Support at Home with Aunty Grace

Support at Home is the in-home aged care program run by the Australian Government. Commencing on November 1st, 2025, it replaces the Home Care Packages and Short‑Term Restorative Care programs, providing government-subsidised in-home support for older Australians. There are 8 classification levels. Annual funding starts at $11,010 for Level 1 and $80,137 for Level 8. Funding is paid quarterly with additional means-tested income and asset-based client contributions. Aunty Grace is a registered Support at Home service provider across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, and Gippsland. 

The Australian Government’s Support at Home program officially commenced on 1 November 2025.

Support at Home has replaced the former Home Care Package program, introducing a more flexible and personalised approach to in-home care. This long-awaited reform is designed to enhance how care is delivered, ensuring older Australians receive the right support, tailored to their individual needs, when they need it most.

From 1 November 2025, Support at Home replaced the current Home Care Package program, it has brought a more flexible and tailored approach to in-home care. This long-awaited change has been designed to improve how care is delivered, ensuring older Australians receive the right support when they need it.

At Aunty Grace, we’re your expert care partner in navigating these changes. With our deep understanding of home care and a commitment to making things simple, we’ll ensure you receive the best possible services and support under Support at Home. 

If you're looking for a provider who will make sure you get the most from your available government funds and deliver the support you truly need, now is the time to switch to Aunty Grace.

Under Support at Home, your government funding is received quarterly and available at the start of each quarter. However, at the end of each quarter, the maximum amount of unspent funds that can be rolled over is the greater of $1,000 or 10% of the quarter’s subsidy.


At Aunty Grace, we take the stress out of budgeting and managing your funding, ensuring you receive the best care with ease. Our expert Care Partners will help you make the most of your funding, ensuring you get the services and support you need to maximise your Support at Home funding. When you join the Aunty Grace family, we take out the hassle so you can focus on what truly matters.

Support at Home funding has eight classification levels ranging from basic care needs (Level 1: $11,010 a year or $2,753 a quarter) to very high, complex care needs (Level 8: $80,137 a year or $20,034 a quarter) with funding paid quarterly. Each level corresponds to a different level of in-home care needs from light domestic assistance to intensive care and palliative support.

Simple, Transparent, and Great Value


At Aunty Grace, we believe quality care should be clear, fair, and easy to understand. That’s why our pricing is designed to be competitive and to help you get the very most from your government funding.

Under the Support at Home program, all costs—including administration, labour, and transport—are built into the price of each service. This means no surprises or hidden fees, just straightforward pricing that reflects the true value of the care and support you receive.

Care Management: 10% of your Support at Home Ongoing Services Funding

Care Management is a set part of your Support at Home funding, designed to ensure you get the best care and support.

Aunty Grace uses these funds to provide expert guidance, connect you with trusted services, and keep your care plan up to date—helping you make the most of your funding and receive the care you need.

Your care, your contribution

Your contributions go directly toward the services you use, helping you get the most out of your home care while maximising government support. The government provides funding based on your needs, and with your contributions, it means you can access even more care and services to better support you living happy and healthy at home.


You’ll only ever pay for the services you receive. There are no extra fees or charges beyond what is needed to cover your care. Even if you contribute, the government still covers a portion of the costs, ensuring you get the best value from your funding. Note that you’ll pay no out-of-pocket contributions on clinical supports! This includes any nursing, physiotherapy and other clinical services through your Support at Home funding.

Support at Home client contributions vary by service and funding category with clinical support services provided free of charge across all contribution categories. Full pensioners pay 5%  for Independence services, and 17.5% for Everyday Living services; part pensioners and self‑funded clients with a CHSC pay 5 - 50% (Independence) and 17.5 - 80% (Everyday Living); and self‑funded and means not disclosed pay 50% (Independence) and 80% (Everyday Living).

Below is a breakdown of how these contributions work:

*Contributions will be applied on a tapered rate based on the participant’s income and assets assessment

Participants on a Grandfathered Arrangement
Grandfathered HCP recipients are those who, on the 12th of September 2024, were either receiving a Home Care Package, on the National Priority System, or assessed as eligible for a package.

• Previous HCP recipients who were not required to pay an income-tested care fee will continue to make no contributions under Support at Home. This includes all grandfathered full-rate pensioners.
  
  
• Previous HCP recipients who were required to pay an income-tested care fee will transition to Support at Home with discounted contribution arrangements.

Grandfathered Support at Home participants have fixed contribution settings. Clinical support services are provided free of charge across all contribution categories with full pensioners also not required to pay for Independence and Everyday Living services; part pensioners and self‑funded CHSC clients contribute 0 - 25% (Independence and Everyday Living), and self‑funded and means not disclosed pay 25% (Independence and Everyday Living).

*Contributions will be applied on a tapered rate based on the participant’s income and assets assessment

Did you know there’s extra help available beyond your standard Support at Home budgets?
In certain situations, you may be eligible for additional funding to help you stay safe, comfortable, and independent at home. These funding types are separate from your regular Support at Home budget and need to be accessed individually based on your needs. When you're with Aunty Grace, your dedicated care partner will be there to help you apply and access these funds when required.

Every person’s Support at Home journey is different, which is why we take the time to understand what matters most to you. Whether you live in Melbourne or elsewhere across Victoria, we'll work with you to create a personalised plan that supports your independence, wellbeing and confidence to continue living safely and comfortably at home.

With a trusted network of experienced carers, nurses, allied health professionals and support workers across Melbourne and regional Victoria, we can connect you with the right people for your needs. As your goals change over time, your support can too, ensuring you continue to receive the right care, at the right time.

Whether you're just getting started and applying with My Aged Care or already have a Home Care Package, you could fall into one of several categories under the updated Support at Home program. To make it easy, we’ve outlined the different pathways below. Click on the option that best matches your situation to learn more — and remember, Aunty Grace is here ready to help you understand your choices and guide you every step of the way.

Discover where you fit in with the new Support at Home program.

Last Reviewed: 14 July 2026
Reviewer: Sharon Burkitt (Aunty Grace Support at Home Specialist)