Support at home

Funding for everyday living services

Home is where the heart is, but there’s a lot of work to be done there too!

Help with cleaning, laundry, meals, shopping or garden maintenance can help you keep on top of things, take pressure off family members, and save your energy for things that bring you joy.

There are two main funding pathways depending on your age, circumstances and needs. Focused Health Care can help you understand which one to use and how to get started.

Call 1300 201 351

What are everyday living services?

Everyday living services are hands-on services that help you keep living at home, on your own terms.

Depending on the program, your assessment and the services available in your area, they may include:

Domestic assistance, such as cleaning and laundry
Meal preparation and meal delivery
Shopping assistance
Essential light gardening, such as lawn mowing
Minor home maintenance related to access or everyday living
Practical help with other household tasks.

Pathway 1: Support at Home

For older Australians

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program for older Australians with assessed care needs. It replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Program on 1 November 2025.

Everyday living services under Support at Home

Under Support at Home, everyday living services may include practical help around the home, such as:

Domestic assistance: Support with routine household tasks, including cleaning and laundry.
Meals: Help with meal preparation, food shopping or meal delivery, depending on your assessed needs and available services.
Essential light gardening: Assistance with gardening tasks such as lawn mowing or pruning where they affect access, safety or your ability to continue living at home.
Shopping support: Assistance with shopping or arranging essential household items.
Home maintenance: Minor maintenance or repairs related to access, safety or everyday living at home.

How to access Support at Home funding

To access Support at Home, you’ll need to apply for an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. You can do this by:

Completing an assessment application at myagedcare.gov.au
Calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
Asking a trusted family member, friend or representative to help you with the application

The assessment helps determine the level of support you may need.

When applying for everyday living supports, it helps to be specific. Think about the last couple of months and ask yourself:

Which household chores you tend to put off because they take too much energy
Which tasks are getting harder
If an overgrown garden is making it harder to get in and out of the house
Whether you’re relying on family more than you used to
If there have been any changes to your health, mobility or confidence
Whether you’re still eating well – or if you need help shopping or cooking.

Get assessed for Support at Home

Pathway 2: The Disability Gateway

For people with disability who are not on the NDIS

The Disability Gateway is an Australian Government service that helps people with disability find information and connect with services across Australia.

It isn’t the same as an NDIS plan and doesn’t provide individual funding packages in the way the NDIS does. But it can help you find local programs, organisations and potentially subsidised services that support everyday living.

Who is the Disability Gateway for?

The Disability Gateway may be relevant if you:

Have disability-related support needs but are not currently on the NDIS
Aren’t sure what local services may be available to you
Need practical support with everyday tasks at home
Are helping a family member find services
Want information before applying for another program

Everyday living services through the Disability Gateway

The Disability Gateway includes information about a range of everyday living services, such as:

Cleaning and household chores: Information about organisations and programs that may assist with cleaning, household tasks and maintaining your home environment.
Shopping assistance: Options that may help with planning, getting to the shops or receiving support while shopping.
Meal delivery and preparation: Services that may deliver meals or provide assistance with preparing meals at home.
Life skills: Programs that support people to build practical skills for independent living.

Availability, cost and eligibility will vary depending on your location, needs and the organisation providing support.

How to access support through the Disability Gateway

To explore your options:

Call the Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787.
Explain that you need everyday living support and are not currently an NDIS participant.
Ask what services, programs or organisations are available in your local area.
Ask about eligibility, costs, referral requirements and whether services are funded or subsidised.
Contact recommended organisations directly to confirm availability and next steps.

You can also search the Disability Gateway website by topic or location.

Which pathway should I try first?

Start with Support at Home if you:

Are an older Australian seeking aged care support at home
Need help with daily tasks, meals, home maintenance or household support
Haven’t yet had an aged care assessment
Are already approved for Support at Home and want to understand what
Everyday Living services can be arranged

Start with the Disability Gateway if you:

Need support because of disability
Are not currently on the NDIS
Are looking for local programs or organisations that can help
Want practical information before taking the next step
Are unsure which disability service pathway applies to you

Some people will need to explore more than one pathway. If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help you think through it.

Get assessed for Support at Home

Call the Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787

How Focused Health Care can help

Focused Health Care is founded and run by Registered Nurses who understand that practical support and clinical care are two sides of the same coin. We work with individuals and families across aged care, disability and private pathways, helping you make sense of your options and get the right support in place.

We can help you:

Understand the differences between Support at Home, private care and disability support pathways

Identify which everyday living supports might help you

Have conversations about care needs at home

Prepare for an assessment or next step

Coordinate your services when you have approval and choose us as your provider

You don’t need to have everything figured out just yet. We’re here to help you work through the process and obtain the funding you need to live well in your own home.