Overview
- The new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program came into force on November 1, embedding a legal statement of rights for older Australians with enforceable obligations on providers.
- Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages with a single assessment pathway and three service streams: clinical care, independence care, and everyday living support.
- Participant co‑payments now apply based on income and assessable assets excluding the family home, with some people likely to pay more than $1,000 a year; hardship support is available and the government says it will closely monitor the rollout ahead of price caps due mid‑2026.
- For residential care, new entrants may contribute to a Hotelling Supplement and about half could pay more under revised means testing, while existing residents remain unaffected.
- A new $25,000 payment supports people who choose to spend their final 12 weeks at home, as community providers emphasize cultural safety and advocates flag confusion and pricing changes for new entrants.