Waitlists for in-home aged care services remain stubbornly long across Australia as the federal government’s new Support at Home program — which replaced the former Home Care Package system — continues its phased rollout across the country.
The program, which began transitioning eligible recipients from July 2025, was designed to streamline access to in-home care and reduce the lengthy delays that plagued the old Home Care Package system. However, advocates say demand is continuing to outpace capacity.
The Scale of the Problem
At any given time, tens of thousands of older Australians who have been assessed as eligible for in-home support are still waiting to receive services. For those assessed at higher need levels, the wait can stretch to many months — a period during which their condition may deteriorate, placing additional pressure on family carers and the hospital system.
The My Aged Care assessment pathway — the entry point into the Support at Home system — has itself come under pressure, with wait times for initial assessments extending in some regions.
What the Support at Home Program Changed
The new program replaced the four-level Home Care Package system with a more flexible funding model designed to better match services to individual needs. Participants are assigned a funding budget rather than a fixed package level, with greater flexibility in how that budget can be used across support categories including personal care, nursing, and domestic assistance.
Transitional arrangements mean that most former Home Care Package recipients were automatically moved into the new system, retaining their existing funding levels during the changeover period.
What Families Should Do Now
If you have an older family member who may need in-home care support, act early. Register with My Aged Care at myagedcare.gov.au and request an assessment as soon as possible — the earlier you enter the system, the shorter your eventual wait will be.
Families are also encouraged to explore interim options including Commonwealth Home Support Programme services, which offer entry-level support while waiting for a more comprehensive package.
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