If you’re new to Australia’s aged care system you may have heard that things have recently changed but not know what that means for you or your loved one.
This guide will give you the basics.
What Is the New Support at Home (SAH) Program?
On 1 November 2025, the Australian Government launched the Support at Home (SAH) program to replace the old Home Care Package system.
SAH is designed to offer simpler and more flexible ways for older people to get the support they need to continue to live independently at home for longer.
Key Features of the SAH Program
SAH includes three service categories for:
- Clinical care, including nursing care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and continence care
- Independence, including help getting dressed, taking medications, transport and respite care
- Everyday living, including cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation.
A full list of services is available here.
Short-term Pathways
SAH also includes short-term funding pathways which can provide time-limited additional support in certain situations. These include:
- Restorative Care, to help regain independence with daily tasks (up to 16 weeks and up to $6,000, sometimes up to $12,000, in support)
- End-of-Life Pathway, to support you to remain at home in your last three months of life (up to $25,000).
Brightwater Service Leader Fern Raynham said: “These are basically designed to give short-term, interim funding for goal-oriented care”.
“For example, a person going into hospital to have a hip replacement might use the restorative care program to help them with acute physiotherapy, acute rehabilitation in the home, for six to eight weeks, to help them get back to a functional level.
“Once you’ve met your goal, that funding ceases.”
Equipment and Modifications
Fern said SAH’s new Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme (often referred to as AT-HM) can give you access to products, equipment and home modifications (up to a value of $15,000) in certain situations.
“It includes things we never used to be able to buy for clients under the old system, like assisted toothbrushes and electrical chair raisers,” she said.
Who is Eligible and How to Access Support at Home
To receive SAH you must be 65 years or older (or 50 years or older if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person).
You must also be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible visa holder.
To access SAH, you must be assessed. Assessments are carried out by trained assessors, who will determine your needs and level of support.
To be assessed, contact MyAgedCare by registering online or by calling 1800 200 422.
If you’re approved, the assessor will designate the level of funding you qualify for. You’ll then be able to appoint your preferred Aged Care Provider to provide your services.
The Levels of Support
There are eight funding levels you may be approved for.
| Level | Approximate Annual Funding |
| Level 1 | ~$11,000 |
| Level 2 | ~$16,000 |
| Level 3 | ~$22,000 |
| Level 4 | ~$30,000 |
| Level 5 | ~$40,000 |
| Level 6 | ~$48,000 |
| Level 7 | ~$58,000 |
| Level 8 | ~$78,000 |
“On all the levels you have access to clinical, independence and everyday living care, but the funding you get for each of them is different,” Fern said.
SAH budgets are paid quarterly.
Clinical care (e.g., nursing care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy) is fully government-funded.
Non-clinical services (i.e., independence and everyday living care) require a financial contribution from the customer.
How Much Does Support at Home Cost?
Contributions are designed to make access to SAH as fair for all as possible.
You will only pay contributions for the services you receive. Those contributions are based on your income and assets and are set as a percentage of the price of each service you receive.
These are the standard contribution rates.
| Age Pension Status | Clinical Care | Independence | Everyday Living |
| Full Pensioner | 0% | 5% | 17.5% |
| Part Pensioner & eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card | 0% | Between 5% and 50% depending on income & assets | Between 17.5% and 80% depending on income & assets |
| Self-Funded Retiree | 0% | 50% | 80% |
How Brightwater Can Support You
If you’re looking for guidance or help with the new Support at Home Program, contact Brightwater’s experienced care team on 1300 223 968 today.
Our team will be happy to meet with you to talk about Brightwater’s services, answer any questions, help you complete any paperwork, and start shaping a care plan that suits your life.
Together, we’ll help you work out what kind of care you need, how often you need it, and the times that best suit you to receive it.
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