What is ‘Support at Home’?
A major in-home aged care reform, called ‘Support at Home’, is set to be rolled out from July 2025. You may have seen this reform in the news, as it’s been in the works for some time.
The key goal of this reform is to keep older people supported in their homes, through a more timely, efficient, responsive and financially sustainable system.
Although it’s called ‘Support at Home’, the reform also has direct impacts on residential aged care. This page is to walk you through those impacts, some of the changes that have already happened, and some of the changes still to come.
At Feros Care, we are well prepared for all changes, with the implementation of a new rostering system throughout our villages already in place, and our move to an electronic medical record system in 2022.
Our team is happy to have a greater ability to continually review and improve our quality of care in line with the Aged Care Standards.
What do we know about ‘Support at Home’ so far in relation to residential aged care?
The consultation process continues; however, key information on the reform so far indicates the new program will see a single assessment system introduced for everyone who needs aged care. Residential, low-care and high-care needs will no longer be treated separately in the system.
Latest updates to ‘Support at Home’ timeline
Here are the most current updates to the ‘Support at Home’ timeline.
March 12, 2024
Aged Care Taskforce Final Report released
The government released the Aged Care Taskforce Final Report. The Council of Ageing (COTA) highlights that among the report’s recommendations, it addresses access to aged care for all – regardless of their capacity to pay, as well as improved consumer protections.
Learn more about ‘Support at Home’
Stay informed
There are a few ways to stay in touch with updates as we receive them at Feros Care.
Join the Feros Care Consumer Advisory Body
Have your say on care and service quality, and share this feedback with the Feros Care Executive Team.
The ‘Support at Home’ timeline
Your easy guide to what’s already happened – and what’s next to come
October 2018
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is established to look into the quality and safety of aged care in Australia.
March 2021
The Royal Commission tables its final report in Parliament, calling for an overhaul to the aged care industry.
January 2022
The Federal Government releases the overview and proposed program of the Support at Home Program, initially scheduled to start in July 2023.
January to July, 2022
The Department of Health and Aged Care conducts consultation activities with a range of stakeholders (including older Australians).
July 2022
The original Support at Home Program start date is postponed by 12 months, to July 2024, to allow for more consultation.
October 2022
The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) replaces the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) in residential aged care. This funding is set to better match resident care needs and ensure a more equitable distribution of funding across the sector.
A star rating system for residential aged care is also introduced to help consumers make informed decisions about their aged care.
December 2022
A New Code of Conduct for Aged Care is introduced, and SIRS (Serious Incident Response Scheme) is extended from residential aged care to home care.
May 2023
The Support at Home program start date is further postponed by 12 months, to July 2025, allowing for further expert advice, trials and consultation.
The government establishes a new aged care task force to provide advice in critical areas. They also commence trials of a new assessment tool and an assistive technology loan scheme.
June 2023
The Australian Government releases a roadmap on all reform activity. The roadmap runs through indicative timelines for reform elements from October 2022 to July 2025, including consultation activities and events. Click here to find the roadmap.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission announces that all providers are required to introduce Consumer Advisory Bodies for consumers and their representatives. Click here for more information, or click here to express your interest.
July 2023
A new ‘care minutes’ requirement is introduced to residential aged care, and requires a registered nurse onsite 24 hours per day from July 1, 2023.
This will also include:
- A sector-wide average of 200 minutes of care time (with an average of 40 minutes of registered nurse time) from 1 October 2023
- A sector-wide average of 215 minutes of care (with an average of 44 minutes of registered nurse time) from 1 October 2024
September 2023
Draft pricing for Support at Home is expected to be released by an independent health and aged care pricing authority.
February 27, 2024
Support at Home Q&A webinar
1:00pm – 2:30pm AEDT, Tuesday 27 February 2024
Hosted by Nick Morgan, Assistant Secretary of Support at Home Reform Branch, this online Q&A session will give seniors, families, and carers the chance to ask questions about the new Support at Home program. Questions may be submitted prior.
March 12, 2024
Aged Care Taskforce Final Report released
The government released the Aged Care Taskforce Final Report. The Council of Ageing (COTA) highlights that among the report’s recommendations, it addresses access to aged care for all – regardless of their capacity to pay, as well as improved consumer protections.
June 2024
The new residential aged care system, ‘Places to People’, begins. Places will be assigned directly to older people, which provides them with more choice and control over which provider delivers their care.
July 2024
Several initiatives come into effect, including:
- The new Aged Care Regulatory Model
- The new National Worker Screening for Aged Care requirements
- The new Rights-Based Aged Care Act
- The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
- The new Accommodation Framework, including National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, for residential aged care environments. This aims to create more home-like environments which better meet the needs of residents.
The aged care Single Assessment System will also commence.
July 1, 2025
Australian Government to deliver a reformed and improved in-home aged care program. There will be a transition plan to the new program, which Feros Care will keep you updated on.
Additional resources about ‘Support at Home’
- The 2023 Engagement Calendar goes through a list of planned government activities.
View 2023 Engagement Calendar - The Department’s discussion paper outlines the issues raised, the areas of focus for process design, and an indicative model of what the new program could look like.
Read in-home aged care discussion paper
Have your say about the ‘Support at Home’ reform
- Get involved with the consultations by emailing [email protected].
- Regular newsletters and factsheets will be published this year to provide information, progress updates and transition processes for older Australians. Sign up for the Feros Scoop newsletter for regular monthly updates as we receive them.
- If you’re a client, we also communicate all key updates through our free web portal and hub, MyFeros. For help and instructions on how to sign up, click here: myferos.com.au/help
Stay informed of reform updates
Fill in the form below to subscribe to our Feros Scoop email newsletter. Receive monthly updates about ‘Support at Home’, as well as feel good stories and other great tips and resources.
Are you an existing Feros Care client? You can also receive ‘Support at Home’ updates through MyFeros, our client portal.
