From 1 November 2025, providers can offer a higher everyday living agreement to residents who choose to take up additional or higher quality services.
A higher everyday living agreement is for services beyond those that must be provided under the new Aged Care Act, including the Aged Care Quality Standards and the aged care service list.
It is separate from and in addition to the resident agreement and accommodation agreement.
Before entering an agreement
Providers must be able to show that the services offered as part of the higher everyday living fee (HELF) are in addition to, or of a higher level than, those that are required to be provided.
Providers must give information to individuals about the higher everyday living fee options. This should include information about how the higher service differs from the standard service.
When to enter an agreement
Providers can only enter a higher everyday living agreement with a resident:
- after they have entered care
- if they choose to do so
- if they are not currently paying additional service fees or an extra services fee.
What to include
The higher everyday living agreement must include:
- the cost of each higher service to be delivered, the standards and frequency at which they will be delivered and how they will be charged
- conditions of the agreement, including that the resident has 28 days after entering the agreement to change their mind and cancel or vary the agreement.
Preparing an agreement
Information on higher everyday living services can be provided at any time. However, the agreement can only be offered to the resident and completed after they enter your care.
The resident must understand and agree to the fees and conditions. The provider is responsible for making sure the resident understands everything in the agreement.
If needed, use the National Translating and Interpreting Service.
Cooling off period
There is a 28-day cooling off period after signing an agreement. This means a resident can cancel or vary their higher everyday living services within this period without a cancellation fee. The provider needs to be notified of this, but there is no minimum notice period. After the initial 28-day cooling off period:
- if the person chooses not to use the service, or is no longer able to use the service, it can be cancelled with 28 days’ notice.
- if the person initiates cancellation, the provider can pass on expenses incurred beyond the 28-day period if they are unavoidable (for example, subscription fees) for the period they remain unavoidable. Providers must be able to demonstrate this and cannot pass on an amount greater than they have incurred.
- if the provider can no longer deliver the service, it must be cancelled immediately.
Reviewing an agreement
Providers must review and update the resident’s higher everyday living agreement at least once a year to ensure:
- the resident still wants the additional or higher quality services
- the resident can still make use of the additional or higher quality services.
This should be part of ongoing care discussions with the person.
After reviewing and updating the agreement, providers must issue a copy of the updated agreement to the resident as soon as possible.