Your Guide to
Support at Home
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program, designed to help older Australians remain independent, safe and well in their own homes.
At RFBI, we understand there is no place like home. Our Care at Home team can work with you to understand your needs and provide support that helps you continue living life your way.
Depending on your assessed needs and approved services, support may include personal care, nursing and clinical care, help around the home, transport, social support, allied health and other services to support your independence and wellbeing.
Our team will work with you to develop a personalised care plan based on your goals, preferences, approved services and available funding.
Personal care contributions are changing from 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, eligible Support at Home participants will no longer pay a contribution for approved personal care services, provided they are approved for personal care in their support plan and have available Support at Home funding.
Click the image below to watch our video explaining guide to fees and charges.
How to access the Support at Home program
Before you can receive government-funded Support at Home services, you will need an aged care assessment. This determines your care needs, the services you are approved to receive and the level of funding you may be eligible for.
1. Have an aged care assessment
Start by contacting My Aged Care to arrange an aged care assessment. If you need help understanding the process, our RFBI Care at Home team can guide you through the next steps.
Your assessment considers your needs, goals and circumstances and determines the services and funding you may be approved to receive.
2. Meet with your Care at Home Coordinator
Once you have been approved for Support at Home, our team will work with you to understand your needs, goals and preferences and develop a personalised care plan.
Together, we’ll discuss your approved services, available budget and how you would like your support delivered.
3. Identify your service commencement date
Once your Support at Home funding is available and you have chosen RFBI as your provider, we’ll work with you to arrange your services and agree on a commencement date.
If you are waiting for government funding, you can also speak with us about accessing RFBI Care at Home services privately.
4. Receive services and regular reviews
Once your services begin, we’ll continue to work with you and review your care plan to make sure your support continues to meet your needs and goals. If your circumstances or needs change, talk to your Care at Home Coordinator about reviewing your services.
Approved for Support at Home but waiting for funding?
Being approved for Support at Home does not necessarily mean your ongoing funding will be available immediately. The Australian Government uses a priority system to allocate ongoing funding based on a person’s priority category and date of approval.
In some circumstances, you may receive interim funding while you wait for your full ongoing funding allocation.
If you’re waiting for funding, talk to our Care at Home team about your options. You may also choose to access RFBI Care at Home services privately while you wait.
Support at Home fees and contributions
Once approved for Support at Home, you will receive funding based on your assessed care needs and approved services. Under Support at Home, the amount you may be asked to contribute depends on the type of service you receive and your financial circumstances.
Clinical Supports
The Australian Government fully funds approved Clinical Supports, such as nursing and physiotherapy. You do not pay a participant contribution for these services.
Independence
You may be asked to contribute towards approved Independence services. The amount you contribute depends on your individual circumstances.
Every day Living
You may also contribute towards Every day Living services, such as domestic assistance and gardening. Contribution rates for these services are generally higher than for Independence services.
Personal care from 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, personal care will be treated as a Clinical Support for contribution purposes. This means eligible participants will not pay a contribution for approved personal care services, provided they have personal care approved in their support plan and available Support at Home funding.
Your contribution rate is determined based on your financial circumstances. You can use the Support at Home Fee Estimator on My Aged Care to understand what you may be asked to contribute.
Want to see what your contributions might be? Use the Support at Home Fee Estimator on My Aged Care at here. To find out more call My Aged Care at 1800 200 422.
Support at Home classifications and funding
How does Support at Home funding work?
Support at Home provides ongoing funding based on your assessed care needs. There are eight ongoing funding classifications, with increasing levels of funding available depending on the level of support you need. Department of Health Australia
Following your aged care assessment, your support plan may include:
- an ongoing Support at Home funding classification from 1 to 8
- the services you are approved to receive
- your assessed needs and goals
- approval for short-term supports where appropriate, such as assistive technology and home modifications, restorative care or end-of-life care.
Your ongoing budget is allocated quarterly and is used to pay for approved care and services. Your RFBI Care at Home Coordinator will work with you to plan how your available funding can best support your assessed needs and goals.
Frequently asked questions
Care at Home supports you to continue living independently in your own home while receiving help with the things you need. This may include personal care, clinical care, help around the home, transport or social support.
Retirement Living is independent living within a retirement community, offering your own home with the convenience of a low-maintenance lifestyle and a community around you.
Residential Aged Care provides accommodation, personal care and ongoing nursing and care support for people who can no longer live independently at home.
RFBI provides all three options, allowing us to support older Australians as their needs and circumstances change.
Support at Home provides access to a range of services designed to help you remain safe, healthy and independent at home.
Depending on your aged care assessment and approved support plan, services can include clinical care, personal care, help with everyday tasks, social support, transport, allied health, assistive technology and home modifications.
For ongoing services, Support at Home has eight funding classifications. Your aged care assessment determines the level of support and funding you are approved to receive.
You may also be approved for short-term supports, including the Restorative Care Pathway, End-of-Life Pathway or Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.
RFBI provides a wide range of services to help you remain independent, safe and connected in your own home. Depending on your assessed needs and approved services, we can support you with:
- Personal care – support with showering, dressing, personal hygiene and other everyday personal activities.
- Clinical care – nursing and other health-related support to help manage your health and wellbeing at home.
- Help around the home – assistance with cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, gardening and home maintenance.
- Social support and community engagement – companionship and support to stay connected with family, friends and your community.
- Transport – help getting to appointments, shopping and other activities.
- Respite – support that gives family members and carers an opportunity to take a break.
- Allied health and therapeutic support – services that may help with mobility, independence and wellbeing.
- Assistive technology and home modifications – equipment or changes to your home that may help you live safely and independently.
The services available to you will depend on your assessed needs, approvals and available funding.
Depending on your assessed needs and approved services, we may be able to arrange or coordinate additional support.
Talk to your RFBI Care at Home Coordinator about what you need and we'll help you understand the options available through your Support at Home plan or other arrangements.
Yes. You are involved in decisions about your care and how your services are delivered.
Your RFBI Care at Home Coordinator will work with you to develop a care plan based on your assessed needs, approved services, goals, preferences and available funding. We'll explain your options so you can make informed choices about the support that works for you.
There may be a wait between being approved for Support at Home and receiving your ongoing funding. The Australian Government allocates funding through the Support at Home Priority System, based on your priority category and date of approval.
If you're waiting for funding, contact our Care at Home team. We can help you understand the next steps and discuss other options that may be available to you, including accessing services privately.
Yes, police checks are required for all staff, contractors and volunteers who look after our clients and residents.
Yes. You don't need to receive the Age Pension to access Care at Home services.
Eligibility for government-funded Support at Home services is determined through the aged care assessment process, while the amount you may contribute towards some services depends on your individual financial circumstances.
RFBI also provides Care at Home services to private clients. Call our team on 1800 181 959 to discuss your options.
Your Support at Home funding remains active and continues while you are temporarily away from home. You can pause your ongoing services for personal reasons, including going on holiday, being admitted to hospital or entering residential respite care.
Let your RFBI Care at Home team know as soon as possible so we can pause your scheduled services and arrange for them to recommence when you return home.
If your care needs have changed while you have been away, we can also review your services with you to make sure your support continues to meet your needs.
Yes. You can choose the registered Support at Home provider that best meets your needs.
If you're considering moving to RFBI Care at Home, our team can explain the process, discuss your current services and help make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you transitioned from the former Home Care Packages Program and have unspent Home Care Package funds, specific rules apply to those funds when changing providers.
Call 1800 181 959 to talk to our Care at Home team about changing providers.
From 1 October 2026, eligible Support at Home participants will not pay a contribution for approved personal care services.
To access personal care without a participant contribution, you must be approved for personal care in your Support at Home support plan and have available Support at Home funding. Personal care will still be paid from your available Support at Home budget.
Personal care can include help with everyday activities such as showering, dressing, personal hygiene, eating and non-clinical continence support.
Need help understanding Support at Home?
Understanding aged care services, funding and contributions can sometimes feel complicated. You don’t have to work it all out on your own.
Our RFBI Care at Home team can help you understand the Support at Home process, discuss the services you may need and explain how RFBI can support you to continue living independently at home.
Call 1800 181 959 or request a callback to speak with our Care at Home team.