Support at Home – how to navigate it

For a quick recap, let’s revisit the role of the Support at Home program, given it is undergoing further changes in late 2025.

How did it come about?

It was in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.  Specifically, in response to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority’s (IHACPA) collection of data and the development of future pricing caps.

What is its purpose?

Support at Home brings together current in-home aged care programs in pursuit of a more equitable system for older people that helps them to stay at home for longer. It aims to ensure improved access to services, equipment and home modifications to help older people remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community. Read more about the features of the Support at Home program.

What’s changing?

Due to start in July 2025, now rescheduled to start from 1 November 2025, Support at Home will replace the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will transition to the new program no earlier than 1 July 2027.

According to official statements, “The staged approach will give all CHSP providers time to change their business systems and adjust to new payment arrangements. This will ensure they can operate successfully under Support at Home and avoid disruptions for their clients….Current in-home aged care programs will continue to operate as normal until they transition into the new program.”

How can podiatrists get ahead of this?

You may know that the Australian Podiatry Association has released a Support at Home Pricing Calculator. With so many variables in the mix, this tool allows you to enter your hours against each line item – from travel and consult time, through to equipment and admin, and plenty more. The aim is to support podiatrists to better understand the true costs of delivering their services, per patient, and help guide informed and sustainable pricing decisions.

In addition to using the pricing calculator, the following tips may help.

As you determine your pricing, try and keep the following key points in mind:

• Remember that indicative pricing is not a cap: While the Support at Home Service List provides indicative pricing, there is no price cap in place for 2025. However, providers may be asked to justify prices that fall significantly outside the suggested range.
• But price caps will apply from 1 July 2026: These will be based on data collected and analysed by IHACPA. IHACPA has indicated they will monitor pricing during 2025, particularly in regional and remote areas, to inform the development of future price caps.
• Clinical care is fully government-funded: Services classified as clinical care (including most podiatry interventions) are fully funded by the federal government. Consumers cannot be charged gap fees or top-up payments. 

Where can I read more?

Outside of APodA’s resources, including the newly launched pricing calculator and news updates, you can now read the Support at Home handbook.

According to the government, “[This handbook] has been developed to support in-home aged care providers to understand the core components of the Support at Home program design and arrangements from 1 November 2025.”

Likewise, podiatrists are encouraged to read the Support at Home program manual. This, “…provides detailed information for providers to assist them to understand and comply with the Support at Home program rules, procedures and obligations.”