Find home care package in Australia

What is a Home Care Package in Australia?

You have been approved for a Home Care Package. Now you need to choose a provider in Australia to manage your funds and arrange your care. The decision matters, because different providers charge very different fees and that directly affects how many hours of support you actually receive each week.

A Home Care Package (HCP) is an Australian Government-funded package of coordinated care for older people with more complex needs than entry-level support can cover. In Australia, an HCP gives you a budget to spend on services like personal care, nursing, domestic help, transport, and allied health. Unlike the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, which provides specific subsidised services, a Home Care Package is a flexible budget you direct alongside a Care Manager.

MD Home Care connects you with registered HCP providers in Australia so you can compare fees, services, and availability side by side. The right provider makes your funding go further.

Compare Australia HCP Providers Through MD Home Care

Many providers charge 35 to 40 percent of your package in administration fees, leaving fewer hours for actual care. Providers available via MD Home Care offer a different model:

• Package management fees as low as 15 to 20 percent (compared with the 35 to 40 percent industry average)
• No exit fees if you decide to switch providers later
• A dedicated local Care Manager in Australia as your single point of contact
• Directly employed carers, not agency contractors, all police-checked with NDIS Worker Screening
• Registered Nurses on staff for clinical care components
• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission registered

On a Level 2 package of around $17,000 a year, the difference between a 20 percent fee and a 38 percent fee is roughly $3,000 a year, which translates to two to four extra hours of care every week.

Compare Home Care Package Providers: Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Low-Fee Providers	Average Industry	High-Fee Providers
Package management	15-20%	25-30%	35-40%
Exit fees	$0	$0-$500	$500-$1,000
Care Manager	Included	Extra charge	Extra charge
Invoice processing	Included	$15-$25/invoice	$25-$50/invoice
Your care hours (Level 2)	10-11 hrs/week	8-9 hrs/week	6-7 hrs/week

Example: On a Level 2 package ($17,000/year), low-fee providers deliver 2-4 more hours of care per week compared to high-fee providers.

Types of Home Care Package Services Available in Australia

Home Care Packages come in four levels, with funding amounts set by the Australian Government and reviewed each year. Level allocations are based on assessed need, not income.

Level 1: Basic Care Needs (approx. $10,000 per year)

For people with basic care needs, typically a few hours of support each week. Often used for domestic assistance, light gardening, or weekly personal care.

Level 2: Low Care Needs (approx. $17,000 per year)

For people with low-level care needs, usually six to ten hours of support a week. Common uses include regular personal care, domestic help, and transport to appointments.

Level 3: Intermediate Care Needs (approx. $37,000 per year)

For people with intermediate needs requiring more frequent support, often including nursing care, allied health, and several visits a week from carers.

Level 4: High Care Needs (approx. $56,000 per year)

For people with high care needs, often equivalent to daily support. Typical inclusions are clinical nursing, complex personal care, respite care for family carers, and coordinated allied health.

A package can also fund minor home modifications, mobility equipment, and continence aids when these are part of your care plan. Your Care Manager helps you decide how to spend the budget.

How to Access Home Care Packages in Australia

1. Contact My Aged Care: Call 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website to start the process.
2. Registration: Register with My Aged Care and answer questions about your situation and the help you need.
3. ACAT Assessment: An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) member will visit your Australia home to assess your eligibility and recommended package level.
4. Approval and Wait Time: If approved, you will be assigned a package level. There can be a wait between approval and the package becoming available, depending on demand.
5. Choose a Provider: Once your package is assigned, you can choose any registered provider. This is where MD Home Care helps you compare Australia options.
6. Service Commencement: Sign a Home Care Agreement, work with your Care Manager on a care plan, and begin services.

If your needs are not yet at Home Care Package level, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme offers entry-level subsidised services and uses a similar starting point through My Aged Care.

What to Look for in a Home Care Package Provider

1. Transparent, All-Inclusive Fees

Quality providers available through MD Home Care offer:

• Low package management fees (15-20%, not 35-40%)
• No hidden charges for invoice processing or plan changes
• No exit fees if you want to switch providers
• More of your funding spent on actual care hours

2. Dedicated Care Manager in Australia

Find providers who assign you a local Care Manager as your single point of contact. They know your needs, coordinate your services, and help you get the most from your package.

3. Directly Employed, Vetted Carers

Quality providers don’t use contractors. Their support workers are:

• Directly employed (not agency workers)
• Police-checked and NDIS Worker Screening cleared
• Professionally trained in aged care
• Fully insured with public liability coverage

”Switching Providers Was the Best Decision We Made.”

“With our previous provider, we were losing nearly 40% of my father’s package to ‘management fees’ and the level of care was inconsistent. We searched online, compared a few providers, and the difference is night and day. The new provider’s fees are so much lower that Dad now gets an extra 4 hours of support a week, and his regular carer, Susan, is absolutely wonderful. We finally feel like we’re getting the support Dad was approved for.” - Jessica R., Australia

The Support at Home Program: What is Changing

The Australian Government is reforming aged care, and the new Support at Home program is replacing Home Care Packages and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. The program merges both schemes into a single, simpler system with classification levels rather than the existing four-level HCP structure.

For people in Australia approved for a Home Care Package or already receiving one, the government has stated that no one will be worse off during the transition and existing budgets carry across. Providers connected through MD Home Care are aligned with both the current Home Care Package rules and the Support at Home program, so you do not need to switch providers because of the program change. Your Care Manager will explain how your services map across as the transition timelines confirm.

For up-to-date timelines, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

It’s Easy to Switch Providers

If you are unhappy with your current provider, you are not stuck. Find new providers through MD Home Care who make switching a simple process.

1. Step 1: Browse Providers. Compare Australia providers for a clearer understanding of your options.
2. Step 2: Review Your Plan. Providers can give you a clear comparison of how much more care you can receive.
3. Step 3: They Handle the Switch. If you decide to proceed, they manage the entire process, including notifying your old provider. There is no disruption to your care.

How to Compare and Switch Home Care Package Providers

Step 1: Get Your Fee Comparison

Contact MD Home Care with your current package level (1, 2, 3, or 4). We will show you how much more care you could receive with a low-fee provider.

Step 2: Compare Australia Providers

We connect you with registered Home Care Package providers in Australia who have:

• Transparent, low fees (15-20% management fee)
• Immediate availability for new clients
• Local Care Managers
• Strong client reviews

Step 3: Switch Providers (Easy Process)

If you decide to switch:

• Your new provider handles all paperwork with My Aged Care
• No gap in your care services
• Most switches complete within 2-3 weeks
• No penalty or exit fees with quality providers

Call: 1800 953 253 (24/7) Service Areas: Australia and surrounding suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a “Package Management Fee”? This is a fee that providers charge to cover their administrative costs for managing your Home Care Package funds. Many providers have complex fee structures with multiple hidden charges. Quality providers through MD Home Care keep it simple with low, all-inclusive fees, typically 15 to 20 percent.

How do I know I can trust the carers? Quality providers have rigorous recruitment processes. Every carer is personally interviewed, reference-checked, and must pass a National Police Check and NDIS Worker Screening. They are direct employees, and providers invest in their ongoing training and supervision.

Am I locked into a contract? No. Quality providers earn your trust each month. There are no long-term lock-in contracts and no exit fees, so you can switch if a provider is not delivering.

What if I do not qualify for a Home Care Package? If your needs are entry-level rather than complex, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme provides specific subsidised services through the same My Aged Care entry point. Many people in Australia start with CHSP and move to a Home Care Package as their needs increase.

How does Support at Home affect my existing package? Support at Home is replacing both HCP and CHSP, but the government has confirmed existing recipients will not be worse off. Providers available through MD Home Care are aligned with both systems, so you can stay with your provider through the transition.

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Compare Home Care Package providers through MD Home Care across Australia and surrounding suburbs. All providers are registered with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and offer transparent fees with no lock-in contracts.