New Funding Classifications The new Support at Home program replaces the four current Home Care Package levels with eight distinct funding classifications. This change ensures that your budget is more accurately tailored to your specific clinical and everyday needs.
Protection for Existing Members If you are already receiving a Home Care Package, you can transition with confidence. Under the “No Worse Off” rule, participants approved on or before 12 September 2024 will not pay higher contributions than they do now. Furthermore, any unspent funds from your current package will carry over in full to the new program. We handle the technical transition so your services continue seamlessly without any administrative stress.
Funding Tailored to Your Needs
Your journey to receiving quality care begins with an aged care assessment, which determines your specific funding classification. This process is designed to identify the exact level of support required to maintain your safety and independence at home. At CareLinc, we help you navigate this assessment period, ensuring you understand how your results translate into real-world care and support.
While the current Home Care Package (HCP) program operates with four funding levels, the new Support at Home program introduces a more precise system with eight distinct classifications. This expansion allows for more granular support tailored to individual health requirements. Whether you are currently on a Level 1 or a Level 4 package, the new system is designed to provide equivalent or enhanced resources to meet your evolving needs.
In addition to ongoing classifications, we offer flexible pathways designed for changing circumstances:
Practical changes to your equipment or home environment, such as grab rails, ramps, or mobility aids prescribed by allied health professionals to enhance safety.
Up to 16 weeks of short-term support specifically designed to help you regain your independence after an illness, injury, or hospital stay.
Compassionate, specialist services that prioritize dignity and choice, allowing you to remain comfortable and connected at home in the final stage of life.
Aged care funding is determined through a formal assessment. The Australian system is currently transitioning from the Home Care Package (HCP) program to the new Support at Home program.
To find the best membership fit, we help you identify your preferred approach to daily management. For example, when considering Rostering and Scheduling, you can choose the path that feels most like you:
Having a dedicated team take care of all scheduling to ensure a smooth week.
Confidently organizing and managing your own schedule.
Having a trusted family member coordinate care on your behalf.
Every membership is designed to provide reliability and complete visibility through several key features:
You gain access to a broad range of vetted professionals, from physiotherapists to meal delivery experts.
Smart technology tracks subtle changes in your wellbeing, allowing clinical teams to respond early if needed.
You are matched with qualified Helpers you can get to know and trust, rather than seeing a different stranger each visit.
Determining the best membership begins with answering questions to identify your preferred approach to daily management. A key area to consider is rostering and scheduling, where you choose the statement that feels most like you:
You would like someone else to handle scheduling to ensure a smooth weekly flow.
You feel confident organizing the schedule yourself.
A family member will coordinate care on your behalf.
Active Life: Focuses on improving strength and balance to lower fall risks.
Makes mealtimes safer through pacing and safe swallowing techniques.
Provides personalized meal planning to support energy and cognition.
The government pays the full cost of clinical care services, such as nursing and allied health. However, for non-clinical services like Independence and Everyday Living (e.g., cleaning or social support), you may be required to pay a contribution based on your income or pension status.
Your contribution is based on your financial situation and is guided by the national service list. A government calculator is used to provide detailed and transparent pricing so you know exactly what your portion of the cost will be before services begin.
Carelinc ensures a smooth transition. While the new Support at Home rules apply, your existing unspent funds are protected and can be used to cover costs once your quarterly budget is reached, helping to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.
Understanding where you fit in the new system helps plan your funding effectively:
Approved for a package and waiting in the National Priority System (NPS) before September 12, 2024.
Receiving a Home Care Package or Short-Term Restorative Care before September 12, 2024, protected by the “No Worse Off” rule.
Those who apply and receive support for the first time after the transition date will fall under the new Support at Home framework.
If you were already receiving a Home Care Package (HCP) or were approved and waiting on the National Priority System (NPS) before September 12, 2024, you are a grandfathered participant. Carelinc will automatically transition you to the new Support at Home program without you needing to re-apply.
No. You do not need a new assessment to move to Support at Home. Carelinc will automatically transition you to one of the new 8 funding classifications that most closely matches your current Home Care Package level (Level 1, 2, 3, or 4).
As a New Entrant, your journey begins with a single assessment through My Aged Care. Once assessed, you will be assigned one of 8 funding classifications based on your specific needs. You can then choose Carelinc as your provider to manage your budget and deliver your care services.
This Statement of Rights outlines the protections and standards you are entitled to as a participant of Carelinc.
In accordance with the Aged Care Act 2024, Carelinc is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of care. This Statement sets out exactly what every person can expect from us. By publishing this Statement, we ensure complete accountability and help you fully understand your entitlements under the new law.
Here’s how Carelinc makes Support at Home simple and tailored to you:
Carelinc makes the Support at Home reforms simple. We help you stay connected to the people, places, and routines you love, for as long as you desire.
Carelinc is a specialized service provider dedicated to helping seniors live independently. We provide personalized care, domestic assistance, and clinical support under the Australian Government’s new Support at Home program.
We make the transition simple. Our team has spent over 18 months preparing for these reforms, upgrading our technology and training our staff so you can focus on your life while we handle the regulatory changes.
Yes. At Carelinc, we prioritize consistency. We carefully match you with qualified Helpers who become trusted faces, ensuring they understand your specific routines, preferences, and personality.
Full Service: Carelinc takes the lead in coordinating your support, scheduling, and management.
Self-Managed: You use the Carelinc app to organize your own schedule and helpers, giving you maximum control and lower management fees.
The app provides “Clarity and Control.” You can see your service schedule in real-time, track your quarterly budget allocations, and monitor exactly how your funding is being spent.
Yes, Carelinc is fully aligned with the Support at Home program requirements and the Aged Care Quality Standards, ensuring your services are safe, professional, and fully funded.
Carelinc is designed to be flexible. Whether you need an hour of help a week or more intensive daily support, we can adjust your care plan and membership level as your health or lifestyle needs evolve.
The process is straightforward. Contact our team today, and we will guide you through the “referral” or “transfer” process to ensure there is no gap in your care during the move to Carelinc.
