FAQs

A Home Care Package is a government-funded program that provides eligible older Australians with the support they need to maintain their independence at home.

Each package includes an allocated annual budget, which is managed on your behalf by a Home Care Package provider. The provider organises and administers a range of services tailored to your individual needs and goals.

Your care journey begins with My Aged Care, where a case manager works with you, your family, and carers to develop a personalised care plan. This plan outlines the services you will receive and can be adjusted at any time to reflect your changing needs.

Home Care Packages are designed to help you live comfortably and confidently in your own home, ensuring you get the support you need when you need it.

My Aged Care is the Commonwealth Government gateway for all aged care needs, including assessment and information on aged care support and programs across Australia.

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website for further information on the Home Care Packages.

Home Care Packages can pay for services including:

• Personal Care: Assistance with showering, dressing, mobility, toileting and more.
• Daily Living Support: Help with meal preparation, equipment to support independence, shopping and transportation.
• Health Management: Includes nursing services, allied health therapy, continence, and skin integrity management.
• Social and Emotional Support: Respite care, social activities, emotional support and cognitive care.
• Home Maintenance: Gardening, safety modifications, cleaning.

The following services CANNOT be covered by Home Care Packages:

• items that would usually be paid for with general income, such as household bills, other basic living expenses and insurances
• food, unless it is part of enteral feeding needs
• permanent accommodation costs, such as mortgage payments or rent
• Home Care Package fees
• home modifications or capital items that do not relate to care needs
• travel or accommodation for holidays
• entertainment, such as club memberships, tickets to sporting events, apps, subscriptions and hobbies
• gambling
• services or items covered by Medicare or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including over-the-counter medications
• fees or charges for other types of care that the Australian Government fully or partly funds.

Home Care Packages are available across four levels, tailored to meet the recipient’s care needs:

• Level 1: Covers basic care needs with a few carer visits each week.
• Level 2: Offers slightly higher support, with more frequent visits.
• Level 3: Provides a high level of care, with carers visiting most days of the week.
• Level 4: Designed for older Australians with significant care needs. Carers visit daily, offering comprehensive support for nearly all aspects of care.

To qualify for a Home Care Package, you must be:

• 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• A younger person with a disability, dementia, or other care needs that cannot be met through specialist services may also be eligible.

Eligibility is assessed based on your health, mobility, and personal circumstances, with a focus on your ability to manage daily tasks and live independently at home.

The quickest way to determine your eligibility is by using the My Aged Care online eligibility checker. This tool asks questions about:

• Your mobility and independence, such as dressing, meal preparation, and eating.
• Support currently provided at home by friends, family, or others.
• Recent events, like a fall or hospitalisation.
• Your emotional and mental wellbeing.

If eligible, you’ll need to provide your Medicare number and create a My Aged Care record to proceed.

Accessing a Home Care Package is a straightforward process. Follow these five steps to get started:

1. Referral for an ACAT Assessment

Begin by getting a referral to My Aged Care for an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment. You can organise this yourself online at My Aged Care or by calling 1800 200 422. Alternatively, your doctor or another health professional can refer you.

2. In-Person Assessment

An ACAT Assessor will visit your home to evaluate your care needs. They’ll discuss your situation with you and your carer or family to determine:

• Your eligibility for a Home Care Package.
• The package level suited to your needs (Levels 1–4).
• Your priority for receiving a package.

3. Join the National Queue

If eligible, your name will be added to the National Queue for Home Care Packages.

4. Receive Your Package Allocation

When your turn comes, you’ll be allocated a package and receive a letter from My Aged Care with a referral code. You’ll have 56 days to accept the offer, so act promptly to avoid losing the package.

5. Choose Your Provider

Present your referral code to your preferred Home Care Services provider, such as Clayton Church Homes, to arrange your tailored care package.

For further guidance, My Aged Care is available to help you navigate the process and answer any questions along the way.

Each case will be assessed based on priority, with higher-priority cases being addressed first. If you or your loved one are thinking about home care, it’s recommended to take action as early as possible.

As per My Aged Care’s website, individuals can expect to wait around six to twelve months before being allocated a Home Care Package.

Home Care Packages are funded by the Commonwealth Government. Each level of Home Care Package (1-4) is allocated a specific amount of funding. These funds, provided by the Government based on your assessed needs, are paid directly to your Home Care Package provider, such as Clayton Church Homes. This funding, known as a ‘subsidy,’ is calculated daily and paid monthly to the provider. The provider manages the package on your behalf, handling the finances, and is accountable to both the Government and you for how the funds are spent.

Once you have a Home Care Package, you can keep it for as long as you need. If your care needs change and increase, you may be reassessed for a higher-level package.

Any unspent funds, including home care subsidies and supplements, will carry over to the following year. Unspent funds are only returned to the Government when the package holder (consumer) no longer requires the package, such as when they enter permanent residential care.

If you’re considering a Home Care Package, the cost is largely covered by a government subsidy, but you may be asked to contribute depending on your financial situation. The ACAT Assessment is free, and while the Commonwealth covers most of the cost, they do expect a contribution from those who are able. The good news is that any contribution you make adds to the overall budget for services, meaning the more you can contribute, the higher the level of support you can receive.

The amount you’ll need to pay will depend on your income, cash, and assets, which is determined through an income assessment completed via Services Australia or Centrelink. You can find more information on this assessment here.

Clayton Church Homes offers a fee waiver process, and you can view our current Home Care price list to better understand the costs.

From 1 January 2025, the basic daily fee for each Home Care Package level is as follows:

• Level 1: $11.72
• Level 2: $12.40
• Level 3: $12.75
• Level 4: $13.08

Your means test will determine whether you’re required to pay more than the basic daily fee. You may also incur additional fees if you choose extra services outside of the standard Home Care Package.

Around three months before you receive your Home Care Package, you’ll get a letter advising you to start preparing. This is your opportunity to choose a home care provider, such as Clayton Church Homes, if you haven’t already done so. If you’ve already chosen a provider, get in touch with them at this stage of the process to confirm their availability in the coming months.

Next, you will receive a letter confirming that you’ve been assigned a package. This letter will include your referral code, which your chosen provider will use to access your assessment information, support plan, and package level.

Additionally, you will have 56 days from the date of your letter to sign a Home Care Agreement with your chosen provider. If you don’t enter into an agreement within this time, your package will expire and be allocated to the next person on the national priority system. If you’re unable to find a suitable provider within this period, you can contact My Aged Care and request an additional 28-day extension.

A referral code is your unique reference number for accessing home care services. You provide the referral code to your chosen provider. If you misplace your code, you can log in to your My Aged Care Online Account to view it. With the code, your provider can access your client record, accept the referral, and begin arranging services for you.

While researching home care, you may have come across the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). The CHSP is similar to a Home Care Package, but it offers fewer services. It’s designed for older Australians who only require one or two basic services to help them live comfortably at home.