Support at Home Reform 2025Important Update—The new aged care reforms have been delayed.
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September - October 2025
Support at home program delayed
On 4 June 2025, the Australian Government announced a delay in the commencement of the new Aged Care Act, pushing the start date from 1 July to 1 November 2025. This decision has sparked mixed reactions within the aged care sector, particularly given how close we were to the original start date. For several months, the home care sector has raised concerns to the Department that
Education & Resources
Learning, advocacy, and helpful aged care guides.
Over many years in our home, we build memories, routines and familiarity, so when something happens, such as a dementia diagnosis, we may need to review the suitability of our home as to whether it will continue to meet our changing needs in the future. Dementia Australia has created an interactive video to show how to make your home safer and more accessible for people living with dementia. Created by experts including occupational therapists and interior designers who understand the experience of people living with dementia and their carers, the video takes you through a typical home, room-by-room.
Health & Wellbeing
Care tips for body and mind.
In November 2024, the government announced it would release an additional 83,000 home care packages to address the unacceptably high waiting list. At that time, approximately 76,000 people were on the waiting list, many of whom were receiving lower-level Home Care Packages (HCP) while they awaited upgrades. The 83,000 packages are in addition to the 24,000 packages that were expected to be released over the past year to help manage the waiting list.
Education & Resources
Learning, advocacy, and helpful aged care guides.
Being a carer for someone you love and care about can be a life-changing experience. Very few people plan to become a carer and many are uncertain how to navigate their new role if they find themselves in this situation. Whilst Australia is a modern society, there are still some social norms and expectations of how men and women might respond to the demands of caring for another person who depends on them for their everyday independence.
Community & Social Connection
Stay connected through activities and support.
Every person who receives a home care package (HCP) is allocated a daily subsidy for every day that they occupy their package. Each month, we provide you with a financial statement so you can keep track of what was spent on your care and services, and to see what is left over. If the amount of your government subsidy exceeds the amount that is spent in the month, this becomes known as Unspent Funds.
Finance & Aged Care Systems
Guidance on costs, funding, and protection.
Caring for someone with dementia can be rewarding, but finding the right information to support your specific journey can leave many carers feeling lost and confused. My Dementia Companion is a simple one-stop-shop online tool that takes the overwhelm out of navigating the dementia journey. It offers practical, bite-sized checklists, as well as personalised guidance on what to do and where to go next.
Education & Resources
Learning, advocacy, and helpful aged care guides.
Most people will have heard that the new Support at Home program has been deferred to 1 November 2025. This delay will give the government, providers and consumers more time to understand and prepare for the changes. Importantly, for existing home care package (HCP) consumers, the delay will not affect you. You will continue to receive care and services as outlined in your Home Care Agreement, budget, and care plan, including the ongoing accumulation and rollover of any unspent HCP funds.
Education & Resources
Learning, advocacy, and helpful aged care guides.