On 1 November 2025, the Australian Government replaced the Home Care Packages Program with Support at Home. Support at Home is now the main in-home aged care program for eligible older Australians who need ongoing support at home.
If you are still thinking in Home Care Package language, that is completely understandable. Many people still do. But if you are applying now, being assessed now, or setting up new government-funded support now, the program you are dealing with is Support at Home.
Through Careseekers, you can use Support at Home funding where your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform, and you can also use private support. We give you more choice over who supports you, when support happens and how the arrangement works.
The short answer
Here is the simplest way to think about it:
- Home Care Packages were the old system
- Support at Home is the new system
- Support at Home introduced 8 ongoing funding classifications
- funding for ongoing services is now released in quarterly budgets
- many participants now make contributions towards some services
- older people still receive in-home support, but the funding structure and pricing rules are different.
What Home Care Packages were
Home Care Packages were the previous government-funded program for older Australians who needed coordinated support at home over time.
People were approved into one of 4 package levels, and the package funding was used to arrange ongoing services. This is the language many families still know, which is why it still comes up so often in searches and conversations. Support at Home has now replaced that program.
What Support at Home is
Support at Home is the current in-home aged care program.
It now covers ongoing in-home support through 8 funding classifications, as well as short-term pathways such as restorative care and end-of-life care. The structure is designed to better match funding to need and to support older people to stay at home for longer.
What changed when Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages?
Several important things changed.
1. The funding structure changed
Under Home Care Packages, people were grouped into 4 package levels.
Under Support at Home, people approved for ongoing services are assigned 1 of 8 ongoing classifications, each with its own budget. That gives a more graduated scale of funding than the old package system.
2. Budgets are now quarterly
Under Support at Home, ongoing funding is released in 4 quarterly budgets each year rather than feeling like one continuous annual package. Participants can also carry over some unspent funds into the next quarter, up to a set limit.
The short answer
Here is the simplest way to think about it:
- Home Care Packages were the old system
- Support at Home is the new system
- Support at Home introduced 8 ongoing funding classifications
- funding for ongoing services is now released in quarterly budgets
- many participants now make contributions towards some services
- older people still receive in-home support, but the funding structure and pricing rules are different.
What Home Care Packages were
Home Care Packages were the previous government-funded program for older Australians who needed coordinated support at home over time.
People were approved into one of 4 package levels, and the package funding was used to arrange ongoing services. This is the language many families still know, which is why it still comes up so often in searches and conversations. Support at Home has now replaced that program.
What Support at Home is
Support at Home is the current in-home aged care program.
It now covers ongoing in-home support through 8 funding classifications, as well as short-term pathways such as restorative care and end-of-life care. The structure is designed to better match funding to need and to support older people to stay at home for longer.
What changed when Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages?
Several important things changed.
1. The funding structure changed
Under Home Care Packages, people were grouped into 4 package levels.
Under Support at Home, people approved for ongoing services are assigned 1 of 8 ongoing classifications, each with its own budget. That gives a more graduated scale of funding than the old package system.
2. Budgets are now quarterly
Under Support at Home, ongoing funding is released in 4 quarterly budgets each year rather than feeling like one continuous annual package. Participants can also carry over some unspent funds into the next quarter, up to a set limit.
3. Participant contributions are clearer and more structured
Under Support at Home, most participants contribute towards independence and everyday living services, while clinical supports do not require a participant contribution. What someone pays depends on their circumstances and the type of service they receive.
4. Pricing is more transparent
Support at Home providers set their own prices, and participants use those prices within their budgets. The system is also moving to stronger pricing controls, including price caps. That makes price transparency a bigger part of the new program than many people associated with the old Home Care Package system.
5. The language changed, but the need for support did not
Many of the practical supports older Australians want are still familiar:
- personal care
- domestic help
- transport
- companionship
- respite
- routine support at home
What changed is the program around that support, not the fact that people still want help to stay at home safely and comfortably. Through Careseekers, you can use Support at Home funding with provider approval, or arrange private support directly.
What stayed broadly the same?
A few important things still feel familiar.
Older Australians are still assessed for support needs. They still receive a support plan and funded services if approved. They still choose how support fits into day-to-day life. And many of the core services people rely on at home are still the same kinds of services they were looking for before.
So for many families, the biggest practical shift is not the support itself. It is learning the new funding language and how the new program works.
What if I used to have a Home Care Package?
If you used to have a Home Care Package, you are now living in the Support at Home system.
That means current information, current budgets, current contributions and current service arrangements should now be understood through the Support at Home framework. There are also transitional arrangements for people who moved across from Home Care Packages, so some people may still see older terminology or references during the changeover period.
How Careseekers fits into Support at Home
If you want more choice over the worker who supports you, Careseekers can still fit into the new system.
You can:
- use Support at Home funding where your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform
- use private payments
- compare worker profiles, experience, availability and hourly rates before booking
- choose support that fits your needs, preferences and routine.
That means even though the government program has changed, you can still arrange support in a way that gives you more visibility and flexibility.
Why this difference matters
This matters because people are often searching with yesterday’s language while trying to solve today’s problem.
If someone searches for Home Care Package support, they may really need information about:
- Support at Home funding
- current costs and contributions
- current budgets
- using funded support with a worker they choose
- arranging private support while waiting or alongside funded care
Understanding the difference helps you move from the old terms to the current program more quickly and with less confusion.
Frequently asked questions
Is Support at Home the same as Home Care Packages?
No. Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program on 1 November 2025.
When did Home Care Packages change to Support at Home?
The change happened on 1 November 2025.
What is the main difference between Home Care Packages and Support at Home?
The main differences are the funding structure, quarterly budgets, participant contributions and the new classification system under Support at Home.
Does Support at Home still fund help at home?
Yes. Support at Home is the current government-funded in-home aged care program for eligible older Australians.
Can I use Careseekers if I used to have a Home Care Package?
Yes. If you now receive Support at Home funding, you may be able to use Careseekers where your approved provider agrees to pay for eligible services through the platform. You can also use private support.
Can I still use private care as well?
Yes. You can use Careseekers for privately paid support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home.
Ready to use the current aged care system with more clarity?
We make it easier to understand how Support at Home works, compare aged care workers and choose support that fits your needs.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
Read: Can I Use Support At Home Funding With Careseekers?
Read: Can Family Members Help Arrange Support Through Careseekers?
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