When a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, the priority shifts to comfort, dignity, and quality of life. For many Australians, the wish is to spend their final weeks and months at home, surrounded by family and familiar comforts.

Under the Australian Government’s Support at Home Program, specialised pathways now exist to ensure that palliative care is accessible, well-funded, and prioritised.

Palliative care is a person-centered approach to care that improves the quality of life for those facing life-limiting illnesses. In the aged care industry, it focuses on:

• Symptom Management: Addressing pain, breathlessness, and other physical discomforts.

• Emotional & Spiritual Support: Providing counseling and support for the individual and their family.

• Choice and Control: Ensuring the person’s wishes (documented in an Advance Care Plan) are respected.

As of November 2025, the Support at Home Program introduced a dedicated End-of-Life (EOL) Pathway. This is specifically designed for seniors who wish to remain at home during their final months.

Key Benefits of the EOL Pathway:

• $25,000 Rapid Funding: Eligible participants access a dedicated budget of approximately $25,000 for a 12-week period (extendable to 16 weeks).

• Bypass the Queue: This pathway is designed to jump ahead of standard waitlists due to the urgent nature of the care.

• Clinical Care is Fully Funded: Unlike other aged care services, clinical nursing and allied health under this pathway are 100% government-funded with no out-of-pocket “participant contributions.”

Eligibility Criteria

To access this specialised funding the following must be met:

1. Age: 65+ years (50+ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people).
2. Medical Certification: A GP or Nurse Practitioner must estimate a life expectancy of 3 months or less.
3. Mobility Status: A score of 40 or less on the Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (meaning the person requires significant assistance and is in bed more than 50% of the time).

If you or a family member requires urgent palliative support at home, follow these steps:

Choosing palliative care at home is a deeply personal decision, rooted in the desire to honor a life in the place where it has been most fully lived. It is about more than just managing medical symptoms; it is about protecting the sanctity of home, surrounded by the familiar scents, sounds, and faces that bring the most comfort. We understand that this chapter of life can feel overwhelming, filled with complex emotions and difficult choices, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

The Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway exists to provide the financial and professional framework necessary to make this wish a reality. By offering rapid access to specialised funding and clinical expertise, the program aims to lift the heavy logistical and physical burden of care from the shoulders of family members. This transition is designed to give you back the most precious gift of all: the time and mental space to focus entirely on what matters most—being present, sharing memories, and simply being together.

By acting quickly with a medical referral and selecting a specialised provider through the Aged Care Made Easy Directory, you can ensure that this transition is handled with the highest level of professional expertise, speed, and, most importantly, compassion. Our goal is to help you create a supportive environment where your loved one feels safe, respected, and profoundly cared for during their final journey at home.