Level 3 home care to Support at Home (2026 guide)
Andre Smith
Co-founder & CEO
Note: Home Care Packages were replaced by the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. The former Level 3 package ($38,454/year, 2024-25 rate) no longer exists for new entrants. Intermediate care is now covered by Support at Home Classifications 4, 5, and 6. This guide keeps the old Level 3 figures as history and explains the current equivalents.
Key points
- The former Level 3 home care package provided approximately $38,454 per year before 1 November 2025
- Under Support at Home, intermediate care is covered by Classification 4 ($29,696), Classification 5 ($39,697), and Classification 6 ($48,114)
- Covers clinical care (nursing, allied health), independence services (personal care), and everyday living services (domestic help, transport, meals)
- Around 10 to 15 hours of support per fortnight depending on the service mix
- There is no basic daily fee under Support at Home; clinical care is free for everyone, with means-tested contributions for other services
- Existing Level 3 recipients are “no worse off,” keeping equivalent funding and arrangements
What was a Level 3 home care package?
Level 3 was where home care got serious. It was designed for people with intermediate care needs who require a coordinated mix of services that go well beyond basic housework and personal care.
Home Care Packages were replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025, so the four levels no longer exist for new entrants. Intermediate care is now covered by Support at Home Classifications 4, 5, and 6. If you need regular nursing attention and more support than the lower classifications provide, this is the band of funding most likely to suit you.
This level of care covers nursing visits, allied health services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry), home modifications for safety, respite care for family carers, and significantly more hours of personal care than the lower classifications.
How much funding do you get?
The former Level 3 package provided approximately $38,454 per year before 1 November 2025. Under Support at Home, intermediate care is covered by three classifications:
| Classification | Annual budget |
|---|---|
| Classification 4 | $29,696 |
| Classification 5 | $39,697 |
| Classification 6 | $48,114 |
These budgets are a real step up from the lower classifications and support a meaningful care plan. Support at Home budgets are managed quarterly.
Provider fees reduce the amount available for direct care. A provider with lower care management and package management fees leaves more of your budget for actual support hours, so it pays to compare fees before you sign a service agreement. Use our Home Care Package Calculator to model the difference.
What services does intermediate care cover?
Intermediate care (formerly Level 3) covers everything the lower classifications do, plus clinical and specialist services. Your care plan is tailored to your needs.
Nursing care
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Catheter and stoma management
- Medication administration and management
- Chronic disease monitoring (diabetes, heart conditions)
- Post-hospital recovery support
- Health assessments and care planning
Allied health
- Physiotherapy (strength, balance, mobility)
- Occupational therapy (home safety, adaptive equipment)
- Speech therapy
- Podiatry (foot care)
- Dietitian and nutrition support
- Social work and counselling
Personal care (increased hours)
- Daily shower and bathing assistance
- Dressing, grooming, and toileting
- Mobility support and transfers
- Skin care and pressure injury prevention
- Continence support
Domestic and daily living
- Regular house cleaning
- Laundry, ironing, and bed changes
- Meal preparation and cooking
- Grocery shopping and errands
- Garden and home maintenance
Home modifications
- Grab rails and handrails
- Ramp installation
- Bathroom modifications (shower seats, non-slip surfaces)
- Improved lighting
- Door widening for walker or wheelchair access
Assistive technology
- Personal alarms and monitoring
- Mobility aids (walkers, wheelchairs)
- Shower chairs and bath boards
- Specialised equipment based on OT assessment
Respite care
- In-home respite for family carers
- Day respite at community centres
- Short-term residential respite
- Emergency respite when carers are unavailable
Transport and social support
- Transport to all appointments and activities
- Accompanied outings
- Social group participation
- Community engagement support
How many hours per fortnight?
With an intermediate care budget (roughly $30,000 to $48,000 per year), after provider fees, you can expect around 10 to 15 hours of support per fortnight.
The exact hours depend on the mix of services. Nursing care costs more per hour ($90 to $150) than personal care ($55 to $75) or domestic help ($50 to $65). Allied health sessions can cost $120 to $180 per visit.
A typical intermediate care fortnightly schedule:
| Day | Service | Hours | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Personal care (morning routine) | 1.5 hrs | $105 |
| Monday | Domestic help | 2 hrs | $120 |
| Tuesday | Nursing visit (wound care) | 1 hr | $120 |
| Wednesday | Personal care | 1 hr | $70 |
| Wednesday | Social outing | 2 hrs | $130 |
| Thursday | Physiotherapy session | 1 hr | $150 |
| Friday | Personal care | 1 hr | $70 |
| Friday | Meal prep and shopping | 1.5 hrs | $98 |
| Total | 11 hrs | $863 |
This schedule fits within the fortnightly budget of approximately $1,100 to $1,250 (after 15-20% fees). There is room to add more hours or substitute services depending on your needs.
Who is intermediate care for?
This level (formerly Level 3) suits people who:
- Have chronic health conditions requiring regular nursing attention
- Need help with personal care most days
- Are at significant risk of falls or hospitalisation
- Have moderate cognitive decline (early to mid-stage dementia)
- Are recovering from a major health event (stroke, surgery, fractures)
- Need allied health services regularly (not just occasionally)
- Have a family carer who needs respite support
The jump from the lower classifications to intermediate care is significant. It is not just more hours. It is a different kind of care, including clinical services, coordination across multiple health professionals, and the infrastructure to manage complex needs safely at home.
If your needs are mainly personal care and domestic help with occasional medical appointments, the former Level 2 band (Classifications 2 to 3) might still be sufficient. If you need daily nursing care, overnight monitoring, or are at real risk of needing residential care, the former Level 4 band (Classifications 7 to 8) may be more appropriate.
How to apply
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au
- Complete the initial screening (15 to 20 minutes)
- Have your comprehensive assessment at home through the Single Assessment System (about 1 hour, using the Integrated Assessment Tool)
- Receive your approval letter confirming your Support at Home classification
- Choose a provider when a place is assigned (you have 56 days, plus a 28-day extension)
- Start services after signing your service agreement
Assessment tips for intermediate care:
- Make sure the assessor sees your worst days, not your best
- If you have a carer, have them describe the support they provide (this helps justify the level)
- Bring documentation from your GP or specialist about your conditions
- List everything you struggle with, even things that feel embarrassing to mention
Support at Home allocates places through a national priority system based on assessed need (Urgent, High, Medium, or Low). Once a place is assigned, you have 56 days to choose a provider, plus a 28-day extension. Under the former Home Care Package system, Level 3 waits often ran 6 to 12 months. While waiting, you may access the Commonwealth Home Support Programme for basic support.
Estimate your level: Take our free Aged Care Assessment Quiz to see which level of support might suit your needs.
For a detailed guide to the assessment process, read our home care package eligibility guide.
Costs and fees
Support at Home removed the basic daily fee and the old income-tested care fee that applied to Home Care Packages. Instead, you make service-based contributions based on the type of service and your means.
Service-based contributions
| Service category | Full pensioner | Self-funded retiree |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical care (nursing, allied health) | 0% | 0% |
| Independence (personal care, mobility) | 5% | up to 50% |
| Everyday living (cleaning, meals, gardening) | 17.5% | up to 80% |
Clinical care is free for everyone. Your rates for independence and everyday living services sit on a sliding scale between the full pensioner and self-funded rates based on your assessed means.
Lifetime cap
Your total Support at Home contributions are capped at approximately $130,000 over your lifetime (indexed). Once you reach the cap, you stop contributing. Existing Home Care Package recipients who moved across are “no worse off,” keeping their previous arrangements.
Even with contributions, Support at Home costs a fraction of paying privately for equivalent care (which could cost $30,000+ per year out of pocket). For current contribution rates, check myagedcare.gov.au (figures correct as at June 2026).
Support at Home changes
On 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program replaced home care packages. What was Level 3 now falls under Support at Home Classifications 4 ($29,696), 5 ($39,697), and 6 ($48,114), covering intermediate care needs.
The main changes:
- Three classifications replace the single Level 3, allowing more precise funding
- The Single Assessment System (using the Integrated Assessment Tool, or IAT) replaced the old ACAT assessment on 9 December 2024
- The basic daily fee and income-tested care fee were replaced by service-based contributions (clinical care 0% for everyone), with a lifetime cap of approximately $130,000
- Services are categorised into clinical care, independence, and everyday living
If you held a Level 3 package before 1 November 2025, you are “no worse off.” Your services continue and you do not need to reapply.
For full details on the changes, read our Support at Home program guide.
Intermediate care vs other levels of support
This table maps the former Home Care Package levels to the current Support at Home classifications. The level funding shown is the historical 2024-25 rate; the current budgets are the Support at Home classification amounts.
| Feature | Lower care (former L2) | Intermediate care (former L3) | High care (former L4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Former HCP funding (to Oct 2025) | $17,346 | $38,454 | $62,589 |
| Support at Home classifications | Classifications 2-3 ($16,034-$21,966) | Classifications 4-6 ($29,696-$48,114) | Classifications 7-8 ($58,148-$78,106) |
| Hours per fortnight | 6-8 | 10-15 | 20-28 |
| Personal care | Yes | Daily | Extensive |
| Nursing care | Basic | Regular | Complex daily |
| Allied health | Occasional | Regular | Intensive |
| Home modifications | Minor | Yes | Extensive |
| Respite care | Limited | Yes | Regular |
| Equipment | No | Yes | Yes |
For a full comparison of all classifications, read our home care packages complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much was a Level 3 home care package?
The former Level 3 package provided approximately $38,454 per year before 1 November 2025. Under Support at Home, intermediate care is covered by Classification 4 ($29,696), Classification 5 ($39,697), and Classification 6 ($48,114). Provider fees reduce the amount available for direct care.
How many hours per fortnight?
Around 10 to 15 hours, depending on your service mix. Nursing visits and allied health cost more per hour than personal care and domestic help, so a care plan heavy on clinical services will have fewer total hours.
What is the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 care?
Lower care (former Level 2, now Classifications 2 to 3) covers basic personal care and domestic help for 6 to 8 hours per fortnight. Intermediate care (former Level 3, now Classifications 4 to 6) adds nursing care, regular allied health, home modifications, respite, and more personal care hours for 10 to 15 hours per fortnight.
Does intermediate care cover nursing care?
Yes. It covers regular nursing services including wound care, catheter management, chronic disease monitoring, medication administration, and post-hospital recovery support. Clinical care like nursing is fully government-funded under Support at Home.
Can I get home modifications?
Yes. Support at Home funding can cover grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications, improved lighting, and other safety-related changes to your home. These must be included in your care plan and usually follow an occupational therapy assessment.
How long is the wait?
Support at Home allocates places through a national priority system based on assessed need. Once a place is assigned, you have 56 days to choose a provider, plus a 28-day extension. Under the former Home Care Package system, Level 3 waits often ran 6 to 12 months. While waiting, you can access CHSP services for basic support.
What is the difference between intermediate and high care?
Intermediate care (former Level 3, Classifications 4 to 6) is for 10 to 15 hours per fortnight. High care (former Level 4, Classifications 7 to 8, up to $78,106/year) is for 20 to 28 hours per fortnight, including daily nursing, complex care coordination, and overnight support. High care is designed for people who would otherwise need residential care.
Resources
- My Aged Care - register and apply for home care
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission - check provider quality
- Services Australia: aged care fees - fee information
- Department of Health: Home Care Packages - official information
Find an intermediate care provider
Intermediate care requires a provider with clinical capability and experience coordinating complex care plans. Not every provider handles this level well. Carevo connects you with aged care providers who specialise in intermediate and high-level care, so you can compare services and fees before making a decision.
Get matched with the right provider or call 1800 953 253 for help finding the right provider for your needs.
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About the author
Back to Blog Co-founder & CEO · Updated
Andre is the co-founder and CEO of Carevo. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Arts from UNSW Sydney, where his majors were International Relations, Politics, Information Systems, and Media and Communications, graduating in 2014, and went through the UNSW 10x Founders accelerator in 2023.
