Home Care Guides and Resources

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program. It helps eligible older people access services so they can remain living safely and independently at home. The program includes different types of support, including clinical care, independence supports and everyday living services. Some services may be fully funded by the government, while others may require a personal contribution depending on the person’s circumstances. Not sure where to start? Answe

For years, the economics of home care were relatively predictable. Acquire a client. Manage the package. Deliver services. And importantly, maintain a layer of ongoing revenue through package and care management fees. Support at Home changes that. Not loudly. Not all at once. But structurally. The Old Model Rewarded Holding a Package Under the Home Care Package system, providers often received: Package management fees Care management fees Ongoing revenue not directly tied to

Should Self-Funded Retirees Apply for Aged Care Support? Many self-funded retirees assume aged care support isn’t relevant to them. The thinking is simple: “We’ll just pay for what we need privately.” For a long time, that was a reasonable position. But things are changing, and in many cases, not getting assessed early can now be a mistake. This guide explains: Why the old thinking doesn’t always hold anymore What’s changed in the system When it does (and doesn’t) make sense

What Is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)? The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is the Australian Government’s entry-level aged care program, designed to help older people stay independent at home for longer. If you or a family member only need a small amount of help with daily tasks, CHSP is often the first place to start. This guide explains: What CHSP actually includes Who it’s for (and who it’s not for) How much it costs How it compares to Support a

From 1 October 2026, eligible older Australians receiving Support at Home will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for approved personal care services such as showering, dressing and non-clinical continence support. This is an important change. For many people, help with showering or getting dressed is not an optional extra. It is the difference between staying clean, feeling safe, avoiding falls, maintaining dignity and being able to keep living at home. The Australian Gover

Australia’s aged care market is growing, consolidating, and becoming harder to navigate. Here’s what the latest KPMG market data means for providers, families, and the future of better care decisions.

Introduction When choosing a home care provider, one of the biggest decisions is not the provider itself. It is the model. Do you want a provider to manage everything for you, or do you want more control over how your funding is used? This is the difference between traditional and self managed home care. What is traditional home care Traditional providers: coordinate your care arrange services manage staff and scheduling handle all administration This is often described as a

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’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 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 mean

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