What is included and how Nurse Next Door can help
Australia’s aged care reforms introduced the Support at Home program from 1 November 2025, replacing the Home Care Packages program and the Short Term Restorative Care Programme.
For older people and families, one of the biggest and most reassuring changes is the clear inclusion of clinical supports such as nursing care within a defined list of services.
If you are searching for in-home nursing services under Support at Home, this guide explains what nursing typically covers, how funding works, and how Nurse Next Door Home Care Services can support you to access the right care at the right time.
What is the Support at Home program
Support at Home is an in-home aged care program designed to help older people live at home for longer, stay connected to community, and access a wide range of supports, equipment, and home modifications.
A key feature is a defined service list that guides which services Support at Home funding can be used for.
My Aged Care explains that Support at Home services fall into three categories.
- Clinical supports, such as nursing care
- Independence, such as help with showering, taking medications, transport and respite
- Everyday living, such as cleaning, gardening, shopping, or meal preparation
Where nursing services fit under Support at Home
The nursing support you receive depends on your assessment outcome and what is written into your support plan.
In practice, in-home nursing commonly focuses on clinical tasks and monitoring that help older people stay safe, stable, and well at home.
Depending on needs and clinical suitability, nursing services can include care such as:
- Wound care and skin integrity support
- Medication support and monitoring
- Continence related clinical support
- Health observations and clinical check ins
- Support to manage ongoing conditions at home under clinical guidance
For families, this often means reassurance that there is a clear pathway for clinical support at home when personal care alone is not enough, or when a client’s needs are changing.
Do you pay for nursing under Support at Home?
This is one of the most important points for older people and families to understand.
The Australian Government states that participants will not contribute to the cost of clinical supports, including nursing care.
The participant contributions fact sheet also explains the overall approach: contributions are typically applied to independence and everyday living services depending on a person’s circumstances, while clinical supports are not subject to participant contributions.
In simple terms:
- Clinical supports, such as nursing care, are funded by government
- Independence services may attract moderate contributions
- Everyday living services may attract higher contribution rates
If you want the most detailed breakdown, the Department also publishes a schedule of contributions and resources explaining the no worse off principle for some people transitioning from earlier programs.
How to access Nursing Services through Support at Home
Access generally starts through My Aged Care, which provides the public facing overview of Support at Home and explains the service categories and examples of support, including nursing care.
The service list FAQ notes that participants are eligible for services documented in their Notice of Decision and support plan, reinforcing the importance of assessment and documented approvals.
A typical pathway looks like this:
- Contact My Aged Care and request an assessment
- Receive assessment outcomes and a support plan
- Choose a provider, like Nurse Next Door, that can deliver the services you are approved for
- Review and adjust services as needs change
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission also provides information about Support at Home and points older people to official program information channels.
How Nurse Next Door Home can help under Support at Home
As an approved provider under the Government Support at Home program, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services helps you translate Support at Home into practical support that fits your life at home, with the reassurance of a team focused on Making Lives Better and supporting Happier Ageing.
Helping you understand Support at Home and where nursing fits
We start by listening. In a Caring Consult with our Care Designer (who is a Registered Nurse), we take the time to understand what matters most to you, what is getting in the way, and what you want life at home to look like. Then we help you understand what Support at Home means for your situation, including where nursing sits as a clinical support and how it may appear in your approvals and support plan.
Planning in home support around your goals and routines
Support at Home is not one size fits all. Nurse Next Door works with you to plan in-home support around your goals, routines, and preferences, so care feels like a natural part of your week, not a disruption. This includes helping you structure a mix of services that aligns with your support plan and the service categories, while keeping the focus on independence, confidence, and quality of life at home.
In-home nursing services we can provide
When nursing is included in your Support at Home plan, Nurse Next Door can provide in-home nursing services that support safety, comfort, and confidence for clients and families.
Depending on your needs and what is approved in your plan, our nursing support may include but is not limited to:
- Wound care, wound management and dressing support
- Medication management support and medication prompts
- Continence care support
- Wellness checks and health observations
- Post operative care, support and recovery monitoring at home
- Chronic condition support, such as diabetes related checks and routine monitoring as advised and more…
Planning in home support around your goals and routines
Care needs can change, sometimes gradually and sometimes quickly. Nurse Next Door can coordinate the right mix of supports over time, guided by your support plan and the Support at Home service list categories, including clinical supports such as nursing.
Because we are a home care provider, we can also help coordinate nursing visits alongside day to day supports you may use, such as personal care, companionship, meal preparation, transport, and respite, helping your week feel steady and manageable.
Support at Home Nursing is designed to make it easier for older Australians to access the clinical support they need while continuing to live safely and confidently at home. If you are navigating approvals, changing needs, or transitioning from previous programs, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services can help you understand your options and put a plan in place that feels calm, coordinated, and consistent. With in-home nursing support available as part of your clinical services, we focus on making day to day life easier for you and reassuring for your family, so you can stay in your own home, on your own terms.
Helpful resources
- My Aged Care Support at Home program overview: My Aged Care
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Support at Home service list publication page: Health Department Australia
- Support at Home service list PDF: Health Department Australia
- Support at Home service list FAQs PDF: Health Department Australia
- Department page on Support at Home participant contributions: Health Department Australia
- Support at Home program participant contributions PDF: Health Department Australia
- Schedule of contributions for Support at Home services PDF: Health Department Australia
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Support at Home page for older people: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Support at Home service requirements for providers: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
At Nurse Next Door, we are passionate about Making Lives Better.
If you require care in your own home, on your own terms, contact us 24/7 on 1300 600 247 to discuss how Nurse Next Door can help you.