The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has unveiled new service agreement templates – along with a suite of supporting materials – to help home care providers establish or vary agreements with clients ahead of the 1 November 2025 launch of Support at Home.
Providers will be able to use the templates as a foundation for new contracts with Support at Home customers, a required step in the transition to the new system.
Minister Rae said, "Our Government is working hard to make sure both providers and older Australians have all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the care they give and receive.
"This guidance will give providers the clarity they need to continue delivering care for our loved ones come 1 November."
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will release:
- A service agreement template
- Service agreement guidance
- A service agreement checklist
- Key advice on messaging to help providers talk to older people about service agreements
Home care providers have an obligation under Support at Home to offer a service agreement (which may be a whole new agreement, or an addendum to a current Home Care Agreement) to all existing participants before Support at Home starts on 1 November 2025.
Participants are also required to agree to any changes, including service prices. Providers will need to help customers understand the contributions framework and how it may apply to them, including amounts they may be asked to pay.
Aged care providers can use My Aged Care's online estimator to help them during this conversation.
If participants choose to wait until they receive advice from Services Australia before signing their agreement, their services must continue.
