02 Oct 2026

A Guide to Home Care Packages for Families in Tasmania

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Key Takeaways

• Home Care Packages have changed: Support at Home replaced the former Home Care Packages Program from 1 November 2025.
• Access starts with assessment: My Aged Care assesses what support you or your loved one may need at home.
• Support can cover different needs: Services may include nursing, personal care, domestic help, social support, and home maintenance.
• Funding depends on assessed needs: Support at Home uses eight ongoing funding classifications and quarterly budgets.
• Provider choice matters: Clear communication and flexible care planning can help you or your loved one receive support that fits everyday life.

You or your loved one may reach a point where everyday tasks, health needs, or staying independent at home requires more regular support. Many families still think of this as a Home Care Package, but the program changed nationally in late 2025.

Today, ongoing in-home aged care is delivered through Support at Home. Understanding how the current program works, from assessment and funding to services and provider choice, can make the next steps feel much clearer.

Understanding What Replaced Home Care Packages

The Home Care Packages Program ended on 31 October 2025 and was replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025. If you or your loved one was already receiving a Home Care Package, you or your loved one moved into Support at Home with a transitioned classification designed to provide an equivalent level of ongoing funding.

It’s also useful to separate Support at Home from the Commonwealth Home Support Program, or CHSP. CHSP continues as an entry-level program for older people who need a smaller amount of assistance to remain independent, while Support at Home is designed for more ongoing care needs.

Knowing which program applies helps you or your loved one focus on the right pathway, services, and funding arrangements rather than relying on older terminology.

How You or Your Loved One Accesses Support at Home

Access starts with an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. The assessment helps determine what you or your loved one needs and which services may support safety, wellbeing, and independence at home.

The pathway generally includes:

• Applying for an assessment through My Aged Care
• Discussing health, daily activities, mobility, safety, current support, and personal goals
• Receiving an assessment outcome and approved service types
• Being assigned a Support at Home classification if eligible for ongoing services
• Choosing a registered provider once funding is available

Support at Home has eight ongoing funding classifications, with the classification determined through the aged care assessment. Understanding this process can help you or your loved one prepare useful information and take a more active role in decisions about care.

What Services Can Be Included in Support at Home?

Support at Home is organised across Clinical Supports, Independence, and Everyday Living. The exact combination of services depends on what you or your loved one has been assessed as needing, so one person’s support may look very different from another’s.

Depending on approval, services can include:

• Community nursing, including wound care and medication management
• Personal care, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility assistance
• Domestic assistance and meal preparation
• Social support and assistance attending appointments
• Shopping assistance
• Home maintenance and gardening
• Exercise and wellbeing support
• Approved health-related products and equipment

These services turn assessed needs into practical assistance that fits everyday life. The aim is to help you or your loved one remain healthy, independent, and connected at home and within the community.

How Funding, Budgets, and Contributions Work

If you or your loved one is approved for ongoing Support at Home services, one of eight funding classifications applies. Government funding is provided through a quarterly budget, with 10 per cent of the ongoing budget allocated to care management.

Your provider claims against the available budget as approved services are delivered. Some services may also require participant co-contributions depending on the service category and individual circumstances, so it’s important to understand what is covered and what you may need to contribute.

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care moves into the fully government-funded Clinical Supports contribution category within Support at Home funding. Checking your or your loved one's support plan, provider prices, contributions, and regular statements can make the financial side easier to follow.

Getting the Right Support in Place for Your Family in Tasmania

Understanding the program is only one part of arranging care. The next step is making sure support reflects the health needs, routines, preferences, and independence of you or your loved one, with a provider that communicates clearly and can adapt as needs change.

At The District Nurses, we provide Support at Home services across Tasmania. Our Registered Community Nurse Navigators work with you or your loved one to develop a care plan around what matters most, including your or your loved one's needs, likes, and preferences. We employ our own nurses and community support workers across Northern and Southern Tasmania, with services spanning nursing, personal care, domestic assistance, social support, home maintenance, and more.

Contact The District Nurses today if you or your loved one would like guidance on understanding Support at Home, your care options, or what to do next.