Support at Home is Here: Your Top Questions Answered
On 1 November 2025 the Australian Government introduced Support at Home, a new program that aims to simplify and ensure the ongoing sustainability of aged care services.
It replaces the old Home Care Package program and Short-Term Restorative Care. This is the first step in a major reform, with the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) also set to join Support at Home in 2027.
A new Aged Care Act also started on 1 November 2025. It replaces outdated laws and delivers key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The new Act includes:
- A Statement of Rights for older Australians
- Stronger quality standards
- Better regulation and complaints processes
At Kirinari, we understand that navigating the transition to Support at Home may be confusing. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you access the information you need to make informed decisions about your care.
You can view the FAQ’s below or download your own copy here.
| Question | Answer |
| PARTICIPANT TYPES | |
| Am I Grandfathered, Transition or a New participant under Support at Home? | There are 3 participant categories under Support at Home, including Grandfathered, Transition and New. The difference lies in the date of approval for home care funding. Grandfathered participants: Approved for home care funding before 12 September 2024. This includes those already receiving a package, on the National Priority System, or assessed as eligible. Your financial contribution to care will not increase under the new Support at Home program. If you weren’t paying fees, you will continue to not pay them. If you were paying some fees, you will be no worse off. Transition participants: Approved for home care funding after 12 September 2024 and before 1 November 2025. You will move to the new Support at Home system and will be required to pay some fees towards your care. The ‘no worse off’ principle does not apply to you. New participants: Approved for home care funding on or after 1 November 2025. You will immediately follow the new Support at Home rules, which include a requirement to pay some fees towards your care unless hardship is approved. |
| Will participants who are grandfathered keep that status if they undergo a review under the Support at Home program? | Yes. If you were approved for home care funding before 12 September 2024, you will remain grandfathered. In line with the ‘no worse off’ principle, your contribution amounts will not change. |
| COSTS & CONTRIBUTIONS | |
| How do customer contributions work under Support at Home? | Under Support at Home, customers contribute to the cost of some services based on their income and assets, while other services are fully funded. Contributions are calculated as a percentage of the cost for each service and vary based on the type of service. What you contribute to: – Independence services: Examples include personal care and transport, for which you may pay a moderate contribution. – Everyday living services: This includes tasks like cleaning, gardening, and meal preparation. These services have the highest contribution rates. – Care management: 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated for care management services, which is paid to your provider. What you don’t contribute to: Clinical support services. This includes services like nursing and physiotherapy, which are fully funded by the government. How contributions are determined: – Your financial situation: An assessment of your income and assets by Services Australia determines your contribution percentage. – Your pension status: Full pensioners will contribute less than self-funded retirees. – Service type: Your contribution is a percentage of the cost of the specific service you receive. Payment collection: Your provider will handle the collection of contributions on a schedule agreed upon with you. |
| What will it cost me to access services under Support at Home? | The Support at Home fee estimator can help you calculate how much you will need to contribute to your care. You can also use it to plan your Support at Home budget. Your Support at Home budget is based on your assessed care needs and includes government funding plus your own contributions. What you pay will vary for each person and depends on: – The services you use – Your income and assets – When you were approved for services Providers set their own prices, so it’s a good idea to compare costs before choosing a provider. View Kirinari’s Support at Home price list. |
| Why do I now have to pay a contribution when I didn’t previously? | Part of the government’s reforms to in-home aged care include a requirement for all participants to contribute to the cost of some services under the Support at Home Program. This change is to ensure the system’s long-term sustainability and to help fund essential care for all. |
| What happens if I cannot afford the services I need under Support at Home? | You can apply to the Australian Government for financial hardship assistance, which may help pay for some or all of your aged care costs. To do this, you need to complete the Aged Care Financial Hardship (SA462) form, submit it to Services Australia, and include evidence of your financial situation. |
| Is there still an income-tested fee? | In contrast to the Home Care Package program, there is no income-tested fee under Support at Home. However, some services may require a co-contribution based on your financial assessment and the types of services you receive. Clinical services have a 0% contribution for all participants. |
| How do contributions for Lite n’ Easy meals work? | If your Support at Home plan includes Lite n’ Easy, your contribution is split into two parts: – Service provider charge: Depending on your individual contribution rate for Everyday Living services, you will contribute towards the provider’s fee, which covers administration and support for arranging your meals. – Lite n’ Easy food cost: You pay 30% of the cost of the meals themselves. |
| How does invoicing work? | Your provider will send you a monthly invoice relating to payment of participant contributions. Alongside this, you will also receive a monthly statement including information relating to the services you received in the previous calendar month and any unspent funds you have. |
| SUPPLEMENTS & EQUIPMENT | |
| Am I still eligible for supplements under Support at Home? | Under Support at Home, most supplements have been integrated into the new funding model, which is designed to streamline service delivery while ensuring fairness and flexibility. Below is an outline of the changes to supplements: – Dementia & Cognition: Discontinued; cognitive support included in new assessment and funding model; no separate supplement needed. – Veterans’: Continues; will remain available for eligible veterans but integrated into overall care funding. – Oxygen & Enteral Feeding: Replaced; now available through clinical care service items. – – Continence Aids (CAPS): Phased out; continence support funded within Support at Home. – Viability: Replaced; rural/remote support built into packages. – Financial Hardship: Continues with updated rules. Participants who are grandfathered or transitioning and previously received supplements will continue to have those supports funded under the new Support at Home model. |
| How do I access equipment if I do not have unspent funds? | Support at Home includes separate funding for Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, so you don’t need to rely on using unspent funds to purchase equipment. Our care partners can request a re-assessment for you to assist with this. |
| KIRINARI | |
| What services does Kirinari provide under Support at Home? | Kirinari provides a broad range of Ongoing and Short-Term services, as well as services under the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme under Support at Home. – Ongoing services include: personal care, domestic assistance, social support, respite, transport and nursing & allied health. – Short-term services include: the Restorative Care Pathway (for people who need intensive support after illness, injury or functional decline) and the End-of-Life Pathway (high-priority support for people with 3 months or less to live who wish to remain at home). – Assistive Technology and Home Modifications include: home modifications, car modifications, devices, fall detectors and mobility aids. Visit www.kirinari.com.au to find out more about our services. |
| Do Kirinari staff provide the services or other local providers? | Kirinari has a dedicated team of highly skilled and professional home care workers who deliver our services. From time to time, we also work with associated providers (sub-contractors) to deliver services where we are unable to (for example home modifications). All associated providers of Kirinari are required to meet strict screening and legal requirements and comply with the Aged Care Code of Conduct. |
| Where will my care partner be located? | Kirinari has a team of 16 dedicated care partners who work across our geographic footprint. We will always seek to match you with a care partner who is located near to you where possible. |
| Can I still access MASS funding under SAH and up to what SAH level? | The Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS), funded by Queensland Health, and the federal Support at Home program are separate initiatives. While individuals may receive funding from both, they operate independently. There are currently no changes to the MASS program. |
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