Support at Home
Support at Home funding is spent against a defined service list rather than on whatever you choose. The list sets out every service type that can be delivered under the programme, grouped into three categories, and your support plan decides which of them apply to you. This page explains the categories in plain English and what you would actually pay.
The service list is organised into clinical supports, independence services, and everyday living services. Clinical supports cover things like nursing care, allied health and nutrition. Independence services cover personal care, respite and transport. Everyday living services cover domestic assistance and home maintenance and repairs. The categories matter because they determine what you contribute.
The government pays the full cost of clinical supports, so nursing and allied health carry no contribution. Independence and everyday living services do carry a contribution, and how much depends on an assessment of your income and assets rather than on which provider you choose. From 1 October 2026 the government will also fully fund personal care, meaning approved personal care is delivered at no out-of-pocket cost.
Alongside ongoing services, Support at Home includes three short-term pathways. The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme funds equipment and changes to your home. The Restorative Care Pathway provides intensive short-term support after a setback such as a fall. The End-of-Life Pathway provides higher levels of support in the final months at home.
The service list also gives examples of what cannot be delivered through Support at Home, and the government is explicit that those exclusions are not an exhaustive list. The principle to hold onto is that funding is for the care needs identified in your support plan, not for general living costs. If you are unsure whether something is covered, ask your provider to check it against the service list before you commit.
Harwell provides clinical and personal care, domestic assistance, respite, palliative care and overnight support. Not every provider offers every service type, so it is worth checking that the services in your support plan are ones your provider actually delivers.
Your support plan, not the full service list, decides what you can access. Call 1300 064 430 and we will go through your plan with you and explain what each line means.