What the new changes mean for older Australians.
The Australian Government has recently announced important changes to clinical supports under Support at Home, with personal care set to become fully funded under the new Support at Home program from October 1st, 2026.
This is a significant step forward for older Australians receiving care at home, helping to ensure that essential personal care services remain accessible, affordable, and focused on maintaining independence and quality of life.
At KompleteCare, we understand that personal care is about far more than assistance with daily tasks, it is about preserving dignity, promoting confidence, supporting health, and helping people continue living safely and comfortably in the place they know best, their home.
What Is Personal Care?
Personal care refers to the everyday support many older Australians may need to continue living independently. These services can include assistance with showering and bathing, dressing and grooming, toileting and continence support, oral hygiene, mobility and transfers, medication prompting or administration, meal preparation assistance, and general daily living activities.
Under the new Support at Home changes, the government has confirmed that approved personal care services will move under the clinical care category, meaning these supports will be fully funded for eligible participants. No more client contributions for personal care support.
This change recognises the essential role personal care plays in keeping older Australians healthy, safe, and independent at home for longer.
Why Is Personal Care Moving Under Clinical Care?
The government’s decision reflects the growing understanding that personal care is not simply “basic assistance” it is preventative healthcare. It’s something that every Australian has a right too, regardless of their financial status.
When people receive regular and appropriate personal care support, it can help prevent, falls and injuries, skin breakdown and infections, poor hygiene-related illnesses, malnutrition and dehydration, social isolation, declining mobility, hospital admissions, and premature entry into residential aged care.
By fully funding personal care as a clinical service under Support at Home, the government aims to remove the financial barriers that may prevent older Australians from accessing the support they need.
This is particularly important because many people delay or reduce supports due to cost concerns, which can often lead to worsening health outcomes over time.
What Does This Mean for Clients?
For many current and future Support at Home participants, these changes will provide greater financial relief and improved access to care.
Previously, some participants may have been required to contribute toward personal care services depending on their funding arrangements and income assessment. Under the new changes, eligible personal care services will be fully government funded.
This means clients may pay less out of pocket for essential care, access supports earlier, increase support frequency if needed, feel more confident accepting assistance, remain safely at home for longer, and experience an improved overall wellbeing.
The changes are designed to create a more equitable aged care system where essential care is treated as a necessity rather than an optional extra.
For families, it can also reduce stress and provide reassurance that loved ones are receiving consistent support without additional financial pressure.
Personal Care Is About More Than Hygiene
When people hear the term “personal care,” they often think only about showering or hygiene assistance. While hygiene is extremely important, the benefits of regular personal care extend far beyond cleanliness.
Consistent personal care can positively impact nearly every area of a person’s life.
Supporting Independence
One of the biggest misconceptions about accepting personal care is that it reduces independence. In reality, appropriate supports, like through KompleteCare, often help people maintain or increase their independence for much longer.
When older Australians receive assistance with difficult or physically demanding tasks, they are often able to conserve energy for the things they enjoy most, whether that is socialising, gardening, cooking, attending appointments, or spending time with family.
KompleteCare’s support workers can also encourage clients to participate in tasks where possible, promoting confidence and preserving existing abilities rather than taking over completely.
Improving Physical Health
Regular personal care plays an important role in monitoring and maintaining physical health.
During routine visits, support workers may notice early changes such as, reduced mobility, any swelling or bruising, any skin integrity issues, weight loss, changes in appetite, increased confusion or mental fatigue, or a decline in strength or balance.
Identifying concerns early can allow for quicker intervention and reduce the risk of more serious complications down the track.
Personal care also helps support, good circulation, safe mobility, infection prevention or early detection and intervention, continence management, medication routines and promote good nutrition and hydration.
These everyday supports contribute significantly to a person’s long-term health and wellbeing.
The Emotional and Social Benefits of Personal Care
The emotional impact of regular care and support is often underestimated. For many older Australians, having trusted support workers visit regularly provides social connection, emotional reassurance, routine and structure, increased confidence, which all help contribute to reducing loneliness and isolation.
Maintaining personal hygiene and appearance can also greatly improve self-esteem and dignity. Feeling clean, comfortable, and well-presented can influence mood, confidence, and willingness to engage socially.
At KompleteCare, we often see how meaningful relationships between clients and support workers become an important part of emotional wellbeing.
Helping People Stay at Home Longer
Most Australians want to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible.
Consistent personal care can make this achievable by helping people manage everyday challenges safely and comfortably.
With the right support in place, many people can continue living independently at home while maintaining their routines, community connections, and quality of life.
What This Means for the Future of Aged Care
The decision to fully fund personal care reflects a broader shift toward preventative, person-centred aged care in Australia.
Rather than waiting until someone’s health declines significantly, the new Support at Home model aims to provide earlier support that helps people remain safe, healthy and independent.
This approach recognises that aged care is not just about responding to illness it is about supporting people to live meaningful, safe, and connected lives.
How KompleteCare Can Help
At KompleteCare, we believe every person deserves compassionate, respectful, and personalised support that helps them feel comfortable and confident in their own home.
Our experienced support workers provide high-quality personal care tailored to each individual’s needs, routines, and preferences. We focus on building genuine relationships while promoting dignity, independence, wellbeing, whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
As the Support at Home changes continue to roll out, our team is here to help clients and families understand what the changes mean and how to access the supports available to them.
Whether you are just starting your aged care journey or looking to increase existing supports, KompleteCare is here to help every step of the way.
Because at KompleteCare, we put our heart into every home. For more information regarding the changes, click here.