Support at Home Program Provider in Sydney
Practical help at home, delivered with warmth – in partnership with your registered Support at Home provider.
Available from 1+ hours to 24 hours, 7 days a week, including live-in care. Serving Sydney & NSW Areas.
Jump to section
- About Support at Home (and how we deliver it)
- What changed from Home Care Packages?
- Home Care Packages vs Support at Home
- How the funding works
- What the 8 levels look like in real life
- Which fees group am I in?
- How Care For Family fits in (and why it helps)
- “Please appoint Care For Family” – copy-and-paste email
- What we can help with (built from the official service list)
- Costs, funding and “who tells me what I pay?”
- Key dates
- Availability and coverage
- Booking our Support at Home services
- Frequently asked questions
About Support at Home (and how we deliver it)
From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government introduced Support at Home to fund in-home aged care. It replaced Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC).
Support at Home was designed to be simpler and fairer. Funding arrives quarterly, services are grouped into easy-to-understand categories, and clinical care is usually fully subsidised. Your registered provider will confirm your plan and any contributions; we line up your roster to match what is approved.
The new approach uses eight care levels, pays funding quarterly, and groups services into clinical, independence and everyday living categories. Clinical care remains fully subsidised; other supports can include means-tested contributions.
Care For Family is an associated provider. Your registered Support at Home provider (for example, St Luke’s) holds and manages your funding and plan. We come to your home and deliver the visits your provider approves — giving you the flexible, family-style support we’re known for, while your provider handles the government paperwork and compliance.
Support at Home at a glance
Information is based on Australian Government guidance for the Support at Home program. Policies can change — always check My Aged Care (www.myagedcare.gov.au) or your registered provider for the latest.
What this means day-to-day: You will not need to reapply if you were on a Home Care Package; your support level can be adjusted as your needs change; and your provider will explain any contributions before visits begin. Our job is to make the in-home part smooth, consistent, and human.
Support at Home at a glance
Replaces HCP and STRC
You don’t need to re-apply; your services moved across.
8 care levels
Your support can match your actual needs more closely.
Quarterly funding + limited rollover
You get funding every three months and are encouraged to use it.
Price caps from 1 July 2026
Your registered provider will update you on prices.
CHSP joins no earlier than 1 July 2027
Entry-level help continues as normal for now.
Information is based on Australian Government guidance for the Support at Home program. Policies can change — always check My Aged Care (www.myagedcare.gov.au) or your registered provider for the latest.
What this means day-to-day: You will not need to reapply if you were on a Home Care Package; your support level can be adjusted as your needs change; and your provider will explain any contributions before visits begin. Our job is to make the in-home part smooth, consistent, and human.
What changed from Home Care Packages?
Under the old system, people sometimes saved large balances for “one day”. Support at Home encourages timely support by limiting rollover between quarters. Your provider will help you plan how to use your budget across the quarter so you get the right help at the right time.
- 4 levels → 8 levels: it’s easier to match support to need.
- Annual payments → Quarterly payments: the system can adjust faster as your needs change.
- Big unspent balances → Limited rollover: you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarter (whichever is higher) so more funding is used for care now.
- High admin fees → Capped care management: admin is rolled into service prices at the provider end for clearer, fairer pricing.
- Daily/basic fees → service-based contributions: instead of a fixed daily HCP fee, contributions are attached to the services you actually receive and are confirmed by your registered provider.
- Government price caps (from 1 July 2026): more consistency across providers.
- Entry-level CHSP: won’t move over until no earlier than 1 July 2027.
Home Care Packages vs Support at Home
Home Care Packages vs Support at Home
Eligibility & assessment
Home Care Packages (old)
Separate RAS/ACAT pathways.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
Single Assessment System for all in-home care.
Funding model
Home Care Packages (old)
4 package levels, annual budget, unspent funds could build up.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
8 classifications, quarterly budgets, rollover capped ($1,000 or 10%).
Service list
Home Care Packages (old)
Broad, sometimes inconsistent use.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
Three clear groups: Clinical, Independence, Everyday living.
Fees/contributions
Home Care Packages (old)
Basic daily fee + income-tested care fee (for some).
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
Service-based contributions confirmed by your registered provider; clinical usually fully subsidised.
Pricing
Home Care Packages (old)
Provider-set, admin often separate.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
Admin rolled into unit price; government price caps from 1 July 2026.
Transition
Home Care Packages (old)
Not applicable.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
HCP & STRC clients auto-moved on 1 Nov 2025; “no worse off” for people approved on/before 12 Sept 2024.
Complaints & safeguards
Home Care Packages (old)
ACQSC + Charter of Aged Care Rights.
Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
ACQSC continues under strengthened standards.
How the funding works
- Eight care levels instead of four.
- Funding paid every three months.
- Small rollover allowed into the next quarter (up to $1,000 or 10%).
- Extra pathways (for example, restorative and end-of-life) can be layered on your usual care.
- Official dollar amounts: your registered provider will confirm and approve these; we always work to their approvals.
Your registered provider is the source of truth for approvals, pricing schedules, and any means-tested contributions. If anything changes — for example, a new short-term pathway is approved after a hospital stay — we adjust your roster quickly and keep your provider updated.
What the 8 levels look like in real life
Your level is set via the Single Assessment System. Your registered provider translates that level into approved hours — and that’s what we deliver.
Lighter support: safe showering, domestic assistance, simple meal prep, getting out and about.
Mid-range: daily personal care, shopping, meal prep and respite for a family carer.
Higher support: several visits a day, with nursing on top when approved.
Which fees group am I in?
Not sure? Your registered provider will confirm your group and any contribution — that’s their job under the program.
Not sure which group you are in? Your registered provider can confirm this quickly and inform you of what, if anything, you are required to contribute to Independence and Everyday Living services. Clinical services are usually fully subsidised.
Which fees group am I in?
Group: Grandfathered
Who it’s for (dates)
On HCP / approved / on the list by 12 Sept 2024
What it usually means
“No worse off” – you pay the same or less than HCP.
Group: Transitional
Who it’s for (dates)
Approved 13 Sept 2024 – 31 Oct 2025
What it usually means
Moved on 1 Nov 2025; new rules may apply to some items.
Group: New
Who it’s for (dates)
Entered from 1 Nov 2025
What it usually means
New Support at Home contribution rules from day one.
Not sure which group you are in? Your registered provider can confirm this quickly and inform you of what, if anything, you are required to contribute to Independence and Everyday Living services. Clinical services are usually fully subsidised.
How Care For Family fits in (and why it helps)
We don’t try to be the funding body — that’s your registered provider. We make the in-home part easy.
- You keep (or choose) your registered provider.
- Tell them: “I want Care For Family to deliver my Support at Home visits.”
See the email template you can use below. - They send us your approved hours and services.
- We schedule care — often the same day — and send shift notes, risk alerts and changes back to your provider so they meet monthly care-management requirements.
Because care management is capped under Support at Home, our regular, clear updates help your provider stay compliant — without you repeating your story.
How Care For Family fits in (and why it helps)
We don’t try to be the funding body — that’s your registered provider. We make the in-home part easy.
Who holds your Support at Home funding?
Your registered provider: ✅
Care For Family: ❌
Who confirms your contribution/fees?
Your registered provider: ✅
Care For Family: ❌ We follow what they confirm
Who approves hours and service types?
Your registered provider: ✅
Care For Family: ❌
Who delivers in-home care and nursing?
Your registered provider: May do this
Care For Family: ✅ We come to your home
Who sends updates/shift notes?
Your registered provider: Receives them
Care For Family: ✅ We send them
Who organises AT-HM approvals?
Your registered provider: ✅
Care For Family: We work around installs
- You keep (or choose) your registered provider.
- Tell them: “I want Care For Family to deliver my Support at Home visits.”
See the email template you can use below. - They send us your approved hours and services.
- We schedule care — often the same day — and send shift notes, risk alerts and changes back to your provider so they meet monthly care-management requirements.
Because care management is capped under Support at Home, our regular, clear updates help your provider stay compliant — without you repeating your story.
“Please appoint Care For Family” – copy-and-paste email
To make this step as easy as possible, here is a simple template you can send to your provider:
Subject: Please appoint Care For Family as my Support at Home service team
Hello [provider name],
I am receiving Support at Home funding and would like Care For Family to deliver my in-home care services. Could you please confirm my approved hours for this quarter and share the referral details with them?
Care For Family
Email: care@careforfamily.com.au
Phone: 02 9343 0880
Thank you,
[Your name]
[DOB / client ID]
Don’t have a registered Support at Home provider yet?
That’s okay. Call us on 02 9343 0880 and we’ll tell you what details they’ll need from you so they can appoint Care For Family once your funding is ready.
You can also start the process at My Aged Care or by calling 1800 200 422.
What we can help with (built from the official service list)
Clinical (as approved by your provider):
In-home nursing in line with your plan.
Independence:
- Personal care (showering, dressing, grooming, transfers)
- In-home or overnight respite
- Social support and companionship
- Transport and escorts to appointments
- Shopping and meal preparation
Everyday living:
- Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
- Meal preparation in the home
Real-life examples
A morning in Coogee: 8am showering/dressing, bathroom tidy, a load of washing; 11am transport to GP; we note attendance back to your provider.
An evening in Mosman: your plan includes nursing hours; after work our nurse reviews a wound and medications, updates your provider; we keep the same two carers rotating so you’re not meeting strangers.
Everything we deliver is tied to what your registered provider has approved — nothing extra, nothing hidden.
Short-term, restorative and end-of-life options
Short-term pathways are there to remove pressure on families. Your provider sets the plan; we keep the same familiar faces wherever possible and scale visits up (or down) as the pathway progresses.
Restorative care
Short bursts (often up to 12 weeks) after a fall or illness to get you back to usual routines. This is approved by your registered provider. We do the in-home parts; your provider organises allied health.
End-of-life pathway
More hours in the last weeks or months, so you can stay at home. We increase visits (including weekends) and try to keep the same carers, once your provider approves it.
Interim funding
If your full budget isn’t released yet, your provider may start an interim share so care can begin now. We roster to interim hours and scale up later.
Costs, funding and “who tells me what I pay?”
Support at Home does not use the old HCP basic daily fee. Instead, contributions (if any) are attached to the services you receive and are confirmed by your registered provider before we begin.
Under Support at Home, your registered provider confirms:
- your group (grandfathered, transitional, new)
- your approved services/hours this quarter
- whether a contribution applies
We don’t publish prices because we work with several registered providers and each has a government-aligned schedule. Once your provider confirms your hours, we’ll build a simple plan (what we do, when we come, who comes) and stick to it.
For exact contribution rules or lifetime caps, speak to your provider or My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Key dates
These dates help you know what to expect. If you are unsure how they apply to you, your registered provider can translate them into a clear plan and timeline for your support.
12 September 2024
Date used to decide “no worse off”.
30 October 2025
Providers publish Support at Home info for consumers.
1 November 2025
Support at Home starts; HCP and STRC clients move across automatically.
1 July 2026
Government price caps commence.
No earlier than 1 July 2027
CHSP joins Support at Home.
We continue your visits under your provider through all of these.
Availability and coverage
- Minimum visit: 60 minutes
- After-hours, weekends and public holidays: yes
- Live-in / 24-hour care: available (when your provider approves it)
- Service area: Sydney & NSW
Booking our Support at Home services
- Call us on 02 9343 0880 or request a callback.
- We’ll provide a FREE telephone or in-home consultation to help you decide on the support you need.
- If you’d like to proceed, we can start on the same day once your provider confirms the hours.
All Care Teams Are…
- Expertly trained
- Extensively referenced
- Police checked
Our Team Values…
- Personalised care
- Reliability
- Compassion
Frequently asked questions
Have a quick question? Start here. If your answer is not covered, call us — we will explain how it works for your situation and liaise with your registered provider if needed.
What is the Support at Home program?
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s new way of funding in-home aged care. It started on 1 November 2025 and replaced HCP and STRC. It uses eight care levels, pays funding quarterly, and groups services into clinical, independence and everyday living.
Are you my Support at Home provider?
No. Care For Family is an associated provider — we deliver the visits. Your registered Support at Home provider holds your funding, manages your plan and confirms your contributions.
Can I use Care For Family if I already have a provider?
Yes. Tell your registered provider you want Care For Family to deliver your services. They send us the approved hours and we start care.
Do I need to re-apply if I had a Home Care Package?
No. You were automatically moved on 1 November 2025. You only need a new assessment if your needs have changed.
Will my fees or contributions change?
It depends which group you’re in — grandfathered (on/before 12 Sept 2024), transitional (13 Sept 2024–31 Oct 2025) or new (from 1 Nov 2025). Your registered provider will tell you which applies and what that means.
How do I tell my provider I want Care For Family?
Use the copy-and-paste email above or simply call them and say: “Please appoint Care For Family to deliver my Support at Home services.” Give them our contact details.
What happened to my unspent HCP funds?
They moved across when Support at Home started. After that, only up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget can roll over to the next quarter.
Can you start quickly?
Often, yes. Once your provider confirms your hours and service types, we can usually start the same day.
Who organises equipment or home modifications?
Your registered provider. Support at Home has a separate AT-HM scheme — they manage approvals and spending. We line up our visits around it.
What if I’m waiting for my full funding?
Your provider may release interim funding (a percentage of your budget) so you can start care sooner. We can deliver against interim hours.
Do I keep the same carers?
That’s our aim. We try to build a small, familiar team around you and keep your roster stable. If your provider changes your approved hours, we’ll adjust.
Will prices go up?
From 1 July 2026, the government plans to introduce price caps for Support at Home services. Your registered provider will update you; we’ll keep delivering within what they approve.
Can I get short-term or end-of-life support at home?
Yes, if your provider approves those pathways. Support at Home allows for restorative and end-of-life periods — we can increase visits and keep your usual carers as much as possible.
Who do I talk to if I have a complaint?
Start with Care For Family — we can fix visit-level issues and pass on plan/funding issues to your provider. If you’re still unhappy, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822.
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