Support at Home, Made Simpler

Practical in-home care and support, and help understanding your funding.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government's flagship in-home aged care program, replacing Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 November 2025. It provides practical help so people can continue living in their own homes safely and independently.

The program covers everyday tasks like showering, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transport to appointments. It also includes nursing, physiotherapy, and allied health support when those services are part of your care plan.

Unlike the previous system, Support at Home uses a single assessment process and a flexible funding model. Your budget is determined by your assessed needs, and you can choose how to spend it across the services that matter most to you.

Highfield Care supports families across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast with Support at Home, delivered with registered aged care providers we work with. We help families understand what they are entitled to, plan care that actually fits their situation, and adjust things as needs change over time. If you want the detail first, our explainer on what Support at Home is covers the changes in plain English.

Who it is for

Older Australians who need help at home

Funding

Government-subsidised based on assessed needs

Started

1 November 2025

Managed by

Services Australia and the Department of Health

One of the first questions families ask us is how Support at Home differs from the Home Care Packages they may have been on before. The core idea is the same — government-funded care delivered at home — but the new system aims to be simpler to navigate and more flexible in how you use your budget.

In practice, that means fewer separate programs to juggle. Your assessed funding follows you whether you need personal care, domestic assistance, meals, transport, or a combination. There is one care plan, one budget, and one team coordinating everything.

Highfield Care was built on the Sunshine Coast by people who have seen how confusing the aged care system can be from the outside. We do not expect you to understand every detail of your funding before you call us. That is our job — to translate the jargon into something that makes sense for your family. We deliver it as aged care in Noosa and across the Sunshine Coast.

The carers we match are all experienced, background-checked, and local to your area. We do not rotate staff unnecessarily, and wherever possible the person who helps your mum on Tuesday is the same, personally matched carer the following Tuesday too. Continuity matters more than most people realise until they have experienced the alternative.

Getting started is straightforward. You can refer yourself through My Aged Care, or we can help you navigate that process. Once your assessment is complete, we meet with you to build a care plan that reflects what your family actually needs — not what a generic template suggests. If you have been approved and are still waiting for services to start, our guide to waiting for Support at Home explains what happens between approval and your first visit.

We are transparent about costs from the outset. We will explain our fees in plain language before anything starts, and there is no pressure to sign up for services you do not want. If something is not working, we change it. That is how care should be.

What's Included

✓Personal care: showering, dressing, personal hygiene
✓Domestic assistance: cleaning, laundry, meals
✓Transport: appointments, shopping, errands
✓Social support: companionship, outings, activities
✓Allied health: nursing, physio, podiatry
✓Respite cover for family carers
✓Medication prompts and health monitoring
✓Home safety and modification advice

Help With Daily Living

Practical support with showering, dressing, personal hygiene, and mobility — delivered with dignity and patience.

Meals and Nutrition

Planning, preparation, and cooking that respects preferences, dietary needs, and cultural requirements.

Getting Out and About

Reliable transport and accompaniment to appointments, shopping, social visits, or a walk along the beach.

A Clean, Safe Home

Housekeeping, laundry, and gentle reminders about safety — so the home stays comfortable and hazard-free.

We work across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, including the hinterland areas. Because our carers live locally, travel between visits is practical rather than becoming a long trip that eats into care time. If you are just outside our current area, get in touch and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.

Areas we serve:

Noosa Sunshine Coast

Common Questions

How do I access Support at Home?

You start by contacting My Aged Care to request an assessment. We can help you prepare for that call and explain what documentation makes the process smoother.

Can I keep my current carer if I'm already receiving care?

In most cases, yes. We work with families transitioning from Home Care Packages and aim to preserve existing carer relationships wherever possible.

How quickly can care start?

Once your assessment is approved and funding is allocated, we can typically begin care within a few days — and because we set up signed clients in our system within 24 hours, the only wait is the funding itself, not our paperwork.

What does it cost?

Your contribution is determined by Services Australia based on your income. We are transparent about our fees and will explain the full cost structure before care begins.

Can I change my care plan later?

Absolutely. Your care plan is reviewed regularly, and you can request changes at any time as your needs evolve.

Do you provide care outside normal business hours?

Yes. We offer care seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, because needs do not follow a nine-to-five schedule.

Ready to talk about Support at Home?

Whether you have just started looking into aged care or you are ready to arrange support, we are here to help. No obligation — just a straightforward conversation.

Get in touch