By Zac De Silva and Starts at 60

Older Australians have snapped up thousands of extra home care places as they prepare for major reforms to the sector from next month.

Under political pressure from the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers, the federal government announced plans last month to release 20,000 home care places between September and the end of October.

Sam Rae, the Aged Care Minister, said as of Thursday, all 20,000 packages had been allocated.

“These packages are giving thousands of older Australians and their families the support they need to live at home for longer with dignity and joy,” he said in a statement.

Home care allows older people to get the support they need while living independently in their own dwelling. The extra places were originally planned to be released in November, but faced with a 200,000-strong queue of older Australians waiting for the care they needed, the federal government agreed to bring the rollout forward.

Labor says an extra 63,000 home care packages will be rolled out by mid-2026.

The figures come as the aged care sector prepares for major reforms to kick in from the start of November, which will require older people to pay more for some of their own care. The changes, which will be “grandfathered” so people already in care won’t be worse-off, are aimed at getting the sector on a more even financial keel. Clinical care like nursing and physio appointments will be covered by the government, but some older Australians will have to pay for other services like showering.

What this means for you and what to look out for

For many older Australians, the early release of these 20,000 home care packages is welcome news. Advocacy groups described it as “very significant” given long waiting lists and the risk of deterioration for people whose needs weren’t being met.

Here are some key facts:

The new program replacing the current Home Care Packages model is called Support at Home Program and it begins on 1 November 2025.
Older people already in care packages as of 12 September 2024 are protected under the “no worse off” guarantee – meaning their basic level of service and charges won’t drop when the new system starts.
Although the 20,000 additional packages have been allocated, there are still tens of thousands waiting. Some 108,000 older Australians had approved packages but were still waiting for services, and another 120,000 plus were waiting for assessment.

What you can do now

If you’re an older Australian or you care for one, here are some tips to stay ahead of the changes:

Check your My Aged Care status – make sure you know whether you are approved for a package, and whether it has been activated.
Understand your service provider agreement – if your current package or provider is moving under the Support at Home rollout, ask what changes you’ll face, especially around what services you may now need to contribute towards.
Know what services are classified as “clinical” vs “non-clinical” – clinical services (like nursing or physiotherapy) remain covered; non-clinical services (housekeeping, personal care assistance) may involve more contribution.
Think about timelines – With the new program starting from 1 November 2025, any changes to rules, fees or service models may take effect then.
Keep documentation and ask questions – Whether you’re concerned about waitlists, service delays or contribution increases, stay in touch with your provider and seek clarity about any shifts.

For many, being able to remain safely and comfortably at home is a vital part of ageing with dignity. The release of extra home care packages represents a positive step. But with reforms looming, staying informed and engaged will help older Australians make the most of the support available.