Why do Support at Home providers charge different hourly rates?

Why do Support at Home providers charge different hourly rates?

Support at Home providers are currently allowed to set their own service prices.

This means two providers may charge different amounts for the same type of service, such as cleaning, personal care or physiotherapy.

However, prices must be:

• reasonable

• transparent

• based on the cost of delivering the service

• published on My Aged Care and the provider’s website

• agreed with the participant before the service is delivered.

The provider must also explain what is included in the price.

What is included in the hourly price?

Under Support at Home, the advertised price is generally intended to cover the full cost of delivering the service.

This may include:

• the worker’s wages

• superannuation and leave entitlements

• travel time and vehicle costs

• administration

• human resources and recruitment

• worker screening and training

• insurance

• clinical supervision

• subcontractor costs

• technology and record keeping

• a reasonable operating margin.

Unlike the former Home Care Packages system, providers do not charge a separate package management fee on top of each direct service. Those operating costs may now be incorporated into the service price.

Why might one provider cost more?

A higher rate may reflect:

• higher worker wages

• permanent employees rather than casual or subcontracted workers

• more experienced or specialised staff

• longer travel distances

• rural or regional delivery

• stronger clinical supervision

• better continuity of workers

• shorter minimum visits

• services delivered outside normal business hours

• weekend or public-holiday penalty rates

• additional language or cultural capability

• complex care requirements.

A higher price is not automatically unreasonable. Equally, a price is not automatically reasonable merely because it falls within the government’s published range.

The provider should be able to explain why its price differs from other providers.

What are the latest government benchmark prices?

(at time of publication 14-7-2026) The most recent national summary available was published in May 2026 and is based on prices providers actually claimed between 1 November and 31 December 2025.

The figures below are national weekday prices for one hour services. They include the amount paid by the participant and the amount claimed from government funding.

Personal care

For assistance with self-care and activities of daily living:

• national median: $115 per hour

• middle price range: $107 to $120 per hour

For assistance with self-administration of medication:

• national median: $110 per hour

• middle price range: $63 to $119 per hour

Domestic assistance

For general house cleaning:

• national median: $110 per hour

• middle price range: $100 to $117 per hour

For laundry services:

• national median: $95 per hour

• middle price range: $65 to $109 per hour

For shopping assistance:

• national median: $110 per hour

• middle price range: $100 to $125 per hour

Social support

For individual social support:

• national median: $111 per hour

• middle price range: $105 to $120 per hour

For accompanied activities:

• national median: $122 per hour

• middle price range: $110 to $125 per hour

For cultural support:

• national median: $129 per hour

• middle price range: $95 to $173 per hour

Respite

For flexible respite:

• national median: $115 per hour

• middle price range: $105 to $121 per hour

For community or centre-based respite:

• national median: $130 per hour

• middle price range: $100 to $196 per hour

Nursing

For a registered nurse:

• national median: $180 per hour

• middle price range: $160 to $195 per hour

For an enrolled nurse:

• national median: $145 per hour

• middle price range: $138 to $165 per hour

Allied health

For physiotherapy:

• national median: $194 per hour

• middle price range: $143 to $224 per hour

For occupational therapy:

• national median: $222 per hour

• middle price range: $190 to $255 per hour

For podiatry:

• national median: $165 per hour

• middle price range: $120 to $215 per hour

For dietetics or nutrition services:

• national median: $220 per hour

• middle price range: $165 to $264 per hour

For speech pathology:

• national median: $230 per hour

• middle price range: $200 to $270 per hour

Gardening and home maintenance

For gardening:

• national median: $118 per hour

• middle price range: $98 to $143 per hour

For assistance with home maintenance and repairs:

• national median: $150 per hour

• middle price range: $113 to $300 per hour

The government describes the middle range as the area between the 25th and 75th percentiles. This means half of reported prices fell within that range.

Are these price caps?

No.

The published national medians and ranges are comparison information only. They are not:

• mandatory prices

• recommended prices

• maximum prices

• proof that a price is reasonable.

The government had previously planned to introduce price caps from 1 July 2026, but implementation has been deferred while the market stabilises.

Providers currently continue to set their own prices, subject to requirements that those prices be reasonable and transparent.

Can providers charge above the published range?

Yes, but they should be able to justify the rate.

A price above the national range may be reasonable where, for example:

• the participant lives in a remote location

• the worker has specialised qualifications

• the service requires significant travel

• complex clinical supervision is required

• the service is delivered on a weekend or public holiday.

The government summary itself states that a rate above the range is not automatically unreasonable. The relevant question is whether the price reflects the genuine cost and scope of delivering the service.

Can providers charge different participants different prices?

Potentially, yes.

A provider’s agreed price may differ from its published standard price because of:

• location

• service complexity

• delivery time

• specialised worker requirements

• additional travel.

However, any higher price must be clearly identified in the service agreement, together with the reason for the difference. The participant must agree to the price.

Do shorter visits cost exactly half the hourly rate?

Not always.

A 30-minute service may cost more than half the one-hour price because the provider still incurs:

• travel time

• scheduling costs

• minimum worker payments

• administration

• documentation requirements.

For example, the national median for one hour of personal care was $115, while the median for a 30-minute personal-care service was $65—not $57.50.

Check the provider’s minimum visit time and price for each billable unit.

What should I compare?

Do not compare only the hourly rate.

Also ask:

• Is travel included?

• Is there a minimum visit duration?

• Are weekends more expensive?

• Does the price include indirect clinical work?

• Are workers employees or subcontractors?

• Can the provider supply a regular worker?

• What happens when the usual worker is unavailable?

• Are cancellation charges applied?

• Can the provider actually deliver the service when required?

• How many service hours will the price allow within the quarterly budget?

A cheaper provider may offer poor continuity or limited availability. A more expensive provider may provide better qualified workers or stronger clinical support.

The goal is value and suitability not simply the lowest price.

What if the provider’s price seems too high?

Ask the provider:

• what the price includes

• why it is higher than the national median

• whether travel or subcontractor costs are included

• whether a lower-cost service option is available

• how the price affects the number of hours available from your budget.

Providers must publish the price they most frequently charge for each service and keep that information current. The government and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission monitor provider pricing and may investigate prices that appear unreasonable or cannot be adequately justified.

You can also:

• compare providers through My Aged Care

• seek help from OPAN on 1800 700 600

• complain to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822

• change providers if another provider offers better value and suitable care.

Support at Home providers cannot charge an entry or exit fee when you change providers.

What should I do next?

1. Write down the services, times and practical outcomes you need.

2. Ask at least two providers for written prices and an example service schedule.

3. Check the agreement, local availability and worker backup arrangements before signing.

Helpful Local Home Help resources

• How much does Support at Home cost?

• Browse aged care cost articles

• Find home care providers

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.