Which Support at Home services are free?
Costs, Contributions & Value
Contributions
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In short...
Nursing, approved allied health and other clinical supports have no participant contribution. Care management is also contribution free. Personal care will become contribution-free from 1 October 2026. These services may still use your available government-funded budget, so “free” means no out-of-pocket contribution not unlimited care at no cost to your funding.
The details...
Which Support at Home services are free?
Support at Home services classified as clinical supports have no participant contribution.
The Australian Government pays the full agreed price of these services from your available Support at Home funding. Your income, assets and pension status do not change the 0% contribution rate for clinical supports.
Which services are clinical supports?
Depending on your assessment and approved support plan, contribution-free clinical supports may include:
nursing care
physiotherapy
occupational therapy
podiatry
dietetics and nutrition support
speech pathology
exercise physiology
psychology or counselling delivered within the approved service list
continence assessment and clinical support
other approved allied health and therapeutic services
care management.
The exact classification depends on the service being delivered not simply the worker’s job title.
For example, an occupational therapist completing an approved clinical assessment may be a clinical support. However, equipment subsequently purchased through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme is generally treated under the independence contribution rules.
Does “free” mean the service does not use my budget?
Usually, no.
A 0% participant contribution means you do not pay out of pocket, but the provider still charges the service against your available government funded budget.
For example, if an approved physiotherapy visit costs $180:
you pay $0
$180 is claimed from your available Support at Home funding.
You therefore still need enough funding in your budget and approval for the relevant service.
Is care management free?
You do not pay a separate participant contribution for care management because it is classified as a clinical support.
For people receiving ongoing Support at Home services, however, 10% of the quarterly classification budget is automatically allocated to the provider’s pooled care-management account. It is therefore contribution free, but it still forms part of the government funding attached to your classification.
Is personal care free?
Not yet for most participants.
Until 30 September 2026, personal care remains in the independence category, so a participant contribution may apply.
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care will move into the clinical supports contribution category. Participants will then pay no contribution for services such as:
showering
dressing
toileting and continence support
personal hygiene
assistance with eating
assistance with self-administration of medication.
The person must still be approved for personal care and have available Support at Home funding. The service will be free from an out-of-pocket perspective, but its cost will still be claimed from the participant’s budget.
Which services are not generally free?
Participant contributions usually apply to independence services, including:
personal care until 1 October 2026
transport
social support
respite
medication assistance that is not a clinical service
assistive technology
home modifications.
Contributions also apply to everyday living services, including:
cleaning and domestic assistance
gardening
home maintenance and repairs
meal preparation
meal delivery.
The amount depends on the service category and the participant’s financial assessment.
Can some people receive all their services without contributions?
Yes.
The no worse off principle may protect people who were receiving, or approved for, a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024.
Where a protected participant was assessed as paying no income-tested care fee under their Home Care Package, they should not be asked to pay participant contributions under Support at Home even for independence or everyday living services.
A protected participant who previously paid an income-tested care fee should pay the same amount or less under Support at Home.
What if I cannot afford my contributions?
Financial hardship assistance may cover some or all of the required contribution where a person cannot pay for reasons beyond their control.
Speak with:
your provider
Services Australia
My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
OPAN on 1800 700 600 for independent advocacy.
Do not assume you must cancel essential care before asking about hardship assistance.
What should I check on my statement?
Check that:
clinical supports show a 0% participant contribution
you were approved for the service
the service price matches your agreement
only services actually delivered have been claimed
personal care contributions stop for services delivered from 1 October 2026
any no worse off protection has been correctly applied
the provider distinguishes your contribution from the amount claimed from government funding.
What should I do next?
Check the Services Australia contribution notice and the provider's current price list.
Compare the monthly statement with services actually delivered.
Ask for a written explanation of any price, contribution or cancellation charge you do not understand.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
Check 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.
Takeaways
- Clinical support services are fully government funded, and approved personal care will also be fully funded from 1 October 2026.
- 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.
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