Aged care funding, without the jargon
There are three ways care gets paid for in Australia, and which one applies to you changes everything about the cost. This page covers all three, including the bits providers tend to leave out.
Which one applies to you
Home Care Package
A pool of funding assigned to the person, in four levels by assessed need. You choose the provider and can change providers, taking the unspent balance with you. Assessed via My Aged Care.
CHSP
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme funds smaller amounts of specific help — cleaning, transport, meals. Cheaper for you, less flexible, and a good bridge while waiting for a package. Also via My Aged Care.
Private, self-funded
$68 an hour weekdays, billed fortnightly, no management fee and no commitment. Many families start here because the package wait is six to twelve months. Available immediately.
Home Care Package levels
The annual figures are the government subsidy. The hours are what that buys at our 17% management fee, using our standard weekday rate.
Level 1
Basic care needs.
Level 2
Low care needs.
Level 3
Intermediate care needs.
Level 4
High care needs.
Figures are the published Home Care Package subsidy amounts and change periodically. Hours are approximate and vary with rostered days and public holidays.
How to get a package assessed
Ring My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
Or do it online. You can ring on a parent’s behalf with their consent. Say if there has been a recent fall or hospital stay, as it affects priority.
An assessor visits
Usually within a few weeks, in the home, taking about an hour. Be there if you can, and be honest about the bad days as well as the good ones.
A package is approved, then you wait
Approval and assignment are two different things. The wait between them is commonly six to twelve months, depending on level and priority.
You choose a provider
The package belongs to the person, not the provider. Ask every provider for their management fee and exit fee in writing before signing. Ours are 17% and nil.
Four things about how we run the funding side
Our management fee: 17%
That covers care planning, rostering, carer supervision, compliance and your monthly statement. It is deducted from the package, not billed to you.
No exit fee
If you leave us, you keep whatever is unspent in the package and we charge nothing to transfer it.
Your monthly statement
Itemised: every visit, its duration, the carer, the rate and the balance remaining. Sent by post or email, whichever suits.
If you have no package yet
The wait for a Home Care Package is commonly six to twelve months. Many families start privately at $68 an hour, or use CHSP in the meantime, and switch across once approved. Call and we will talk through what makes sense.
A phone call today can start next week
Care coordinators answer directly — no call centre, no script. If something has just happened, say so; we hold capacity every week for urgent starts.