Key points

  • Support at Home services are organised into three categories: Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living
  • Your quarterly budget has percentage allocations for each category based on your classification level
  • Clinical Care services have no participant contribution (you pay nothing for these)
  • Common exclusions include major home renovations, holidays, gambling, alcohol, and general living expenses
  • Services must be related to your assessed care needs and included in your care plan
  • Carevo connects you with providers who can help you understand exactly what your funding covers

The three service categories

The Support at Home program structures all funded services into three categories. Every service you receive falls into one of these categories, and your quarterly budget has specific percentage allocations for each.

Understanding these categories is not just an administrative detail. It directly affects what you can spend your money on and how much you pay out of pocket.

Category 1: Clinical Care

Clinical Care covers health-related services delivered by qualified health professionals. This is the category where you pay no participant contribution, regardless of your income or assets. The government funds clinical care at 100%.

Services included in Clinical Care

Nursing services

  • Wound care and wound management
  • Medication management and administration
  • Continence assessment and management
  • Pain management
  • Chronic disease monitoring (diabetes, heart failure, COPD)
  • Post-surgical care and recovery support
  • Palliative care nursing
  • Catheter care
  • Stoma care
  • Injections and infusions administered at home
  • Health assessments and care plan reviews

Allied health services

  • Physiotherapy, including exercise programs, falls prevention, and mobility assessment
  • Occupational therapy, including home safety assessments and functional capacity evaluations
  • Speech pathology, including swallowing assessments and communication support
  • Podiatry, including foot care, nail care, and diabetic foot assessments
  • Dietetics and nutritional planning
  • Social work and counselling
  • Psychology services
  • Audiology assessments
  • Optometry assessments (where related to aged care needs)
  • Exercise physiology

Clinical interventions

  • Oxygen therapy management (may also attract a separate supplement)
  • Enteral feeding management (may also attract a separate supplement)
  • Telehealth clinical consultations
  • Clinical monitoring equipment and its management

What Clinical Care does not cover

Clinical Care does not cover mainstream health services that are already funded through Medicare or state health systems. This includes:

  • GP consultations (covered by Medicare)
  • Hospital treatment (covered by state health systems)
  • Specialist medical appointments (covered by Medicare)
  • Prescription medications (covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
  • Emergency department visits
  • Ambulance transport (covered by state arrangements or private ambulance cover)

The general rule is: if Medicare or the public health system already pays for it, Support at Home does not duplicate that funding.

Category 2: Independence

Independence services are designed to help you maintain or improve your ability to live at home safely and with as much autonomy as possible. These services focus on your environment, your equipment, and your capacity to manage daily life.

Services included in Independence

Assistive technology

  • Mobility aids: walking frames, wheelchairs, rollators, walking sticks
  • Personal alarms and emergency response systems
  • Hearing aids and assistive listening devices (where not covered by the Hearing Services Program)
  • Shower chairs, raised toilet seats, and bathroom aids
  • Bed rails, pressure care mattresses, and hospital-style beds
  • Continence aids and products
  • Communication devices
  • Magnifiers and low-vision aids
  • Medication management aids (dosette boxes, Webster packs)
  • Kitchen aids for people with limited hand function or mobility

Home modifications

  • Grab rails in bathrooms, toilets, and hallways
  • Ramps for wheelchair or walker access
  • Widening doorways for wheelchair access
  • Non-slip flooring in wet areas
  • Lever-style door handles and tap handles
  • Improved lighting in key areas
  • Stairlifts or platform lifts (in some circumstances, subject to assessment)
  • Removal of trip hazards such as raised thresholds

Therapeutic supports

  • Restorative care programs aimed at improving your function
  • Falls prevention programs
  • Strength and balance training
  • Cognitive stimulation programs
  • Reablement programs (time-limited, goal-focused programs designed to rebuild your independence)

What Independence does not cover

  • Major home renovations, extensions, or structural changes beyond what is needed for accessibility
  • Home modifications to investment properties or holiday homes
  • Luxury assistive technology that exceeds what is clinically necessary
  • Vehicle modifications (these may be covered through other programs such as the NDIS for eligible individuals)
  • Smart home systems installed for convenience rather than clinical need
  • Swimming pools, spas, or gym equipment for personal use

Category 3: Everyday Living

Everyday Living covers the practical support services that help you manage your daily routine and stay connected to your community. This is the category most people associate with home care: help around the house, personal care, meals, and transport. It is also where most demand sits, with personal care, domestic assistance and transport among the most-requested services from families using Carevo.

Services included in Everyday Living

Personal care

Note: from 1 October 2026, personal care (showering, dressing, grooming, non-clinical continence, eating, hygiene, and help self-administering medication) moves into clinical supports and becomes fully government funded, with no participant contribution. Until 1 October 2026 contributions applied under this category; from then personal care is fully government funded.

  • Assistance with showering, bathing, and grooming
  • Dressing and undressing assistance
  • Toileting support
  • Oral hygiene assistance
  • Hair washing and basic hair care
  • Skin care (non-clinical, such as moisturising)
  • Assistance with eating and drinking (non-clinical)
  • Overnight or 24-hour personal care for participants with higher needs

Domestic assistance

  • House cleaning (vacuuming, mopping, dusting, kitchen and bathroom cleaning)
  • Laundry and ironing
  • Bed-making and linen changes
  • Dishwashing
  • Basic home maintenance (changing light bulbs, replacing smoke alarm batteries, minor repairs)
  • Basic garden maintenance (mowing, clearing pathways, weeding for safety)
  • Rubbish removal
  • Window cleaning (internal)

Meals

  • Meal preparation in your home
  • Delivered meals (such as Meals on Wheels or similar services)
  • Assistance with grocery shopping
  • Nutritional support related to meal planning (non-clinical)

Transport

  • Transport to medical appointments
  • Transport to social and community activities
  • Transport for shopping and errands
  • Accompanied transport (where you need a support worker to travel with you)

Social support

  • Social outings and community participation
  • Companionship visits
  • Support to attend social groups, clubs, or community events
  • Phone-based social support and check-in calls
  • Support to maintain hobbies and interests

Respite care

  • In-home respite (a support worker stays with you so your regular carer can take a break)
  • Community-based respite (attending a day program or social group while your carer rests)
  • Emergency respite (short-notice respite when your carer is unexpectedly unavailable)

What Everyday Living does not cover

  • General living expenses (rent, mortgage, utilities, groceries, clothing)
  • Entertainment subscriptions (streaming services, pay TV, magazines)
  • Pet care and veterinary costs
  • Gambling or alcohol
  • Gifts for family, friends, or staff
  • Holiday accommodation and recreational travel
  • Meals at restaurants (unless part of a structured social outing in your care plan)
  • Cleaning of rooms that you do not use
  • Gardening for aesthetic or recreational purposes (extensive landscaping, ornamental gardens)

Common misconceptions

”I can spend my funding on whatever I want”

Not quite. Your funding must be spent on services that relate to your assessed care needs and are documented in your care plan. While you have choice and flexibility within the three categories, your provider has an obligation to ensure spending aligns with the program rules.

”My provider decides what I can spend money on”

Your provider manages your budget, but you have input into how it is spent. If you disagree with how your provider is allocating your funding, raise it with them first. If you cannot resolve it, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission or an OPAN advocate.

”Everything not on the excluded list is automatically covered”

Not exactly. A service needs to meet two tests: it must not be on the excluded list, and it must be related to your assessed care needs. A service could be technically allowed under the program rules but still not fundable if it is not relevant to your care plan.

”Clinical services are only for people who are seriously ill”

Clinical Care is available to all Support at Home participants who have clinical needs, not just those with serious or complex conditions. A straightforward podiatry appointment or a physiotherapy session for general mobility is just as valid as complex wound care. And remember, you pay nothing for clinical services.

”I cannot use my funding for social activities”

Social support and community participation are explicitly included under Everyday Living. Staying socially connected is recognised as an important part of maintaining wellbeing and independence. Transport to social activities, companionship visits, and support to attend community groups are all fundable.

How budget percentages work across categories

Your quarterly budget is not a single pool that you can spend freely across all three categories. Each classification level has recommended percentage splits that determine how much of your budget goes to Clinical Care, Independence, and Everyday Living.

For example, someone with primarily clinical needs might have a higher percentage allocated to Clinical Care, while someone whose main need is domestic help and social support would have more allocated to Everyday Living. To get a sense of the numbers before you speak to a provider, you can estimate your Support at Home budget and contributions based on your classification level.

Can you move money between categories?

There is some flexibility to shift funds between categories, but it is not unlimited. Your provider can help you request a variation if your spending pattern does not match the default percentages for your classification level. This typically requires a care plan review and may need approval through the My Aged Care system.

If you consistently find that one category is underspent while another is overspent, it is worth having a conversation with your provider about whether your care plan accurately reflects your current needs.

Practical examples

What you can spend funding on

  • A physiotherapist visits weekly to help you with balance exercises after a fall (Clinical Care)
  • Grab rails installed in your bathroom and next to your front steps (Independence)
  • A support worker helps you shower three mornings per week (Everyday Living)
  • A podiatrist visits monthly for foot care related to diabetes (Clinical Care)
  • A personal alarm system so you can call for help if you fall (Independence)
  • Transport to and from your weekly community group (Everyday Living)
  • An occupational therapist assesses your home and recommends modifications (Clinical Care)
  • A meal delivery service provides five lunches per week (Everyday Living)

What you cannot spend funding on

  • Your electricity bill, even though your medical equipment uses power (general living expense)
  • A new television for your bedroom (not related to care needs)
  • Cleaning your adult child’s bedroom in your house (not related to your care)
  • A holiday to visit family interstate (recreational travel)
  • Veterinary care for your dog (pet expenses are excluded)
  • A gym membership (recreational, not part of an assessed clinical program)
  • Meals at restaurants unless they are part of a care plan social outing
  • A new garden design because your yard looks untidy (aesthetic, not safety-related)

How Carevo can help

Understanding what your funding covers, and what it does not, is one of the most important steps in making the most of the Support at Home program. Carevo connects you with registered providers who can walk you through your budget, explain the category splits, and help you plan how to use your funding effectively. With 2,131 aged care providers listed on Carevo, you can compare options across all three service categories before you commit.

Through Carevo, you can:

  • Compare providers based on the services they offer across all three categories
  • Find providers with specific expertise in clinical care, assistive technology, or everyday support
  • Understand provider fee structures so you know how much of your budget goes to actual services

For a full overview of how the Support at Home program works, visit our complete guide. To explore available services and providers in your area, see our Support at Home services page.

Frequently asked questions

Can my provider charge me for services that are excluded from the program?

Your provider should not charge your Support at Home budget for excluded items. If a provider offers services outside the program (such as additional cleaning beyond what your care plan covers), they may offer these on a private-pay basis at your own expense. Make sure any private-pay arrangements are clearly documented and separate from your funded services.

What if I need a service that is not on any list?

If you need a service that does not clearly fit into any of the three categories, discuss it with your provider. They can request a clarification or variation through the My Aged Care system. The program is designed to be flexible, and unusual requests are considered on a case-by-case basis as long as they relate to your care needs.

Do I need to use all three categories?

No. If your needs are primarily in one or two categories, your care plan and budget can reflect that. However, the percentage allocations for your classification level set the default split, and shifting significant amounts between categories may require approval.

How often is the service list updated?

The government reviews and updates the Support at Home service list periodically as the program matures. Changes are communicated through My Aged Care and through registered providers. If you are unsure whether a specific service is currently included, ask your provider or check the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Can I use my Everyday Living funding for a cleaner I already use?

In many cases, yes. If you have an existing arrangement with a cleaner, your provider may be able to incorporate them into your care plan, subject to the cleaner meeting any relevant requirements (such as police checks). Discuss this with your provider when setting up your services.