Support at Home Personal Care services will be fully funded from 1 October 2026

The Australian Government has announced a significant change to the Support at Home Program: From 1 October 2026, Personal Care services will be fully government-funded. That means no out-of-pocket costs for help with showering, dressing, grooming and continence support. If Personal Care is approved in your support plan and you have available funding, the costs are entirely covered by your funding with no personal contribution required. 

What is changing? 

Right now, Personal Care sits in what is known as the ‘Independence’ category of Support at Home program. Services in this category require a client contribution, meaning you pay a percentage of the cost based on your income and pension status. 

From 1 October 2026, Personal Care moves to the ‘Clinical Supports’ category. This is the same category as Nursing and Physiotherapy – services that have been fully covered by the government with no cost to you. 

The change recognises that helping someone shower safely, get dressed and maintain their personal hygiene is not a lifestyle extra. It is essential care. 

The Support at Home Personal Care services covered by this change include: 

• Showering and bathing assistance 
• Help with dressing and undressing 
• Grooming, including hair, shaving and oral hygiene 
• Non-clinical continence management (assistance with continence care) 

One important note: the changes do not apply to services delivered before 1 October 2026. Only services provided from that date onwards will be covered without co-payments.  

What stays the same? 

The full funding applies to Support at Home Personal Care only. All other services remain as they are. 

If you have questions about contributions for any of your current services, your Care Partner can walk you through your care plan and budget. 

What do Holdsworth clients need to do? 

For most Holdsworth clients receiving Personal Care, the answer is straightforward: nothing. From 1 October 2026, we will apply no contribution to your Personal Care services automatically. 

That said, there are a few situations where it is worth taking action before October. 

If Personal Care is already in your support plan, you do not need to do anything. Your contribution for those visits will simply stop from 1 October. Check your quarterly statement after that date to confirm. 

If you have been having fewer Personal Care visits than you need because of the cost, now is a good time to talk to your Care Partner about increasing your hours. The financial reason to limit visits is going away, and your care plan can be adjusted to reflect your full need. 

If Personal Care is not currently in your support plan, the full funding only applies to clients who have Personal Care approved as a service type. If it was not included in your plan, contact us. We can discuss whether a reassessment makes sense for your situation and support you through the process. 

Not sure what this means for your situation? 

That is completely understandable, aged care policy changes can be difficult to understand, and everyone’s care plan is different. 

The best thing to do is call your Holdsworth Care Partner directly. They can look at your specific support plan, your current services, and your quarterly budget, and tell you exactly what this means for you. 

If you are not yet receiving Support at Home services but are thinking about it, this is also a good time to start the conversation. Support at Home Personal Care services being fully funded makes the program more accessible than it has ever been. 

Call us on 1300 882 962 or email agedcare@holdsworth.org.au.