Support at Home came with a fresh vocabulary, and the letters, assessments and provider conversations all assume you already know it. This glossary defines the key terms in plain English, one at a time. Where a term has its own detailed guide, we've linked to it so you can go deeper whenever you want.
The essentials
Support at Home
The Australian Government program that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. It funds services that help older people stay living safely in their own homes. Read what changed in the switch from Home Care Packages.
Home Care Package (HCP)
The former program that Support at Home replaced. Packages came in four levels (1 to 4). People with a package on 1 November 2025 were moved into Support at Home without having to reapply.
My Aged Care
The government's entry point for aged care, reached at myagedcare.gov.au or on 1800 200 422. It's where you register, arrange an assessment, and check the specifics of your own situation.
Assessment
The process, arranged through My Aged Care, that reviews your needs and determines your funding classification. An honest picture of your harder days, not just your good ones, helps get the classification right.
Funding and budgets
Classification
The funding tier you're assessed into. Support at Home has eight classifications, replacing the old four package levels, so funding can sit closer to your assessed needs. See the 8 classifications explained.
Quarterly budget
Your Support at Home funding, released every three months rather than as one annual amount. You spend it on the services set out in your care plan. Learn how quarterly budgets work.
Contribution
The amount you pay towards a service, worked out from your means (such as whether you receive the Age Pension). Clinical care has no contribution; other services can. Read contributions explained simply.
Unspent funds (carryover)
Money left at the end of a quarter. Up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) carries over to the next quarter; anything above that doesn't follow you. See what happens to unspent funds.
Care management
The coordination work a provider does to keep your care organised and compliant. Under Support at Home it is capped at 10% of your budget, so more of your funding can reach actual services.
Services and support
Service list
The single government list that defines what Support at Home funding can and can't buy. Every service your budget pays for must appear on it and be in your care plan. See which services are on the list.
Clinical supports
Health-focused services on the list, such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry. This category is fully government funded, with no participant contribution.
Independence supports
Services that help you keep doing things for yourself: personal care like showering and dressing, transport to appointments, and social support to stay connected. A means-tested contribution can apply.
Everyday living supports
Services that keep the household running: domestic assistance like cleaning and laundry, meal preparation, and home maintenance such as gardening. A means-tested contribution can apply.
Care plan
Your personal plan, built from your assessment, that lists the services funded for you. A service being on the general list only counts if it's also in your care plan; if your needs change, you can ask for a review.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
A separate stream of Support at Home funding for equipment and home changes, such as rails, ramps or mobility aids, that help you stay safe and independent at home. It sits outside your ongoing quarterly budget.
Providers and control
Registered provider
An organisation approved to deliver Support at Home. Your provider handles claiming and compliance with the government, whether you self-manage or not. Partner with Care is a registered Support at Home provider.
Self-management
An approach where you choose your own workers, services and schedule, while your registered provider handles claiming, compliance and paperwork. It usually costs less in fees, so more budget reaches care. See how self-managed care works.
Not sure where a term fits your situation? Definitions are a starting point; your care plan and classification are personal. With Partner with Care, a real person answers your questions the same day, and your budget is live on screen so the words above become numbers you can actually see.