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Personal Care Under Support at Home: What’s Changing From 1 October 2026?
FOCUS Connect • 7 September 2026
From 1 October 2026, an important change to the Support at Home program will remove participant contributions for personal care services.
All personal care services under the Support at Home service list will move from the Independence contributions category to the Clinical Supports contribution category. This means the Australian Government will fully fund approved personal care services and participants will no longer pay contributions for these services.
For older Australians who rely on help with personal care, showering, dressing, personal hygiene or other daily tasks, the change will remove an out-of-pocket cost associated with accessing this support.
Here’s what older people and their families need to know.
Personal Care Contributions Are Changing
| What is changing? | Until 30 September 2026 | From 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| How personal care is classified | Personal care is classed as an Independence service. | Personal care is classed as a Clinical Support. |
| Do you need to pay a contribution? | Possibly. A participant contribution may apply, depending on your circumstances. | No. You will not pay a participant contribution for approved personal care. |
| Does personal care need to be approved? | Yes. It must be included in your approved Support at Home services. | Yes. It must still be included in your approved Support at Home services. |
| Does the service use your Support at Home funding? | Yes. | Yes. |
It is important to understand that fully funded does not mean unlimited personal care. The service will still be paid from your available Support at Home funding, and the amount of support you receive will continue to depend on your assessed needs and approved services.
Why the Change Matters
Personal care can make a significant difference to an older person's ability to maintain their daily routine, dignity and independence at home.
For example, someone may be able to prepare their own meals and manage many household tasks but need assistance to shower safely. Another person may need regular help with dressing, hygiene or continence management.
Removing the participant contribution may also help people who have previously limited their personal care because of the additional cost.
If contributions have been a barrier to receiving the amount of personal care you need, you can discuss your care plan and budget with your provider before the new arrangements begin.
Does This Mean All Support at Home Services Will Be Free?
No.
The change specifically affects personal care services.
Support at Home has three broad service categories:
| Service category | Examples | Participant contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Supports | Nursing and physiotherapy | No participant contribution |
| Independence | Transport and respite | Participant contributions may apply |
| Everyday Living | Domestic assistance, gardening and home maintenance | Participant contributions may apply |
Other Independence and Everyday Living services are not automatically becoming fully funded as part of this change. Applicable contributions for those services will continue under the Support at Home contribution arrangements.
For example, if your support plan includes personal care, transport and domestic assistance, your personal care may have no participant contribution from 1 October, while contributions may still apply to your transport and domestic assistance.
What Is Personal Care Under Support at Home?
Personal care is practical assistance with essential daily activities that can become difficult due to ageing, disability, illness, reduced mobility or changes in your health.
Under the Australian Government's current Support at Home guidance, personal care can include assistance with daily tasks such as:
- showering
- dressing
- eating
- personal hygiene
- non-clinical continence management
- assistance with self-administration of medication.
Personal care can play an important role in helping an older person maintain their dignity, hygiene, wellbeing and independence at home.
At FOCUS Connect, personal care can include support with showering, grooming, dressing and toileting, depending on your assessed needs and support plan.
What Is Not Changing on 1 October 2026?
Although the contribution arrangements are changing, the Australian Government has made clear that the personal care service itself is not being redefined.
1. What is considered personal care is not changing
Personal care will continue to include eligible assistance with daily activities such as showering, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, non-clinical continence management and assistance with self-administration of medication.
2. The scope of personal care is not changing
The Australian Government has confirmed that there are no changes to the scope or activities of personal care services as a result of the contribution change.
3. Your eligibility for personal care is not changing
You still need to be assessed and approved for personal care services.
Removing the participant contribution does not automatically give every Support at Home participant access to personal care.
If you are already assessed and approved for personal care, you do not need to be reassessed simply because of the new contribution arrangements.
4. You still need available Support at Home funding
Personal care will continue to be funded from your available Support at Home budget.
Removing the participant contribution does not provide a separate unlimited personal care budget or automatically increase your Support at Home funding.
5. Your provider does not need to change
You can continue receiving approved personal care through your existing provider. The contribution change itself does not require you to switch providers.
6. Contributions for other services are not changing because of this reform
If you receive other Support at Home services that attract participant contributions, those contributions will continue under the applicable arrangements.
What Existing Personal Care Participants Need to Know
If you are already assessed and approved for personal care, you do not need another assessment simply because the contribution arrangements are changing.
You also do not need to apply separately to receive the new contribution treatment.
Your provider may contact you before October if your care plan, budget or service agreement needs to be updated. It can also be a useful time to speak with your provider if your needs have changed or contributions have previously prevented you from accessing the amount of personal care you need.
After 1 October, check your statements or invoices to make sure personal care delivered from that date is no longer attracting a participant contribution.
How FOCUS Connect Can Help With Personal Care at Home
FOCUS Connect is a not-for-profit and approved My Aged Care provider delivering Support at Home services across South West Sydney and Northern Sydney suburbs.
Our Support at Home services are designed around your assessed needs, goals, preferences, culture, language and daily needs.
Depending on your approved supports, FOCUS Connect’s personal care services may include:
- help with showering or bathing
- assistance with dressing
- grooming support
- support with toileting
- help taking medication
We also provide or coordinate a broader range of Support at Home services, including nursing, allied health, domestic assistance, meal preparation, transport, social support, respite, assistive technology, home modifications, gardening and home maintenance.
Care management can help organise your services and make sure your supports continue to reflect your goals, preferences and changing needs.
Getting Ready for the Personal Care Changes
Need help understanding your Support at Home services or personal care options? Contact us to discuss your care needs and how we can support you to continue living safely and independently at home.
The information provided in this article is general in nature and accurate as at September 2026. Support at Home eligibility, funding arrangements and individual circumstances may vary. For advice and information specific to your situation, contact My Aged Care or your Support at Home provider.
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FOCUS Connect, a registered not-for-profit charity, provides practical assistance and support services to individuals and families. As a My Aged Care provider, we offer Support at Home and Commonwealth Home Support Programme services across South West and Northern Sydney. We are also a leading provider of community services to multicultural and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations across South West Sydney.
Need Support or Know Someone Who Does?
If you need support, call us at 02 4627 1188 or contact us via our online enquiry form, and we will get back to you shortly to discuss your needs and how we can assist you. If you know someone who could benefit from our services, refer them to FOCUS Connect to help them receive the support they need and deserve.
