Four appointments in three weeks, plus the Thursday shop and a grandson's footy presentation he wasn't going to miss. At 79 Ross had stopped driving after his eyes let him down, and the taxis were adding up. The bus doesn't go near the specialist's rooms, and a fourth lift from his neighbour in a fortnight felt like too much.
Ross's story is an illustrative scenario, created to show how Support at Home works in practice. It is not a real client testimonial.
It is. Under Support at Home, which replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, transport is a recognised service on the government list.
Transport is an independence support
The service list has three categories: clinical supports, independence supports and everyday living supports. Transport is an independence support, sitting alongside personal care and social support.
Contributions can apply here
Clinical supports like nursing and physiotherapy are fully funded with no contribution. Independence supports, transport included, can involve a participant contribution. How much depends on your means, including whether you receive the Age Pension, so a full pensioner and a self-funded retiree can pay different rates for the same trip. Your figure comes from Services Australia's means assessment. Check yours with My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
What transport covers
Transport is broader than medical appointments. It can cover getting to the shops so Ross keeps choosing his own groceries, and getting to social outings and community activities so he stays connected. Isolation is a genuine health risk, which is why social access sits in the same independence category. The footy presentation is closer to the point of the funding than it looks.
Ask your provider two things: "is transport in my plan, and what's my contribution per trip?" With Partner with Care, routine questions get an instant answer and complex ones a same-day answer.
Your care plan sets the shape of it
The list says transport can be funded. Your care plan, built from your aged care assessment through My Aged Care, says how it works for you. If Ross's needs grow, more appointments, less confidence on foot, he asks for a review rather than quietly going without. Some people are also eligible for separate community or state transport schemes, so check before your budget pays for something another program covers.
Self-managing keeps the choices yours
As a registered Support at Home provider, Partner with Care handles the claiming and compliance in the background. Because you self-manage, you have a say in how your transport is arranged and who provides it, and your budget is live on screen, so you see any contribution before each trip rather than after. Ross stopped rationing his outings against the taxi meter.