Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: what you need to know

A big change has just landed in aged care at home. The Home Care Package you relied on is now managed under a new system called Support at Home. This guide explains Support at Home vs Home Care Packages in simple terms, so you can understand what has changed and how providers like Trilogy Care can help you get more real care from your funding.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s new system for in-home aged care. It aims to make care at home:

• Easier to understand

• Fairer in how funding works

• More focused on helping you stay independent at home for longer

Instead of several separate programs, Support at Home brings services into one framework with clear funding levels and service categories.

Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: key differences

1. More levels of funding

Home Care Packages only had four levels. Support at Home introduces eight funding levels, so your budget can better match your needs, especially if your care needs sit “in between” the old package levels.

For many people, this means:

• A budget that fits your current needs more closely

• Less waiting to move up when your situation changes

2. Quarterly budgets, not “set and forget”

Under Support at Home, you receive a quarterly budget instead of a notional annual package. The government has also removed the old basic daily fee, and you only contribute towards the services you actually receive.

That matters because:

• You can clearly see what arrives each quarter

• You can plan your care so you use what is yours this quarter, instead of letting funds sit unused

• You can choose providers like Trilogy Care that focus on turning budgets into real care hours, not layers of admin

3. Clearer fees and tighter rules for providers

Support at Home places tighter limits on what providers can charge for care management and overheads, and it removes separate “admin fee” line items.

For you, this means:

• Fewer surprises on your statements

• A simpler view of how much of your budget becomes actual support at home

• More hours, when you choose an efficient provider

4. Stronger focus on independence and clinical care

Support at Home groups services into three clear categories: Clinical Care, Independence Support and Everyday Living. Clinical care (like nursing and allied health) is fully funded, while other supports may involve means-tested co-payments.

This structure encourages:

• Earlier, proactive support to help you stay safe and independent

• Better planning around equipment, home modifications and short-term boosts after a hospital stay

What stays the same?

Even though the system looks different, a few important things do not change:

• You can still receive help at home rather than moving into residential aged care

• You keep the right to choose your provider

• If you used to have a Home Care Package, your services should now be delivered under Support at Home with no break in your care

How Trilogy Care helps you get the most from Support at Home

Support at Home creates more opportunity for clients to get more care hours from the same funding, but only if your provider keeps costs low and transparent. That is where Trilogy Care comes in.

With Trilogy Care, you can expect:

• Your care, your call – we support genuine choice and control over who comes into your home and when

• No strangers. No surprises. You see where every dollar goes, and we focus your budget on frontline support

• Full quarterly budget activation – we help you plan your care so missed care does not become missed opportunity

If you are comparing Support at Home vs Home Care Packages and feeling unsure, you do not have to navigate it alone. Trilogy Care can walk you through what your new Support at Home budget means in real care hours, and how to set things up so your funding actually works for you at home.