How Much Does Home Care Cost in Canberra? A Plain-English Guide
"How much is this actually going to cost?" is usually the first question families ask, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Home care costs in Canberra come down to your Support at Home budget, how it's managed, and what's left over once fees are taken out — and providers aren't always upfront about it. Here's the plain-English version.
If you have Support at Home funding
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages in November 2025 and is accessed through My Aged Care. Instead of the old four package levels, there are now eight funding classifications, assessed on your care needs. Budgets are paid quarterly but usually talked about as an annual figure — roughly $11,000 a year at the lowest level up to around $80,000 a year at the highest.
That budget is managed by your registered provider or care coordinator, and pays for approved services — personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, allied health and so on — minus provider fees. Most people don't end up with as many actual care hours as the headline dollar figure suggests, once care management and administration costs are taken out. It's worth asking any provider for an actual dollar figure against your specific budget, not a general price range.
Personal care just got cheaper
From 1 October 2026, personal care — showering, dressing, continence support and similar — is fully government-funded under Support at Home, with no co-contribution regardless of your financial situation. We've written a separate guide on what that change actually covers. Everyday living services like cleaning and gardening keep their existing means-tested contribution.
If you're still on a legacy Home Care Package
If your Home Care Package hasn't yet transitioned across to Support at Home, the same general principle applies — your budget is managed by your provider, and fees are taken out before it's spent on services. The transition timeline depends on your individual circumstances, so if you're not sure where things stand, your provider or My Aged Care can tell you.
Getting a real number for your situation
Budgets only tell part of the story — what you actually get depends on how many hours you need, what type of support, and how much your provider takes in fees. The easiest way to get a concrete answer is a short, no-obligation conversation. We'll ask a few questions about the situation and give you a straight number, not a sales pitch.
Want a straight answer for your situation?
See how Support at Home funding works, or Get a free call-back