Stefan, 78, was trying to work out what he could spend from his Support at Home budget this month. His gardener had suggested pruning the big gum tree out the back, his physio wanted to add a second weekly session, and his granddaughter thought he should buy a tablet to video-call the family. Three ideas, one budget — and no idea which ones his funding could actually pay for.

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

If you're in Stefan's position, the good news is the rules are clearer than they used to be. Since Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, there's a single government service list that spells out what funding can and can't buy. Here's how it works.

The service list: three categories

Every service your budget pays for must be on the Support at Home service list and included in your care plan. The list groups services into three categories:

  • Clinical supports — nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and other allied health. Stefan's extra physio session sits here.
  • Independence supports — personal care like showering and dressing, transport to appointments, and social support to stay connected.
  • Everyday living supports — domestic assistance like cleaning and laundry, meal preparation, and home maintenance such as gardening.

So Stefan's gum tree? Routine gardening and minor pruning that keeps his home safe generally qualifies as home maintenance — but major tree removal is usually considered beyond everyday upkeep. This is exactly the kind of question to put to your provider before booking.

What your budget can't pay for

Support at Home funding is for care and support services — not general living costs. Your budget can't be used for things like rent or mortgage payments, groceries, utility bills, holidays, entertainment, gifts, or anything already covered by another government program (for example, Medicare-funded treatment).

Stefan's tablet is a good example of a grey area. A device isn't a funded service in itself — but if his care plan identified a genuine care need it supported, his provider could advise whether an option exists. The answer depends on his plan, which is why the ask-first habit matters.

Your care plan is the gatekeeper

The service list says what can be funded in general. Your care plan says what's funded for you. It's built from your aged care assessment and sets out the services that meet your needs. If your needs change — say Stefan has a fall and suddenly needs more personal care — you can ask for your plan to be reviewed rather than squeezing new needs into old line items.

The one-question habit: before you book any new service, ask your provider "can my budget pay for this?" With Partner with Care, routine questions get an instant answer and complex ones get a same-day answer from a real person who already knows your situation — so you never commit first and find out later.

Self-management makes this easier, not harder

Some people worry that self-managing means being left alone with the rules. It's the opposite. As a registered Support at Home provider, Partner with Care handles the claiming, compliance and government-facing work — and because your budget is live on screen, you can see exactly what's available before you spend. You choose the workers and services; we make sure every dollar is spent within the rules and visible to you the moment it moves.