About the program
We are implementing the Support at Home program in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Support at Home will bring together current in-home aged care programs, ensuring a simpler and more equitable system for older people that helps them to stay at home for longer.
Support at Home will ensure improved access to services, equipment and home modifications to help older people remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community.
Read more about the features of the Support at Home program.
Support at Home program handbook
When Support at Home will start
On 4 June 2025, the Minister for Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, announced that the start of Support at Home would be deferred to 1 November 2025. Support at Home will replace the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will transition to the new program no earlier than 1 July 2027. From 2025 to 2027, the CHSP will continue to operate as a grant funded program to support clients to remain independent at home.
We will implement changes gradually to help providers and clients prepare for the transition to Support at Home.
This staged approach will give all CHSP providers time to change their business systems and adjust to new payment arrangements. This will ensure they can operate successfully under Support at Home and avoid disruptions for their clients.
For further information about the CHSP, see CHSP reforms and the My Aged Care website.
Where we’re up to
The final Support at Home program design is the result of:
- extensive consultation with older people, service providers, aged care workers and other stakeholders
- several studies and trials.
We are now engaging with older people, the aged care sector, families and carers to ensure everyone is prepared for Support at Home.
To assist in this transition, the Support at Home program manual has been released to act as a comprehensive guide for in-home aged care providers. A final version of the manual will be released in June once the Aged Care Rules are finalised.
Learn more about what providers can do to prepare for the transition.
Read more about navigating the aged care reforms.
Resources
We have been developing a range of resources to support providers and older people to understand the program design and transition arrangements to prepare for 1 July 2025. We will release more guidance over coming months.
For providers
- Support at Home program manual – A guide for registered providers
- Support at Home Program Provider Transition Guide
- Support at Home: Claims and Payments Business Rules Guidance
- Support at Home pricing resources
- Support at Home User Guide – submitting claims to the Aged Care Provider Portal
For participants
- Support at Home on My Aged Care website
- Support at Home program – Booklet for older people, families and carers
- Support at Home program – Booklet for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and carers
- Checklist for HCP care recipients transitioning to Support at Home.
Stay up to date
To receive the latest information and learn about engagement opportunities:
- subscribe to the aged care sector newsletter and alerts.
Related topics
- Single Assessment System for aged care
- Home Care Workforce Support Program
- Home Care Packages Program
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
