How to make the most of your support at home funding

AS THE new Support at Home program settles into its first months of operation, older Australians across the region are beginning to understand one of the biggest changes: your care funding now resets every quarter – and anything you don’t use is returned to the government.

This shift has taken many families by surprise. Under the old Home Care Package system, people could save their unspent funds for later. But under Support at Home, the model is very different. Quarterly budgets are designed to be used regularly for ongoing support – not saved for future years.

At Dovida Geelong, Giovanni and Giselle have found that many clients are still adjusting to the shift from the old Home Care Packages mindset – where saving funds for later was allowed – to the new Support at Home model, where budgets renew quarterly and unused funds are returned to the government.

It’s understandable that this change can feel confusing at first, and Dovida’s role is to help clients confidently navigate this new system.

“Many older people are still in ‘saving mode’ because that’s what worked under Home Care Packages,” Giovanni said.

“But Support at Home is a use it or lose it system. If you don’t use your budget, you simply get less care and support.”

Why using your budget matters

Your funding is designed to help you stay independent, safe, and well at home. Common examples include:

Domestic assistance

Personal care

Meal preparation

Transport

Gardening and home maintenance

Wellness and reablement programs

Allied health support

Dovida’s local care partners often find that clients underestimate how much support they are entitled to – or don’t realise that fully using their available supports now can help prevent avoidable health issues later on.

Support that adapts to your needs

Because life changes, so should your care.

Support at Home provides a minimum monthly care management check-in, and Dovida’s team uses this time to review goals, pick up early signs of decline, adjust services, and recommend extra supports.

This personalised approach ensures assessed and required support are used proactively, not reactively.

No need to save for equipment or modifications

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) now have their own funding pool, separate from your quarterly budget.

This means you no longer need to save your care funding for future equipment needs such as:

Mobility aids

Bathroom modifications

Safety installations

Your quarterly budget can remain focused on regular, meaningful support designed just for you.

The Dovida difference

With three local offices, a highly skilled care workforce, strong clinical governance and deep community roots, Giovanni and Giselle’s team ensures no client navigates this journey alone – so you can continue living your life, your way.

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