Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: Which Is Better for Older Australians?
- Bowen Zhang
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Aged Care in Australia Has Changed — Here’s What It Means for You
From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government officially launched the Support at Home (SAH) program, replacing the long-running Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
This is one of the biggest reforms in aged care in over a decade. But with all the talk about new classifications, funding models, and co-payments, one question keeps coming up:👉 Is Support at Home actually better than Home Care Packages?
Let’s break it down clearly — what’s changed, who benefits, and how platforms like Onsiteable are helping providers and clients adapt to the new system.
1. The Basics: What Each Program Does
2. Why Support at Home Is an Upgrade
✅ More Flexibility
Under the HCP model, older Australians were often “locked” into package levels, making it hard to adjust care as needs changed.Support at Home introduces 8 flexible classifications and short-term pathways (Restorative, Assistive Tech & Home Mods, End-of-Life), allowing support to scale up or down as life changes.
✅ Fairer Pricing
The old system charged daily fees — even if no services were used that day.Support at Home fixes that. You now only pay for what you use, and the co-payment rate depends on your income and assets, making it fairer across the board.
✅ Stronger Oversight
With the Aged Care Act 2024, providers must meet higher standards for transparency, safety, and quality. Management fees are capped, and invoices must clearly show what clients and government each pay — building more trust between clients and providers.
✅ Easier for Providers to Operate Digitally
The new system supports digital recordkeeping and reporting — ideal for modern platforms like Onsiteable, which automate invoicing, bookings, and compliance for on-site aged care and NDIS services.
3. Where Support at Home Still Faces Challenges
⚠️ Transition Complexity
Existing HCP clients will transition gradually, but confusion is likely during 2025–2026 as funding structures shift and providers adapt.
⚠️ Co-Payment Uncertainty
While clinical supports are fully funded, independence and everyday living services require co-payments ranging from 5% to 50% depending on income. Some clients may end up paying more out-of-pocket than before.
⚠️ Provider Readiness
Not all aged care providers are ready for the digital, transparent reporting model required under SAH. Manual paperwork and unclear pricing could make compliance harder — unless supported by tech platforms.
4. How Onsiteable Helps Providers and Clients Adapt
As Australia moves to a transparent, digital-first aged care model, Onsiteable makes life easier for both sides:
For Providers:
Auto-generate Support at Home–compliant PDF invoices showing co-payments and government contributions.
Manage bookings, payments, and reporting in one simple dashboard.
Reduce admin time and comply with fee caps and reporting standards.
For Clients:
Easily book verified service providers for cleaning, gardening, personal care, and allied health.
See clear pricing — no hidden fees, no confusion.
Receive invoices that clearly show what’s covered by the government and what’s paid personally.
With Onsiteable, transparency becomes effortless — exactly what Support at Home was designed to achieve.
5. So, Which One Is Better?
✅ Overall Winner: Support at Home —It’s more flexible, transparent, and aligned with how older Australians want to live: independently, with control and clarity over their support.
6. The Future of Aged Care Is Digital
Support at Home represents more than just a policy change — it’s a cultural shift toward modern, accountable care.Platforms like Onsiteable are leading that change by helping providers digitise every part of the process, from booking and service delivery to invoicing and compliance.
As aged care evolves, those who embrace technology early will be the ones who deliver the most trusted, efficient, and person-centred support in Australia.
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