About self-management
Participants can choose to self-manage parts of their care, depending on their needs, preferences and abilities.
You must still carry out care management activities, even if a participant wants to manage most of their care.
You and the participant should agree on any self-management activities or third-party workers. You should make this clear in their care plan.
Choosing self-management activities
Self-management looks different for each participant.
Self-management activities can include:
- choosing or coordinating services, according to their needs and budget
- managing their own workers and scheduling services
- paying invoices for services delivered and seeking reimbursement from their provider
- managing their budget
- navigating the aged care system.
- sourcing assistive technology and home modifications.
Mandatory care management
We still deduct 10% of each participant’s budget for care management activities. This stays the same, regardless of whether participants choose to self-manage.
You must deliver at least one direct care management activity per month to participants, including those who self-manage. This helps you oversee quality, safety, governance and compliance requirements.
Care partners must develop care plans with participants, including any self-management arrangements. For example, it might detail that a participant has chosen specific workers, but that the provider is still responsible for rostering them.
Care partners must do this before or on the day care starts.
Learn more about care management.
Using third-party workers
Some participants prefer to choose their own workers, including workers from different organisations (for example, a gardener). These are called third-party workers.
As the provider, you must meet all regulatory obligations and requirements, including when third parties deliver services. If you can’t meet these requirements, do not agree to a third-party worker arrangement.
You need to agree with the participant what you will charge their budget for the third-party services. The participant may need to contribute towards the final service price, based on the service type and their contribution rates.
You can charge an overhead if a participant wants to use a third-party worker. This covers additional costs associated with these arrangements. Overheads are capped at 10% of the actual cost of the third-party service, which you must include in the final service price.
For more information on mutual obligations for when using third-party workers, refer to Chapter 10 of the Support at Home program manual.
Find out more
- Read Chapter 8 (care management) and Chapter 11 (self-management) in the Support at Home program manual
- Self-management fact sheet for participants.