your circumstances, the agreement terms and the need to avoid unnecessary disadvantage.
A provider cannot charge an exit fee, but legitimate charges may still apply for services delivered before the agreed exit date.
What happens on the transfer date?
The new provider’s start date must be on or after the outgoing provider’s exit date.
The outgoing provider should:
continue agreed care until the exit date
finalise its service claims
prepare the final statement
give the new provider relevant budget information
help transfer care records and outstanding arrangements.
The new provider should:
accept the My Aged Care referral
confirm the exit and start dates
enter into a new service agreement
prepare the care plan and individualised budget
arrange workers and services.
Official administrative notifications may be completed within 28 days, but this does not mean the participant must wait 28 days before the new provider starts.
What can delay the change?
A transfer may take longer where:
the new provider has no immediate capacity
morning, evening or weekend workers are required
the participant needs nursing or complex care
several subcontracted services must be transferred
assistive technology or home modifications are underway
the providers disagree about the exit date
budget or historic Home Care Package balances are unclear
the new service agreement or care plan is delayed.
How can I make the change faster?
Before ending the current arrangement:
Confirm the new provider has capacity.
Obtain its prices and service agreement.
Agree on a firm start date.
Set the old provider’s exit date to align with it.
Identify any essential services that cannot be missed.
Ask both providers to communicate directly about the handover.
Keep copies of the final budget and monthly statements.
What 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.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
Check the official guidance
Check providers through My Aged Care. Aged care rules, funding amounts and program guidance can change, so check the current official information before making an important care or financial decision.
Takeaways
- There is no single fixed timeframe. It depends on notice arrangements, the new provider's availability and how quickly records and services can transfer.
- Local capacity and worker continuity matter as much as branding.
- Important prices and conditions should be in writing before services start.
About Local Home Help
How Providers Are Listed
How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.
Independence Statement
Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.
Quality Signals
What to look for when choosing a provider Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.
About the Author
Local Home Help Editorial Team
This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.
Our content is based on publicly available information from:
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My Aged Care
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Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
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Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.
Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.
Important information
Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.
Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.
Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.
Source data
Last reviewed
20/7/26, 9:08 pm