What This Means for Our Clients

The new program aims to create a more equitable, flexible, and easier-to-navigate system.

For Existing Home Care Package (HCP) Clients:

Seamless Transition: Your care will automatically transition to the S@H program.

Funding Continuity: You will receive a budget that provides an equivalent level of funding to your current HCP level. You will not pay more for your care.

No Urgent Action: You are not required to take any immediate steps. We will work with you to ensure a smooth transition and explain any adjustments to your support plan.

Key Program Changes & Benefits:

More Funding Levels: The program introduces 8 classifications for ongoing services, replacing the four HCP levels, with the maximum annual funding increasing to support higher needs.

Clearer Services: Services are grouped into defined categories (Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living).

Easier Access to Equipment: Dedicated funding and pathways will be available for Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (like walkers or safety rails) to improve safety and independence, so you won’t need to “save up” core package funds for these essential items.

Budget Clarity: Your annual subsidy will be split into quarterly budgets managed by Services Australia, with some flexibility to carry over unspent funds.

Transparent Costs: The government will fully fund Clinical Care (like nursing or physiotherapy) for all participants. Your contribution for other services will be based on the service type and your financial assessment.

The S@H program is designed to give you greater control and flexibility over the support you receive, helping you maximise your independence and wellbeing at home.

The New Fee Calculation Model

Under the Support at Home Program, which replaced the HCP Program on November 1, 2025, the cost structure has fundamentally changed to combine travel costs with the direct service fee.

All-Inclusive Hourly Service Fees

The core principle is that the single hourly price a provider charges for a service (like domestic assistance, personal care, or nursing) must be all-inclusive.

What’s Included: This hourly rate now covers all costs associated with delivering that service, including:

The staff member’s direct labour time while providing care.

Staff travel time to and from the client’s home.

Administrative and Package Management costs (which were previously separate monthly charges).

A component for overheads and business costs.

The Key Change: Providers are no longer allowed to charge separate fees for “Package Management” or a separate fee/kilometre charge for the staff member’s travel to the client. These costs must be factored into the published hourly rate.

 Implications for Clients

Greater Price Transparency: You see one clear rate for a unit of service (e.g., $110.00 per hour for Domestic Assistance) instead of a direct charge plus a separate package management fee and a travel fee.

Budgeting Clarity: Since travel and administration are internalised, you can more easily compare the true cost of an hour of care between different providers.

Potential for Higher Hourly Rates: The hourly rate for a specific service may appear higher than it did under HCP, but this is because it now absorbs the costs that were previously itemised separately.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has implemented this change to simplify billing and provide better value for money by making the full cost of delivery clear upfront.

Navigating the Challenges of Support @ Home

We want to be transparent about the potential hurdles, which we are fully prepared to help you manage:

Our Commitment to You

We are actively training our staff on the new S@H structure, classifications, and claiming processes. Our goal is to handle the complexity on the back end so that your experience remains focused on receiving the consistent, quality care you need.

From the team at Dedicated Carers

Building relationships and trust

As a local Provider, we prioritise building lasting relationships with our clients and their families. We understand the importance of trust and strive to create a personal connection with each individual we care for. By choosing a local service, you can expect a higher level of personalisation, as we take the time to understand your unique needs, preferences, and goals. Our commitment to excellence and personalised care sets us apart from larger, impersonal Aged Care Providers.

Collaborative approach

At Dedicated Carers, we believe in a collaborative approach to aged care. We work closely with healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, to ensure that our clients receive holistic and integrated care. Our team is skilled in coordinating with external healthcare providers, facilitating open communication and collaboration for the benefit of our clients’ well-being.