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Support at Home: What You Need to Know from 1 November 2025

The Australian Government’s Support at Home (SAH) program officially begins on 1 November 2025, marking one of the biggest changes to aged care in more than a decade.

This new program will replace the current Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs, introducing a simpler, more flexible model designed to give older Australians greater choice and control over the support they receive.

Here’s what’s changing and how Careseekers is helping clients, families, workers and providers get ready.

For Older Australians and Families

New system, new classifications
The familiar HCP Levels 1–4 will be replaced by eight new funding levels and several short-term care pathways - including Restorative Care, End-of-Life Care, and Assistive Technology & Home Modifications.
These new levels aim to better match funding to a person’s individual care needs.

Quarterly budgets
Funding will move to a quarterly cycle, giving recipients more flexibility to plan and adjust their supports throughout the year. Unspent funds may be rolled over into the next quarter.

Service pricing transparency
Providers will publish standardised prices so families can compare options more easily and make fully informed decisions.

Quarterly reporting
Quarterly invoicing and service reporting will replace annual processes, helping ensure more timely payments and oversight.

Training and compliance updates
Providers and workers will need to understand the new service definitions and care-pathway requirements to ensure safe, compliant delivery of care.

How Careseekers Is Supporting the Transition

As the new Support at Home program begins, Careseekers is working to make the transition smooth and straightforward for everyone using our platform —- from clients and families to provider partners and independent workers.

We’ve already:

  • Updated our systems and dashboards to align with the new Support at Home service categories, funding levels, and reporting structures.
  • Worked closely with providers to ensure invoicing remains accurate and payments are processed efficiently under the new rules.
  • Enhancing our compliance tools to reflect the latest service definitions and documentation requirements.

Helping Workers Get Ready

Independent care and support workers are at the heart of this change and we’re here to help them feel prepared and confident.

We’ve:

  • Updated our Learning Hub training with new modules covering Support at Home service definitions, compliance expectations, and person-centred care practices.
  • Provided clear guidance on documentation, shift notes, and communication so workers can meet new reporting requirements with confidence.
  • Added practical resources through our newsletters and Help Centre to explain what Support at Home means for day-to-day work and how to continue delivering high-quality care.

By keeping training and communication up to date, we’re ensuring that every worker on Careseekers is ready to meet the needs of older Australians as the sector evolves.

What This Means for You

These reforms are designed to create a system that’s simpler, fairer, and more person-centred - ensuring older Australians receive care that truly reflects their preferences and supports their independence at home.

And that’s what Careseekers has always been about - connecting people with safe, flexible, high-quality support they can trust.

To become a care or support worker, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/carer

To make a referral, please visit https://www.careseekers.com.au/referrals

To find disability support services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/disability-support-workers

To find aged care services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/aged-care-workers