UPDATE 4 June 2025: The Government recently announced a delay to the new Aged Care Act from 1 July 2025 to 1 November 2025. An open letter was also published on the Department of Health outlining the reasons for this delay from the Minister for Aged Care on 4 June 2025 which can be found by clicking here. This delay includes postponing the transition of Home Care Packages to the new Support at Home Program until 1 November 2025. For more information regarding this delay, please speak to your service provider.
Following recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Support at Home program is Australia’s new in-home care system. It will replace the following existing programs:
| Home Care Packages Short-term restorative care program | 1 November 2025. |
| Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) | no earlier than 1 July 2027. |
The new program includes:
- Tougher regulations on home care providers
- More access to services, equipment and home modifications
- Reduced wait times for accessing home care
- More support levels for home care, including earlier access to restorative care and greater support for end-of-life care
Full details are still being finalised by the department of health and ageing. You can read more about the program here.