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Support at Home Program Price List 2025: Costs Explained

by | 18 August, 2025 | Financial, General, Resources, Support at Home Program

Support at Home Program Services Price List

(Original Article posted April 2025 – suitable for Australian readers)

Hourly charges now range from $83 for domestic assistance to $220 for specialist allied-health therapy. Surcharges apply for evenings, weekends and public holidays. Read on for the full detail—or phone 1300 078 688 for a free five-minute budget chat.

Why This Matters Right Now

Since the Department of Health released the new Support at Home Program Price List in March 2025, Australian families have been asking what it means for their care budgets. Whether your invoice line reads personal care, domestic assistance or nursing, these published rates govern every dollar that can be charged from 1 November 2025. This guide translates the schedule into plain English so you can plan with certainty and avoid bill shock.

What’s in the 2025 Support at Home Program Price List?

Key Updates and Why They Affect Your Budget

Service categoryLower $/hrMedian $/hrUpper $/hr
Domestic assistance$83$95$109
Personal care$85$100$115
Registered nurse$144$160$186
Allied-health therapy$160$195$220
Respite care$85$99$112

All prices include GST where applicable and apply nationwide unless regional loadings apply.

  • Out-of-hours loadings – Approximately 50 % extra for night or weekend visits; public holidays can push some rates to $150.10 per hour.
  • Eight funding levels, budgeted quarterly – Level 1 recipients receive $2,750, while Level 8 households receive $19,500 every three months. Up to $1,000 or 10 % of unspent funds may roll over to the next quarter.
  • Mandatory itemisation – Providers must list labour, travel time, mileage and non-labour costs (for example, parking) separately so you can see exactly where your money goes.

Quick tip: Unsure which level you’re on? Check the letter you received from Services Australia or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for confirmation. Our advisers (1300 078 688) can then help you map that level to likely service hours.

Plan Your Budget and Care with Confidence

Matching Services to Your Funding Level and Personal Contribution

  1. Do the maths first
    • Multiply the hours of care you need each week by the relevant hourly rate from the price list.
    • Clinical care (nursing and allied health) is fully government-funded—mark those hours at 0 % co-payment.
    • For independence or everyday-living supports, your co-payment ranges from 5 % – 80 % depending on income and assets.
  2. Stretch your allocation
    • Group tasks—combining personal care and housekeeping in the same visit reduces travel charges.
    • Carry-over clause—bank small quarterly surpluses to pay for bigger one-off expenses such as bathroom rails or short-term respite.
    • Lifetime caps—remember the $130,000 limit on non-clinical services and $25,000 cap on end-of-life support. They stop long-term costs spiralling.
  3. Compare before you commit
     Providers must now publish hour-by-hour rates and travel zones. Use the Aged Care Made Easy directory to search by postcode, service type and “price low-to-high”, then shortlist two or three providers for detailed quotes.

Try the directory now—most families find at least three local providers in under two minutes.

Navigating Regional and Remote Price Variations

Travel Zones, Staffing Premiums and What You Can Negotiate

Remote and very remote areas face genuine cost pressures—extra mileage, overnight accommodation and limited staffing. The Department therefore allows a remote establishment loading of up to 30 %.

Travel zoneMaximum billable travel timeNotes
Zones 1–330 minutes (each way)Billed at the same rate as the service delivered
Zones 4–545 minutesMileage must be itemised
Zones 6–7Pre-agreed cap onlyMust be written into your service agreement

Savings strategies

  • Bundle visits—ask whether the same worker can deliver multiple supports in one shift.
  • Tele-health follow-ups—dietetics, psychology and physiotherapy reviews can often be virtual.
  • Community-based staff—workers already living in your area reduce travel costs.

Negotiation checklist

  • Itemised travel and parking on every invoice.
  • Written explanation of any weekend or public-holiday loading.
  • A clause guaranteeing 14 days’ written notice before any rate increases take effect.

Make the Most of Your Entitlements Today

Your Next Steps for Personalised Advice and Provider Selection

  • Check the extra pathways
    • Restorative Care: up to $6,000 over 12 weeks to rebuild strength after illness or surgery.
    • End-of-Life: up to $25,000 over 12 weeks for intensive home support.
    • Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM): three funding tiers for ramps, rails and mobility aids.
  • Talk it through – A brief call to 1300 078 688 can confirm eligibility, flag hidden savings and even book a no-obligation care consult.
  • Find and compare now – Enter your suburb or postcode into our directory, filter by support at home pricing, and view transparent hourly charges, travel policies and verified client reviews.

Get clarity on costs before signing a new service agreement, our advisers are here Monday to Friday, 8 am – 6 pm AEST.

Common Questions Australian Families Have About the Support at Home Program

Base rates are reviewed annually. Expect CPI-linked adjustments from July 2026 onwards. Any mid-year change requires a new service agreement with your signature.

Options include pooling services with neighbours, combining in-person and virtual visits, or requesting a hardship review. Our team can guide you through negotiations or relocation assistance where relevant.

Take the Next Step with Confidence

Maximise every dollar of your Support at Home budget today. Search trusted local providers or speak to an aged-care adviser on 1300 078 688—both free and obligation-free.

🚀 Ready for Part 3?

Continue to our next article: Support at Home Entitlements & Co-Payments Explained Clearly to see how assessments, lifetime caps and means-testing really work—and pick up practical tips to minimise out-of-pocket costs.

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ACME Writing Team
Author: ACME Writing Team