Preparing for the Future of Home Care
Support at Home: reform drivers, early challenges and a more efficient partnership model
Australia’s home care landscape continues to evolve following the introduction of the Support at Home program. Designed to create a simpler, more transparent and more sustainable system, the reform aims to support older Australians to maintain independence and receive the right care at home for longer.
While the reform has introduced significant opportunities, it has also created new operational, compliance and workforce challenges for providers navigating a changing environment. At the same time, the extension of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to 30 June 2029 highlights the ongoing evolution of in-home aged care and the need for practical, sustainable service models
What this whitepaper covers
Our latest industry briefing explores:
- Why the historical home care model changed and what government aimed to achieve through reform
- The key challenges identified since the introduction of Support at Home
- The significance of the CHSP extension and what it may mean for the future of entry-level support
- Current funding demand and the ongoing participant funding queue
- How strategic allied health partnerships can help providers strengthen quality, compliance and operational efficiency
- Practical considerations for providers preparing for the next phase of reform and service delivery evolution
Key insights
A stronger focus on independence and accountability
Support at Home was introduced to address longstanding concerns around complexity, fragmented pathways and inconsistent access to services. The reform places greater emphasis on restoring independence, improving consumer experience and strengthening provider accountability.
Implementation challenges remain
Providers continue to adapt to new requirements across:
- Assessments and access pathways
- Participant understanding and affordability
- Compliance and governance obligations
- Technology, claiming and reconciliation processes
- Workforce availability and service delivery capacity
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications pathways
These challenges do not necessarily indicate reform failure. Rather, they highlight where policy objectives and operational realities are still being aligned across the sector.
Demand continues to outpace supply
Funding demand remains a significant issue within the sector. The latest available government data highlights a substantial queue of participants awaiting access to ongoing funding, reinforcing the need for efficient service delivery models and coordinated provider support.
The role of strategic partnerships
As compliance expectations increase and operational pressures grow, many providers are exploring ways to simplify service delivery while maintaining high standards of care.
The whitepaper examines how integrated allied health partnerships can help reduce administrative complexity, improve coordination, strengthen compliance assurance and provide scalable workforce capacity across multiple disciplines.
Why allied health matters
Allied health services play a critical role in supporting older Australians to remain safe, independent and engaged in their communities.
Through physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and dietetics, providers can help participants improve mobility, maintain function, enhance communication, optimise nutrition and achieve meaningful health outcomes that support ageing in place.
Looking ahead
The future of home care will continue to be shaped by reform, funding pressures, workforce demands and changing consumer expectations.
For providers, success will depend on balancing quality care, strong governance and operational sustainability while adapting to ongoing sector change.
This whitepaper provides practical insights and considerations to help organisations understand today's environment and prepare for what comes next.
Download the full whitepaper
