The Support at Home Program, Explained for WA Families
Share this article
The Support at Home Program is the Australian Government's in-home aged care program. It began on 1 November 2025, replacing Home Care Packages, and funds nursing, allied health, personal care and everyday support so older people can stay independent at home.
Support at Home doesn't have one set rate: funding runs across eight classifications, from around $10,731 a year at the entry level up to $78,106 a year at the top classification, shown in full below. Your family contributes based on income and assets, while clinical care such as nursing and allied health is fully funded by the government.
The eight funding classifications (what replaced Levels 1 to 4)
The biggest change is how funding is organised. The four Home Care Package levels have been replaced by eight ongoing funding classifications, enabling support to be matched more closely to your family member's needs.
| Classification | Annual budget | Quarterly budget (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Minimal Support | $11,010.01 | $2,752.50 |
| 2 - Light Personal Care | $16,451.35 | $4,112.84 |
| 3 - Moderate Support | $22,536.81 | $5,634.20 |
| 4 - High-Frequency Support | $30,468.51 | $7,617.13 |
| 5 - Daily Support & Health Coordination | $40,729.53 | $10,182.38 |
| 6 - Comprehensive Care | $49,365.27 | $12,341.32 |
| 7- Intensive Daily Care | $59,660.00 | $14,915.00 |
| 8 - In-Home & Palliative Care | $80,137.12 | $20,034.28 |
| Restorative Care Pathway | $6,000 (up to 16 weeks, extendable to $12,000 | |
| End-Of-Life Pathway | $25,000 budget for 12 weeks | |
| Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme | $500–$15,000 (depending on complexity) |
On top of the eight ongoing classifications, Support at Home also adds three short-term pathways: restorative care to help rebuild independence, end-of-life care, and an assistive technology and home modifications scheme for equipment needs.
What the classification doesn't always capture is how much support already exists around your family member, from a partner, a nearby sibling, an established routine. We've seen families accept the assessed level without checking it against a typical week, and end up either overstretched or paying privately to fill the gap. It's worth walking through a normal week together before agreeing to a plan, not just signing off on a form.
What Support at Home covers
A Support at Home plan aims to bring a wide range of care together, coordinated by one team:
- Clinical nursing - wound care, medication support and help managing chronic conditions
- Allied health - physiotherapy and occupational therapy to keep moving and stay independent
- Personal care - bathing, dressing and daily routines
- Domestic help, meal preparation and transport
- Equipment, home modifications and respite for family carers
What happened to the Level 4 Home Care Package?
If you've been searching for a Level 4 Home Care Package, it's now part of Support at Home. Anyone who had one moved across on a “no worse off” basis, so nothing they relied on was taken away, and that level of care now sits within the top classifications.
What will your family pay?
The government subsidy covers the bulk of the cost. Depending on your family member's income and assets, they may contribute something toward everyday living support like cleaning and meals. While clinical care, such as nursing and allied health, is fully funded by the government, personal care will move to the clinical care category on October 1, to be fully funded by the government.
Every situation is different, so the fairest answer to “what will we pay?” comes from a proper assessment. You can see our full Support at Home pricing on our fees page.
Support at Home sounds complicated, but you don't have to work it out on your own.
We'll help you make sense of it
At Companion Home Care, we help Western Australian families navigate the Support at Home Program every day, from working out which classification fits your family, to putting the right care in place at home with our own qualified nurses, physiotherapists and carers. Our clinical services are overseen by the Clinical Services Manager, a senior Registered Nurse, so every care plan is grounded in real clinical judgement, not just paperwork. We have supported WA families for more than 20 years, and we are only a phone call away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Support at Home Program?
It's the Australian Government's in-home aged care program, in place since 1 November 2025, funding nursing, allied health, personal care and everyday support so people can stay independent at home. Companion Home Care helps Western Australian families work out what that looks like day to day, not just on paper.
How do I know which classification is right for my parent?
There's no way to tell from a table online. It comes down to an official assessment through My Aged Care and the details of your parent's day-to-day needs. Companion Home Care can talk you through what to expect before and during that assessment, and help put the right supports in place once a classification is approved.
What happened to the Level 4 Home Care Package?
The Level 4 Home Care Package, the previous highest level worth around $62,000 a year, was replaced by the top Support at Home classifications, which provide up to around $78,000 a year. The level assigned in the Support at Home program for a Level 4 Home Care Package is Level 4. Anyone on a Level 4 package moved across on a “no worse off” basis. Figures are indicative; confirm current rates with My Aged Care or during a consultation. If a Level 4 Home Care Package, grandfathered client requires more care they require a reassessment by Aged Care Assessment Team.
What can Support at Home funding be used for?
Clinical nursing, allied health (physiotherapy and occupational therapy), personal care, domestic help, meals, transport, equipment, home modifications and carer respite, all coordinated in one care plan.
How do I apply for the Support at Home Program?
Start with a free assessment through My Aged Care. Companion Home Care can guide you through the process and help get support in place while you wait.
Recent Posts
