30 Sept 2026

Personal Care Co-contributions Change From 1 October 2026

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Key Takeaways

• Personal care contributions change from 1 October 2026: Approved personal care under Support at Home will move into the fully government-funded Clinical Supports contribution category.
• Eligibility still depends on your support plan: You or your loved one must be approved for personal care and have available Support at Home funding for the change to apply.
• Personal care services remain the same: Services including showering, dressing, personal hygiene, eating assistance, continence support, and medication assistance can continue as usual.
• Other Support at Home costs may still apply: Contributions for services in the Independence and Everyday Living categories can continue after 1 October.
• Reviewing your plan can help you prepare: Checking your support plan, available budget, and future statements can help you or your loved one understand how the change affects current care.

Paying for aged care can feel complicated for you or your loved one, especially when different Support at Home services have different contribution arrangements.

From 1 October 2026, an important change will remove participant co-contributions for approved personal care. Understanding what changes, who it applies to, which services are included, and what costs remain can help you feel more prepared before the new arrangements begin.

What Changes for Personal Care From 1 October 2026?

Personal care currently sits within the Independence contribution category under Support at Home. From 1 October 2026, it will move to the Clinical Supports category for contribution purposes, meaning the Australian Government will fully fund approved personal care services.

You or your loved one will no longer pay a participant co-contribution for eligible personal care delivered on or after that date, provided personal care is approved in the support plan, and there are available Support at Home funds. The cost will still come from the participant’s available Support at Home budget.

Services delivered before 1 October will continue to attract the existing contribution, even if they’re claimed later. The change affects how personal care is funded, not the way the service itself is delivered.

Who Is Eligible for Fully Funded Personal Care?

The change doesn’t automatically make personal care available to everyone receiving aged care. You or your loved one must be assessed and approved for personal care in the Support at Home support plan and have available funding to receive the service.

If personal care is already approved, you or your loved one won’t need another assessment simply because the contribution rules are changing. Eligibility requirements, service scope, and the way personal care is delivered will remain the same.

The change applies specifically to Support at Home participants. If you or your loved one receives services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, or CHSP, these contribution changes won’t apply under the current arrangements.

Which Personal Care Services Will No Longer Have a Contribution?

Personal care covers essential assistance with everyday tasks that support hygiene, dignity, and daily living. From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will no longer attract a participant co-contribution when you or your loved one has available Support at Home funding.

These services can include:

• Showering and bathing
• Dressing and undressing
• Non-clinical continence support
• Eating assistance
• Personal hygiene
• Assistance with self-administration of medication

The definition of personal care isn’t changing, and neither are workforce roles or service activities. If you or your loved one already receives approved personal care, those services can continue as usual. The difference is that eligible personal care delivered from 1 October will move into the fully funded contribution category.

What Costs Will Still Apply After 1 October?

The change applies only to personal care, so it doesn’t mean every Support at Home service becomes free. You or your loved one may still need to contribute towards services in the Independence and Everyday Living categories, depending on individual circumstances.

The three categories will work like this:

• Clinical Supports: Nursing and allied health are fully government-funded, with personal care joining this category for contribution purposes from 1 October.
• Independence: Services including transport and social support can continue to attract an applicable participant contribution.
• Everyday Living: Services including cleaning, gardening, and meal preparation can continue to attract a higher applicable contribution.

After the change begins, check your statements and invoices. Personal care delivered from 1 October should no longer appear as a participant contribution. If something looks unclear, it’s worth asking your provider before assuming the amount is correct.

Preparing for the Change With The District Nurses

For most eligible participants, there’s no need to arrange a new assessment just because of this change. It can still be useful to review your support plan, available budget, and upcoming statements so you or your loved one understands how the new contribution arrangements apply.

At The District Nurses, we provide personal care through Support at Home based on your or your loved one's assessed needs, goals, and preferences. Our team can support daily activities including bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, getting in and out of bed, and moving safely around the home. We can also discuss your care plan if previous contribution costs have affected how much personal care you or your loved one uses.

Contact The District Nurses today if you or your loved one would like help understanding how the 1 October personal care contribution change may affect your current Support at Home services.