Support at Home explained: what the new program means for Sydney families
The Australian Government replaced Home Care Packages with the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. Here's what it means for older Australians in Sydney and across NSW.
On 1 November 2025, the Australian Government launched the Support at Home program — replacing the previous Home Care Packages (HCP) system that many older Australians had relied on for years. If you or a loved one is planning for home care, understanding this new program is essential.
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is a government-funded program that provides older Australians with a personalised budget to pay for home care services. Rather than a one-size-fits-all package, your funding is tailored to your individual assessed needs — giving you more flexibility in how and where your budget is spent.
The program is managed by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Eligibility is assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Most Australians aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) are eligible to apply.
The eight support classifications
Support at Home has eight funding classifications, ranging from entry-level support through to high-complexity care. Your classification is determined by your ACAT assessment and reflects how much support you need in your daily life.
- Level 1 — Entry Support: lighter assistance, approximately $11,000/year
- Level 2 — Low Support: regular help with daily tasks, approximately $20,000/year
- Level 3 — Low–Medium Support: more frequent care, approximately $30,000/year
- Level 4 — Medium Support: significant daily assistance, approximately $42,000/year
- Level 5 — Medium–High Support: complex daily support, approximately $55,000/year
- Level 6 — High Support: high-needs care, approximately $70,000/year
- Level 7 — Very High Support: intensive clinical and personal care, approximately $98,000/year
- Level 8 — Maximum Support: highest complexity, approximately $125,000/year
These are indicative figures. Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au for the current indexed rates or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
What Support at Home funds
Your Support at Home budget can be used for a wide range of services including: personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming), domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry, meal preparation), nursing and clinical care, allied health (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry), social support and companionship, transport to appointments, and respite care for family carers.
How to apply
To access Support at Home, you first need an ACAT assessment. You can request one by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visiting myagedcare.gov.au. The assessment is free and can usually be arranged at your home. Once assessed and approved, you will be assigned a classification and can then choose a registered provider like Golden Life Home Care.
How Golden Life can help
If you've already been assessed, or you're not sure where to start, Golden Life Home Care can help guide you through the process. Our bilingual team (English, Mandarin, and Cantonese) serves families across Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, and Canberra. We offer both self-managed and fully managed options under the Support at Home program, so you can choose how much involvement you want in day-to-day care coordination.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation conversation about your Support at Home options. We're here to help.
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