Warren, 81, had his Home Care Package running like a well-kept shed: a cleaner every second Tuesday, physio for his knee, and a gardener who knew exactly which hedges to leave alone. Then the letters started arriving. "Support at Home." "Your funding classification." "Quarterly budget." He didn't want a new system. He wanted to know whether his cleaner, his physio and his gardener were safe.

Warren's story is an illustrative scenario, created to show how Support at Home works in practice. It is not a real client testimonial.

On 1 November 2025, Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages across Australia, alongside the new Aged Care Act. Here's what changed, what stayed the same, and where to read the detail. Each section links to a fuller article.

First, the reassuring part: you didn't lose anything

People already receiving a Home Care Package were moved into Support at Home automatically. You didn't reapply or go back to the start of a queue. Warren's Tuesdays and Thursdays didn't need to change; the framework around them did.

What changed on 1 November 2025

Eight classifications instead of four levels, quarterly budgets instead of annual ones, a defined service list, and a cap on care management. For the full before-and-after, read From Home Care Package to Support at Home: What Changed?

Eight funding classifications replaced four levels

Four package levels meant big jumps between funding steps. Support at Home uses eight funding classifications, so funding sits closer to your assessed needs. Your classification comes out of your assessment through My Aged Care and sets your budget. See The 8 Support at Home Classifications Explained.

Annual budgets became quarterly budgets

Instead of one annual amount, your funding is released every three months. Steady, paced spending now beats stockpiling. For how to pace a quarter, read How Support at Home Quarterly Budgets Work.

A single service list defines what your budget can buy

One government service list covers clinical supports, independence supports and everyday living supports. Every service your budget pays for must be on that list and in your care plan. See Which Services Are on the Support at Home Service List?

Contributions: clinical care is free, other services depend on your means

Clinical supports like nursing and allied health are fully government funded, with no contribution. Independence and everyday living supports can involve a participant contribution based on your means, such as whether you receive the Age Pension. For your exact rate, read Support at Home Contributions, Explained Simply.

Unspent funds now roll over only up to a limit

Unspent funds don't all follow you: up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) carries over to the next quarter. Banking a large buffer no longer works. For the full carryover rule, see What Happens to Unspent Support at Home Funds?

What stayed exactly the same

You still receive care in your own home. You still choose who helps you and when. Self-managing your Support at Home budget is still an option: you pick your workers, services and schedule, while a registered provider handles claiming, compliance and the government-facing paperwork. For Warren, the change turned out to be less about losing his routine and more about finally seeing where every dollar goes.