Support at Home Prices 2026: Indicative Costs
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Support at Home Prices 2026: What You Will Actually Pay
The Australian aged care system is undergoing its biggest reform in decades. From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program replaces the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme.
For a full overview of the new system, see our complete guide to the Support at Home Program.
If you or a loved one receive in-home care, understanding what services cost under this new system is essential. This guide covers indicative prices, price caps, co-contributions, and how to compare providers so you can make confident decisions about your care.
How the Support at Home Pricing Structure Works
Support at Home uses a fundamentally different pricing model from the old Home Care Packages. Here is how it works:
- Government funding allocation - You are assessed and classified into a level (1 through 8) that determines your total quarterly budget
- Itemised service pricing - Each service has a listed price per unit (hourly rate, per trip, or per meal)
- Price caps - The government sets maximum prices that providers can charge for each service category
- Co-contributions - You pay a portion of the service cost out of pocket, based on the service type and your financial means
- Government subsidy - The remainder is paid directly to your provider by the government
This structure gives you far more visibility into where your money goes compared to the old system. For details on how classification levels work, see our guides on Support at Home classification levels 1-3 and levels 4-8.
Price Caps: How the Government Protects You
One of the most significant changes under Support at Home is the introduction of government-set price caps. These caps set the maximum amount a provider can charge for each service.
What price caps mean for you:
- Providers can charge up to the cap, but never above it
- Providers are free to charge less than the cap, creating competition
- Caps are set per service type and reviewed regularly
- The Department of Health and Aged Care publishes updated cap schedules on their website
Price caps address one of the biggest complaints about the old Home Care Packages system, where some providers charged well above market rates for basic services with limited accountability.
Important: Price caps are different from the indicative prices listed below. The indicative prices come from a provider survey and show what providers expect to charge. Price caps are the legal maximum.
Understanding Co-Contributions: What You Pay Out of Pocket
Under Support at Home, services fall into three categories, each with different co-contribution rules:
Clinical Care (No Co-Contribution)
Services like nursing care, allied health therapy, and other clinical interventions have zero co-contribution. The government covers these fully from your budget allocation. This protects people who need the most intensive health support.
Independence Services (Lower Co-Contribution)
Services that help you maintain independence, such as assistive technology, home modifications, and some therapy-related supports, have a modest base co-contribution. For most recipients, this is approximately $5 per hour of service.
Everyday Living Services (Means-Tested Co-Contribution)
Services like personal care, domestic assistance, meal preparation, gardening, and transport have a co-contribution that depends on your income and assets assessment.
- Full pensioners with minimal assets pay the lowest co-contribution
- Part pensioners pay a moderate co-contribution
- Self-funded retirees pay a higher co-contribution, up to a defined cap
Your specific co-contribution is calculated by Services Australia based on your means assessment. The government has released an online calculator to help you estimate your personal costs.
To understand how income testing works in detail, read our guide on the income-tested care fee.
Indicative Support at Home Price Ranges
The government released indicative prices based on a survey of over 300 HCP providers. These are not price caps or fixed rates. They show the range of prices providers expected to charge when the program launched.
Use these figures to benchmark what your provider charges against the national median and the typical range.
Nursing Care Services
| Service | Unit | National Median | Lower Range | Upper Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing care (general) | Hour | $150 | $125 | $179 |
| Registered nurse | Hour | $160 | $144 | $186 |
| Enrolled nurse | Hour | $140 | $120 | $163 |
| Nursing assistant | Hour | $110 | $92 | $143 |
No co-contribution applies to nursing services under the clinical care category.
Allied Health and Therapeutic Services
| Service | Unit | National Median | Lower Range | Upper Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied health (overall) | Hour | $195 | $160 | $220 |
| Allied health therapy assistant | Hour | $122 | $105 | $167 |
| Counsellor or psychotherapist | Hour | $208 | $160 | $225 |
| Dietitian or nutritionist | Hour | $200 | $165 | $219 |
| Exercise physiologist | Hour | $190 | $165 | $219 |
| Occupational therapist | Hour | $200 | $174 | $220 |
| Physiotherapist | Hour | $185 | $160 | $210 |
| Podiatrist | Hour | $180 | $153 | $208 |
| Psychologist | Hour | $228 | $210 | $250 |
| Social worker | Hour | $200 | $163 | $238 |
| Speech pathologist | Hour | $208 | $187 | $236 |
| Therapeutic services for independent living | Hour | $165 | $140 | $220 |
| Remedial masseuse | Hour | $150 | $134 | $206 |
No co-contribution applies to allied health services under the clinical care category.
Support Services, Care Management, and Everyday Living
| Service | Unit | National Median | Lower Range | Upper Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care management | Hour | $120 | $80 | $150 |
| Restorative care management | Hour | $150 | $120 | $173 |
| Personal care | Hour | $100 | $85 | $115 |
| Social support and community engagement | Hour | $99 | $82 | $110 |
| Respite | Hour | $99 | $85 | $112 |
| Transport | Trip | $70 | $40 | $97 |
| Domestic assistance | Hour | $95 | $83 | $109 |
| Home maintenance and repairs | Hour | $103 | $85 | $120 |
| Meal delivery | Meal | $15 | $11 | $22 |
| Meal preparation | Hour | $97 | $82 | $110 |
Co-contributions apply to everyday living services in this category, based on your means assessment.
(Source: Department of Health and Aged Care, Summary of indicative Support at Home prices, published 13 October 2025)
Important Notes About These Prices
- These are national averages. Prices in your area (metro, regional, or rural) may differ
- Prices shown are for standard business hours. Evenings, weekends, and public holidays may cost more
- The list includes only services where sufficient survey data was collected
- Most prices are per hour. Transport is per trip. Meal delivery is per meal
Example: What a Typical Week of Care Might Cost
To give you a practical sense of pricing, here is what a typical week of care might look like for someone on a mid-level Support at Home classification:
| Service | Hours/Units | Indicative Cost | Your Co-Contribution* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal care (3 sessions) | 3 hours | $300 | $15-$60 |
| Domestic assistance | 2 hours | $190 | $10-$38 |
| Nursing visit | 1 hour | $150 | $0 |
| Physiotherapy | 1 hour | $185 | $0 |
| Transport (2 trips) | 2 trips | $140 | $10-$28 |
| Meal delivery (5 meals) | 5 meals | $75 | $5-$15 |
| Weekly total | $1,040 | $40-$141 |
Co-contribution ranges depend on your means assessment. Full pensioners pay the lower end. Self-funded retirees pay the higher end.
The remaining cost is covered by your government-funded Support at Home budget.
How Support at Home Prices Compare to Old Home Care Packages
The shift from Home Care Packages to Support at Home brings several pricing improvements:
What changed
| Feature | Old HCP | Support at Home |
|---|---|---|
| Fee transparency | Bundled fees, hard to compare | Itemised per-service pricing |
| Administration charges | Up to 20-25% of package | Reduced, with caps on overhead |
| Case management fees | Up to 15-20% of package | Included in care management rate |
| Price regulation | Limited oversight | Government-set price caps |
| Exit fees | Some providers charged fees | Banned completely |
| Unspent funds | Complex transfer process | Funds follow you to new provider |
Under the old system, some providers consumed 35-45% of your package budget in administration and case management fees before any services were delivered. Support at Home is designed to ensure more of your funding reaches actual service delivery.
For practical tips on making the most of your budget, see our home care package spending guide.
Provider Price Transparency Requirements
Support at Home introduces strict transparency obligations for providers:
- Published price lists - Providers must make their full price list available to you before you sign a service agreement
- Itemised invoices - Every invoice must clearly show each service, the rate charged, and any co-contribution applied
- No hidden fees - Providers cannot charge fees that are not listed in your signed service agreement
- Price change notice - Providers must give you reasonable written notice before increasing prices
- Comparable format - Pricing must be presented in a standardised format so you can easily compare across providers
These requirements make it much easier to shop around and hold providers accountable. If a provider refuses to share their price list or provides vague pricing, consider that a red flag.
How to Compare Provider Prices
Comparing providers under Support at Home is more straightforward than under the old system. Here is a practical approach:
- Request itemised price lists from at least two or three providers in your area
- Check each price against the indicative ranges in the tables above
- Ask about after-hours rates for evenings, weekends, and public holidays
- Clarify what is included in each hourly rate (travel time, documentation, supplies)
- Check minimum engagement times as some providers charge a minimum of one or two hours per visit
- Ask about cancellation fees and the notice period required
- Review the service agreement carefully before signing
A provider charging above the national median is not necessarily overcharging. They may include travel, offer more experienced staff, or provide services in a remote area where costs are genuinely higher. The key is that they can explain why.
What If Your Provider’s Prices Seem Too High?
If you feel a proposed price is unreasonable, you have options:
Talk to your provider first. Ask them to explain:
- What the service includes for that price
- Why their price sits above the indicative range
- Whether the new pricing means fewer service hours than your current arrangement
Compare with other providers. Use the indicative prices as a benchmark and get quotes from alternative providers in your area.
Lodge a complaint. If you believe a provider is charging above price caps or engaging in unfair pricing, you can contact:
- The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822
- My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
The government has consumer protections in place to ensure prices remain reasonable and transparent.
Switching Providers Under Support at Home
You have the right to change providers at any time if you are unhappy with pricing, service quality, or for any reason at all.
Key points about switching:
- No exit fees are permitted under Support at Home
- Unspent funds transfer to your new provider automatically
- No gap in services if you confirm a start date with your new provider before ending with your current one
- Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to update your referral
Do not feel pressured to stay with a provider whose prices do not represent good value. Competition between providers is a feature of the system, not a flaw.
Planning Your Support at Home Budget
To make the most of your quarterly budget under Support at Home:
- Prioritise clinical care since it has no co-contribution and stretches your budget further
- Review your service agreement quarterly to ensure the services and prices still match your needs
- Track your spending against your budget allocation so you do not run short before the next quarter
- Ask about group services as some allied health and social support can be delivered in group settings at lower cost
- Consider timing because scheduling services during standard business hours avoids after-hours surcharges
For a deeper look at aged care options in Australia, explore our dedicated resource pages.
Need Help Understanding Your Costs?
Navigating Support at Home pricing does not have to be overwhelming. MD Home Care is a connection platform that helps you find aged care providers who are transparent about their pricing and committed to delivering value.
Call us on 1800 953 253 to speak with someone who can help you:
- Understand your Support at Home classification and budget
- Compare provider prices in your area
- Review service agreements before you sign
- Find providers offering competitive rates for the services you need
You can also explore our complete guide to the Support at Home Program for everything you need to know about the transition.
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