The Commonwealth Home Support Program is a large program that supports over 800,000 older Australians and has nearly three times more recipients accessing it than the current Support at Home Program.

Having experienced the transition from Home Care Packages to the Support at Home Program, we are concerned that the current implementation date of 1 July 2027 will not be achievable to ensure an outcome where older Australians are able to access necessary supports in a timely manner that enable them to remain safely in their homes for as long as possible.

The timeframe is likely to cause significant issues for clients and the broader health system if maintained. We echo the sector’s concerns that the current trajectory presents a substantial risk of market failure due to insufficient information about the proposed transition and, consequently, increases the risk of harm to clients. In addition, based on the information and plans released to date, we are not confident that the Support at Home Program will deliver improved outcomes for clients with lower care needs.