Aged care update

Support at Home Package: common things that may be allowed and what is not covered

Published 24 September 2026. A plain-English guide for older people, families and carers in Hervey Bay who want to understand what Support at Home funding may be used for.

Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from November 2025. The program is designed to help older Australians stay independent, safe and connected at home for longer.

The most important rule is that services must match the person's assessed needs and support plan. If a service is not in the plan, or does not directly support the person's aged care needs, it may not be covered.

Common supports that may be allowed

Support at Home services are grouped into three broad categories: clinical supports, independence services and everyday living services. What a person can use depends on their assessment and approved support plan.

Clinical supports

Clinical supports may include services such as nursing care, allied health support, nutrition or dietitian services, and other health-related care that helps a person manage their needs at home. The Australian Government pays the full cost of approved clinical supports.

Independence services

Independence services may include personal care, help with showering and dressing, respite, social support, transport to appointments or activities, and support to stay active in the community. From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services are fully funded under Support at Home.

Everyday living services

Everyday living services may include domestic assistance, cleaning, laundry, meal preparation or meal services, shopping help, gardening, home maintenance and minor repairs where these are linked to the person's assessed aged care needs.

Common things that are not covered

Support at Home is not designed to pay for ordinary day-to-day costs that everyone has, or for services that are outside a person's assessed aged care needs. Common examples that are usually not covered include:

• Rent, mortgage payments, rates, utilities, phone bills, internet bills or general household expenses.
• Groceries, takeaway meals, alcohol, tobacco, entertainment, memberships, gifts or holiday costs.
• Buying a car, vehicle registration, licence costs, fuel, vehicle running costs, flights, ferries, public transport fares or holiday travel.
• Large appliances, furniture or general renovations unless they are assessed and approved through the correct assistive technology or home modification pathway.
• Services mainly for another household member, rather than the older person with the support plan.
• Medical costs that should be covered through Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or another health system.
• Anything unsafe, illegal, duplicated by another program, or unrelated to the person's assessed aged care needs.

Questions to ask before booking a service

Before using Support at Home funding, it is sensible to ask:

• Is this service listed in the person's support plan?
• Does it match an assessed aged care need?
• Which service category does it sit under?
• Will the person need to make a contribution?
• Is the provider suitable, safe and clear about the cost?

Official sources

This article is general information only and is not legal, financial or aged care advice. For the latest official information, visit:

• Services under Support at Home
• My Aged Care: Support at Home
• Support at Home program manual