Introducing Support at Home (SAH)

In response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Australian Government is introducing a new home care system called the Support at Home Program (SAH).

A new approach to home care

The new home care system marks a significant change, directly addressing Principle 1 of the Aged Care Taskforce: supporting people to live at home for as long as they want to, provided it is safe. The SAH Program offers many improvements to help people maintain their independence at home, including: 

• Expanding access to an additional 300,000 people by 2034-35 
• Gradually integrating existing in-home aged care programs 
• Introducing a fairer assessment and classification system 
• Focusing on early interventions to promote activity, mobility, and independence 
• Providing higher levels of care for those with complex needs to help them stay at home longer.

Support at Home is the result of extensive consultation with older people, service providers, aged care workers and other stakeholders.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.

• Department of Health and Aged Care

How the Support at Home transition will work 

The government is taking a phased approach to implementing SAH. 

From 1 July 2025, the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Program will be replaced by Support at Home. Funding under SAH will align with current HCP levels and follow new legislated rules. 

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will remain in place until at least July 2027, when it is expected to transition to SAH. Until then, CHSP will continue supporting new and existing clients who require low-level care. 

Benefits of Support at Home 

The Support at Home Program brings a wide range of benefits, including: 

• Increased funding, with the maximum annual amount rising from $61,440 to $78,000, allowing for higher levels of care 
• Personalised support from a VMCH care partner (currently known as an aged care case manager), ensuring clients achieve the best outcomes 
• Capped pricing with no separate administrative or management fees 
• A fairer system, where consumers only contribute to non-clinical services received 
• Reduced wait times, with a three-month target from July 2027 
• Upfront funding of up to $15,000 for the Assistive Technology and Home Modification (AT-HM) Scheme, removing the need to save funds before accessing essential modifications 
• An improved and expanded Restorative Care Pathway, increasing support from 8 to 12 weeks and doubling available places (from 2,269 to 5,000 per quarter) 
• A new End-of-Life Pathway, providing up to $25,000 over three months for older Australians with less than three months to live, enabling them to pass away at home. 

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