Support at Home Pooled Funding trial grant applications open
Pooled funding trial to test new Support at Home model
- New model: Trial allows participants to pool budgets for shared services
- Flexible care: Subscription-style access to services like 24/7 nursing
- Policy shift: Reflects move toward shared and community-based care models
- Next step: $5.2m trial open for provider applications until May 2026
The Australian Government’s Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released the details of the proposal touted to transform care.
Up to 10 eligible Support at Home providers will be selected to participate in the trial to test how flexible pooled funding models can support high-quality, person-centred in-home care.
“The trial will test whether pooling a portion of participants’ budgets in a group setting can improve service delivery and support older people to access more services through creating economies of scale,” states the Department;s guidelines.
“The trial involves Support at Home participants accessing services on a more flexible or as-needed basis, similar to that of a subscription model. For example, residents of a retirement village may choose to subscribe to access 24/7 nursing support, rather than arranging individual nursing services separately. Participants from a particular cultural or linguistically diverse group could coordinate some of their funding to access group social support and activities, or other niche service offerings, in their primary language.”
This follows the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing convening online workshops with Support at Home providers to help design the pooled funding trial backed by $5.2 million in funding over three years announced by the Federal Government in December 2024.
The trial is meant to enable older people who are co-located or part of close-knit communities to choose to combine part of their individual care budgets.
The move mirrors the Retirement Living Council’s Shared Care White Paper released in December 2023, which called for block-style funding to support ageing-in-place services within retirement villages.
Shared Care was the brainchild of former Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO Cameron Holland, now Director - Primary Care & Investments at Amplar Health.
It aims to:
- improve value for money
- enhance access to services
- deliver in-home aged care that reflects older people’s needs and preferences.
Applications are encouraged from providers delivering services in:
- retirement villages;
- rural and remote areas;
- First Nations communities;
- culturally diverse communities; and
- shared housing for people at risk of homelessness.
“Outcomes from the trial may inform future funding models,” state the Department in a grant application release.
“Successful grant applicants will be expected to participate in the trial’s formal evaluation activities.”
How to apply
Eligible providers can apply now through GrantConnect. Applications close at 2pm (AEDT) on 29 May 2026.
To prepare your application, visit GrantConnect for the grant opportunity guidelines, funding estimation tool and other guidance material.
If you have questions, email Grant.ATM@health.gov.au and quote the grant opportunity number GO8248.
