Older Australians receiving support through the federal government’s Support at Home aged care program will soon no longer have to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential personal care services such as showering, dressing, and continence management.
The Albanese Government announced that from October 1 2026, these services will be reclassified under the program’s clinical care category, meaning co-contributions will be fully removed.
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the reform, describing it as a significant step toward restoring dignity and fairness for older people accessing aged care.
OPAN’s Director of Policy, Education and Systemic Advocacy, Samantha Edmonds, said the change responds directly to long-standing concerns raised by older Australians about the financial burden of basic personal care.
“This is good news for older people who have consistently raised concerns with us about the impact on their dignity and wellbeing by having to pay out-of-pocket expenses for essential personal care services,” Ms Edmonds said.
“OPAN has long and consistently called for these services to be covered by clinical care under Support at Home. We welcome this reform and the significant difference it will make to the lives of older people.”
Ms Edmonds said the announcement acknowledges the importance of ensuring older Australians can maintain personal hygiene and independence without financial strain.
“It is clear, from what we’ve been hearing from older people and advocates, that many older people feel worse off under the Support at Home program, which contradicts the intent of the new Aged Care Act,” she said. “No older person should have to jeopardise personal hygiene due to cost, which is why these changes are so important.”
While welcoming the reform, OPAN also highlighted ongoing challenges within the aged care system, including long wait times for assessments and uncertainty around pricing protections.
“This is a welcome step, but it does not address other significant issues older people are facing under Support at Home, including long wait times for assessment,” Ms Edmonds said. “We will be looking closely at upcoming announcements, including the Minister’s National Press Club address and the May budget, to understand how protections for older people – such as price caps – will operate in practice.”
Ms Edmonds reaffirmed OPAN’s commitment to advocating for older Australians as the aged care system continues to evolve.
“OPAN will continue to champion and advocate the rights of older people to ensure they receive the care they need,” she said.
In Western Australia the Seniors Peak Body Advocare welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to remove out-of-pocket costs for essential personal care under the Support at Home program but highlighted that it doesn’t address key concerns like long assessment wait times.
Advocare CEO Erin Timu said: “Our parent body, the Older Persons Advocacy Network says calls to the national Aged Care Advocacy Line increased by 96.3% during the last quarter since the November launch of the new Aged Care Act’s measures.”
Advocare will be watching closely as further details emerge, especially how protections such as price caps will work in practice.
The Support at Home program is part of the government’s broader aged care reform agenda, aimed at improving access, affordability, and quality of care for older Australians.
People with issues are welcome to call Aged Care Advocacy Line: 1800 700 600 | WA Elder Abuse Helpline: 1300 724 679
