Can Family Members Help Arrange Support Through Careseekers?

The short answer

A family member or representative can help with things like:

• searching for workers
• comparing profiles, experience and availability
• helping organise support
• discussing schedules and practical needs
• helping work out whether Support at Home funding or private support is the best fit.

If government funding is being used, the approved aged care provider still needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.

Why family members often help

Arranging support can involve a lot of moving parts.

There may be questions about:

• what kind of help is needed
• how often support should happen
• whether the support is funded or private
• which worker feels like the right fit
• what the schedule should look like

Family members often help because they want to make the process simpler, reduce stress and help the older person feel more confident about starting support.

How this works through Careseekers

Through Careseekers, family members or representatives can help with the practical side of arranging support.

That can include:

• searching for workers by location, service type and availability
• reviewing profiles, experience and hourly rates
• helping compare options
• helping organise one-off, occasional or ongoing support.

The aim is still to build support around the older person’s needs, preferences and routine.

Does the older person still stay in control?

Yes.

Support works best when it reflects the older person’s own needs, wishes and preferences. My Aged Care guidance also encourages people to think about their goals and preferences in advance, and notes that they may want a family member, friend or carer with them for support.

So even if a family member is helping with the practical side, the support arrangement should still be shaped around what the older person wants.

Can family members help with Support at Home too?

Yes.

If Support at Home funding is being used, a family member can still help compare workers and organise support through Careseekers. The key point is that the older person’s approved aged care provider needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.

That means family support can sit alongside the funded arrangement. It does not replace the provider’s role in approving eligible services and payments.

What if someone needs more formal help making decisions?

The aged care system also recognises that some older people want formal support from someone they trust.

My Aged Care explains that older people can have a registered supporter to help them make and communicate decisions, and that people who already had regular or authorised representatives were transitioned into the new registered supporter system from 1 November 2025.

That may be helpful for people who want a family member or trusted person to support them more formally through their aged care journey.

What can family members help organise?

Depending on the person’s needs, family members may help arrange support such as:

• personal care
• domestic support
• companionship
• transport
• respite
• overnight or routine support
• dementia or palliative support, depending on the arrangement.

The exact services still need to match the older person’s support plan if funded care is being used.

What should family members check before getting started?

Before helping to arrange support, it helps to be clear on:

• what type of support is actually needed
• whether Support at Home funding is being used or whether the arrangement will be private
• whether the approved provider will pay Careseekers
• what schedule would work best
• what matters most to the older person in a worker
• whether the arrangement is one-off, occasional or ongoing.

The clearer these points are at the start, the easier it is to compare options and build an arrangement that works well.

Why this can work well

For many families, this gives the best of both:

• the older person still gets choice over who supports them
• a family member can help with the practical side
• the arrangement can be more flexible and more personal
• support can be organised through funded care, private care, or a mix of both.

Frequently asked questions

Can a family member help arrange support through Careseekers?

Yes. A family member or representative can help search for workers, compare options and organise support through Careseekers.

Does the older person still choose the worker?

Yes. Support should still reflect the older person’s needs, preferences and routine, even if a family member is helping with the process.

Can family members help if Support at Home funding is being used?

Yes. A family member can still help arrange support, but the approved aged care provider needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.

Can family members help arrange private support too?

Yes. Careseekers can be used for private aged care support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home.

What can family members help with?

They can help search for workers, compare profiles, look at availability and rates, and help organise one-off, occasional or ongoing support.

Is there a more formal role for someone helping with decisions?

Yes. In the aged care system, an older person can have a registered supporter to help them make and communicate decisions.

Ready to organise support with more confidence?

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Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?

Read: What Services Can Aged Care Workers Provide Under Support At Home?

Read: Can I Keep My Current Aged Care Worker and Use Careseekers?