Personal Care to be Fully Funded Under Support at Home
Big changes are coming to how older Australians pay for care at home. From 1 October 2026, personal care under the Support at Home program will be fully government-funded. For approved participants with available funding, this means no out-of-pocket cost for essential daily help. At Home at Heart, an Aged Care Provider Wagga Wagga families rely on, we support people across the Riverina every day, and this reform matters for many of the people we care for.
Here is what is changing, who benefits, and what you need to do.
What Is Actually Changing?
The change is simple at its core. Personal care is moving from the "independence" category into the "clinical supports" category under Support at Home. Right now, personal care attracts a means-tested contribution, meaning you pay a share based on your income and assets. Once the change takes effect, the government covers the full cost of these services for approved participants with available funding. You pay no out-of-pocket costs. We understand this may ease everyday household budgets.
Which Services Become Fully Funded?
The change applies specifically to personal care tasks. These are the hands-on daily supports that help a person stay clean, comfortable, and safe.
Fully funded personal care services from 1 October 2026 include:
Showering and bathing
Dressing and undressing
Non-clinical continence management
Assistance with eating and personal hygiene
Help with self-administering medication
The definition of personal care remains the same. Nothing is being removed or narrowed. The only change is that you will no longer pay a contribution for these services once the reform starts.
Who Benefits From the Change?
The reform supports many older Australians, particularly those who rely on daily help to remain at home.
You benefit if you:
Are approved for the personal care service type in your support plan
Have available Support at Home funding
If both apply to you, the contribution you currently pay for showering, dressing, and continence support ends on 1 October 2026. Aged care support should not involve choosing between essential hygiene and household costs, and this change may ease that pressure.
Do You Need to Do Anything?
The change happens automatically.
Key points:
No reassessment needed: If personal care is already approved in your plan, you keep receiving it as usual.
Your provider stays the same: Your existing care arrangements continue without interruption.
Your eligibility does not change: Nothing about your approval is affected.
You will see the change in your statements: Invoices from 1 October 2026 will no longer show a contribution for personal care.
The In-Home Care Services you already receive continue as normal, with the personal care portion now fully covered. If you wish to increase your personal care hours, you may do so if you have available funding.
What Costs Still Apply?
It is helpful to be clear about what is not changing. Full funding applies only to personal care. Contributions still apply for:
Everyday living services such as cleaning, gardening, and meal preparation
Other independence services such as transport support
Any personal care delivered before 1 October 2026
Services provided before the start date still attract a contribution, even if the invoice arrives afterwards. Personal care delivered from October onwards is fully funded, while anything before that date follows current rules.
Why This Change Matters
This reform is part of a $3 billion investment in aged care announced in the 2026 Budget, aimed at making care fairer and more accessible. Showering, dressing, and continence care are essentials of ageing with dignity. For families arranging Aged Care Support in Wagga Wagga may reduce financial strain and ease pressure on family carers.
In Summary
From 1 October 2026, personal care under the Support at Home program will be fully government-funded for approved participants with available funding. This means there will be no participant contribution for essential services such as showering, dressing, continence care and personal hygiene. The change will happen automatically, while contributions for other services such as cleaning, gardening and transport will continue to apply.
How Home at Heart Supports You Through the Change
We are a family-owned and operated in-home care provider serving Wagga Wagga, the Riverina, and Geelong. Our team is across the details of the Support at Home changes, and we make sure the care you receive continues smoothly through the transition.
We handle the practical side so you do not have to. Our carers deliver personal care with patience and respect, and our services are built around consistency, so the same familiar faces typically visit. If you have questions about how the change affects your plan, we are here to explain it clearly.
Contact the Home at Heart team on 1300 923 934 or visit homeatheart.com.au to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does personal care become fully funded?
From 1 October 2026. Personal care delivered on or after that date carries no participant contribution for approved participants with available funding. Services delivered before that date still attract a contribution.
Q: Do I need a new assessment to access fully funded personal care?
No. If personal care is already approved in your support plan, the change applies automatically. You keep receiving your services as usual, with no reassessment and no change to your provider.
Q: What personal care services are covered?
Showering, dressing, non-clinical continence management, assistance with eating, personal hygiene, and help with self-administering medication. The definition remains the same as it is now.
Q: Where can I get support in Wagga Wagga to understand these changes?
Home at Heart supports families across Wagga Wagga and the Riverina, and we can explain how the personal care funding change affects your plan and your costs. Call us on 1300 923 934 for clear, practical information.
For more information about how Home at Heart can support your care needs, please contact our team.