Introduction It is common for two people with the same funding level to receive very different levels of support. This can be confusing. But there are clear reasons why this happens. Reason one provider pricing Hourly rates vary significantly between providers. This directly impacts how many hours of care you receive. Reason two service mix Different services have different costs. For example: nursing allied health domestic support The mix changes how quickly funding is used.

Introduction Many people assume their home care package determines how much support they receive. In reality, fees and pricing have a much bigger impact. Where your money goes Your funding is typically split across: care management service delivery additional costs While care management is often around ten percent, the biggest variable is service pricing. The hidden lever hourly rates Providers set their own hourly rates. Even small differences can significantly change how fa

Introduction If you’re looking into home care, one of the first questions is: How much does it actually cost? The answer isn’t as simple as a single number. Most people receive government funding but what you actually get  in services depends on: your funding level your provider’s pricing and how your care is managed This guide breaks it down clearly. The simple answer Most people receive between: $10,731 and $78,106 per year  in government-funded home care But: You don’t rec

Introduction If you’ve been looking into home care, you’ve likely come across services that offer to: help you find providers guide you through your options connect you with care All at no cost. It sounds helpful—and it can be. But it’s worth understanding: How do these services actually work if they’re free? The simple answer Most “free” matching services are funded by providers. That means: you don’t pay to use them but providers may pay to receive introductions or enquirie

Introduction When people start looking for home care, the focus is often on: funding levels provider names what services are available But the real question is: What does good  home care actually look like day to day? Because when it works well, it feels simple. When it doesn’t, everything becomes harder than it should be. Good home care feels easy This might sound obvious but it’s important. Good home care should not feel like: chasing people repeating yourself managing the

Switching home care providers is more common than most people expect. Many families: start with one provider run into issues and then move to another within the first 6–18 months It’s frustrating. Time consuming. And often avoidable. So why does it happen and how can you get it right the first time? The uncomfortable truth Most people don’t switch providers because of one big issue. They switch because of small problems that don’t get resolved . Things like: calls not returne

Introduction It’s one of the most common assumptions in home care: “Not-for-profit providers are better.” More trustworthy. More caring. Less focused on money. But is that actually true? Or is it just something that sounds right ? Why people believe this The logic feels simple: Not-for-profit = no shareholders No shareholders = no profit motive No profit motive = better care It’s a compelling idea. But it skips over how home care actually works today. What “better” really mea

Introduction When choosing a home care provider, many people are drawn to organisations described as “not-for-profit”. It feels like the safer choice. More ethical. More focused on care. But what does “not-for-profit” actually mean in practice, and does it change your experience as a client? What “not-for-profit” actually means A not-for-profit provider is an organisation that: does not distribute profits to shareholders reinvests any surplus back into the organisation That’s

If you’re starting to look into home care, it can feel confusing quickly. You’ll hear terms like: Home Care Packages Support at Home Providers Funding levels And it’s not always clear how it all fits together. This guide breaks it down simply—so you can understand your options and what to do next. What is home care? Home care is support that helps you stay living safely and comfortably in your own home. It can include: Help around the house Personal care (like showering or dr

Choosing a home care provider feels like a big decision. Because it is. But most families don’t get it wrong because they’re careless. They get it wrong because: The system is confusing Providers look similar And no one explains what actually matters So they do what most people would do. They guess. Here are the most common mistakes (and how to avoid them) 1. Comparing providers based on the wrong things Most people look at: Brand name Website First impression But these don’t

Most people think getting a Home Care is the hard part. It’s not. The hard part is what comes next. Because once you’re approved and assigned, you’re expected to: Choose a provider Understand pricing Allocate your funding Make decisions you’ve never had to make before And no one really explains how it all works. Here’s what no one tells you 1. More funding doesn’t automatically mean better care It sounds obvious: Higher package = better support But that’s not always how it pl

Most people ask the same question: “How many hours of care will I get?” It sounds simple. It’s not. Here’s the problem You’re asking the wrong question. Because in home care: You don’t actually have “hours.” You have a budget. And that budget gets turned into hours differently depending on the provider. Why hours are so confusing Under Support at Home: Funding is allocated as a budget Providers set their own hourly rates Additional costs can apply depending on services So two

“Under Support at Home, most providers look the same on paper. The difference is how they turn your funding into actual care.” Most people start the same way. They Google a few providers. Open three tabs. Look at websites that all sound… identical. “Compassionate care”“Tailored support”“Experienced team” And then they try to compare them. Here’s the problem You’re comparing the wrong things. And it’s not your fault, the system makes it hard to see what actually matters. Becau