Home Care Package Inclusions and Exclusions: What’s Covered & What’s Not (2026)
One of the most common frustrations families experience with government-funded home care is discovering that something they assumed was covered is not — or never realising that a genuinely useful service is included and never asking for it. Home care package inclusions and exclusions sit at the heart of whether families actually get value from the funding they are entitled to.
This guide is the most comprehensive answer available to what you can and cannot spend your aged care funding on in 2026. It covers every major category of inclusions and exclusions under the new Support at Home programme — what families previously called the home care package service list — explains the logic behind the rules, walks through the “grey areas” where the answer depends on your situation, answers the specific “can I use my package for…?” questions families ask most, and gives practical tips to maximise every dollar of funding.
⚠️ Home Care Packages Were Replaced on 1 November 2025. The old four-level Home Care Package system no longer exists for new applicants. It has been replaced by the Support at Home (SAH) programme with eight classification levels. If you were on a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, you automatically transitioned to Support at Home. The inclusions and exclusions in this guide reflect the current 2026 rules. Whether you call them “home care package inclusions and exclusions,” “SAH inclusions and exclusions,” or “HCP inclusions and exclusions,” this guide covers all of it under the current programme.
📋 Home Care Package Inclusions and Exclusions — Quick Reference
✅ GENERALLY INCLUDED
- Personal care (showering, dressing, grooming)
- Nursing and clinical care — 100% government funded
- Allied health (physio, OT, podiatry, speech)
- Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
- Meal preparation and delivery services
- Transport to appointments and activities
- Social support and community access
- Home modifications (safety-related)
- Assistive technology (mobility aids, alarms)
- Medication management (clinical oversight)
- Continence aids and supplies
- In-home respite care
- Carer education and support
❌ GENERALLY EXCLUDED
- Rent, mortgage, rates, or board payments
- Electricity, gas, water, internet bills
- Groceries and food (ingredients)
- Prescription medications and PBS items
- Medical fees and hospital charges
- Private health insurance premiums
- Gambling, alcohol, or tobacco
- Holidays, flights, or leisure travel
- Cash payments to family or friends
- Cosmetic home renovations
- Services for family members, not the recipient
- Items covered by Medicare or other programmes
- General entertainment — cinema, club memberships
The Three-Category Structure: How Home Care Package Inclusions and Exclusions Now Work
The most important change to understand about home care package inclusions and exclusions in 2026 is the introduction of three distinct service categories under the Support at Home programme. This structure replaced the old single funding pool, and it changes both what is covered and who pays for it.
🏥 Category 1: Clinical Care
Nursing, physiotherapy, OT, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics, social work
✅ Government funds 100% — you pay nothing
🧍 Category 2: Independence Services
Personal care, medication prompting, assistive technology, home modifications
⚠️ Moderate means-tested contribution
📅 From 1 October 2026: personal care fully government funded
🏡 Category 3: Everyday Living
Domestic assistance, gardening, transport, meals, social support
❗ Highest means-tested contribution rates
📅 Coming 1 October 2026 — Personal Care Fully Funded: From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government will fully fund personal care services (Category 2 Independence Services). This means showering, dressing, grooming, and related personal care assistance will become $0 cost for participants — the same as clinical care. This is one of the most significant improvements to home care package inclusions in Australia’s aged care history.
Under the old Home Care Package system, everything drew from one pool of money. Now, clinical care is entirely free, with independence services partially subsidized and everyday living services attracting the highest contributions. Understanding this structure is the foundation of understanding HCP inclusions and exclusions in 2026. For more on how the program works overall, read our guide to home care package eligibility or the Support at Home programme.
Complete Home Care Package Inclusions List (2026)
The following services are included under the Support at Home programme — what many families still call the home care package inclusions list. These are services that government funding can legitimately cover. The rule for every inclusion is straightforward: the service must directly support your health, safety, or ability to live independently at home.
Personal Care (Independence Services)
Clinical and Nursing Services (100% Government Funded — Free to You)
All services below are fully government-funded — you pay zero regardless of income or assets
Domestic Assistance and Everyday Living
Transport and Social Support
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM Scheme)
Under Support at Home, home modifications and assistive technology have their own dedicated budget stream — the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme. This is a significant improvement over the old home care package system, where these items competed with all other services for the same funding pool. You no longer need to save up from your quarterly budget to pay for safety equipment or modifications.
Complete Home Care Package Exclusion List (2026)
The home care package exclusion list reflects a clear principle: government funding exists to support your health, safety, and independence at home — not to cover general living expenses or lifestyle choices. Here is the complete exclusions list with explanations so you understand not just what is excluded but why.
The Grey Areas: Home Care Package Inclusions That Depend on Your Situation
Between clear inclusions and clear exclusions sits a significant middle ground — items that are sometimes funded and sometimes not, depending on documented clinical need, individual assessment, and provider policies. Understanding these grey areas is where families can gain or lose significant value from their home care package funding.
🟡 Exercise programmes
Gym memberships are generally excluded. But gym or pool access can be funded if prescribed for aged-related functional decline and monitored by a health professional. Tai chi — excluded unless supervised by a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, exercise physiologist, or physiotherapist. Yoga — excluded unless supervised by an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist.
🟡 Computers and tablets
Generic tablets and smartwatches are generally excluded under the stricter 2026 rules. However, a device can be funded where there is a documented clinical rationale — for example, a tablet used to video-call family (reducing isolation prescribed in the care plan) or to manage health monitoring. Evidence from an OT or GP strengthens the case considerably.
🟡 Hearing aids
Hearing aids available through the Hearing Services Programme (HSP) must be obtained through HSP — they cannot be funded via a home care package. Exception: if the recipient is not a Pension Concession Card holder, the package may cover a like-for-like hearing aid equivalent to what HSP would provide in that case only.
🟡 Air conditioning installation
Excluded as a general home improvement. Can be funded if a specific medical condition (e.g., severe heart failure, heat sensitivity from medications) creates a documented clinical need for temperature management. Requires medical evidence and approval.
🟡 Alternative therapies
Massage, aromatherapy, and alternative treatments are generally excluded unless clinically prescribed by a healthcare professional and evidence-based. The treatment must be prescribed — not simply chosen — and must link to a documented care need.
🟡 Pet care
General pet care (vet bills, pet food, grooming) is excluded. However, certified assistance animals may be supported where there is a clinical rationale. Walking a pet as part of a support worker’s time during a social support visit may be fundable if the primary purpose of the visit is care-related.
“Can I Use My Package For…?” — Specific Scenarios Answered
These are the most common specific questions Australian families ask about home care package inclusions and exclusions. Here are direct, honest answers.
Can I buy a computer with my home care package?
Under the stricter 2026 rules, generic tablets and computers are harder to justify. They can be funded where there is documented clinical rationale — for example, a tablet prescribed to reduce social isolation, to video-call family, or to manage a health monitoring app. An OT or GP assessment documenting the clinical need significantly strengthens the case. Generic household computers purchased for general use are excluded.
Can I buy a mobility scooter with my package?
Yes — if assessed as necessary for mobility and independence. Mobility scooters are specifically listed in the AT-HM scheme inclusions. A prescription or assessment from an occupational therapist or physiotherapist may be required. The item must represent value for money.
Can I pay my family member to care for me with package funds?
Direct cash payments to family members are excluded. A family member can only receive payment if they are formally employed by a registered aged care provider and delivering services in that capacity — not informally as a family carer. The arrangement must go through a registered provider.
Can I use my package for physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a clinical care service — 100% government-funded under Support at Home. You pay nothing toward physiotherapy, regardless of your income or assets. This applies to all clinical allied health services including OT, speech pathology, podiatry, and dietetics.
Can I pay for Meals on Wheels with my package?
The delivery cost and labour component of meal delivery can be funded. The cost of the food itself cannot. So the service fee for Meals on Wheels is a fundable expense; any food ingredient cost is not. Your provider will work with you to identify the fundable portion.
Can I use my aged care package for a gym membership?
General gym memberships are excluded. However, if gym or pool access is prescribed for age-related functional decline and supervised by a qualified health professional operating within their scope of practice, it can be funded. The key is that it must be prescribed as part of your care plan — not simply chosen as a personal preference.
What is included in a Level 2 (or Level 4) home care package?
Under Support at Home (which replaced HCPs), all eight classification levels have access to the same service list — the difference is the annual funding amount, not which services you can access. A Level 2 participant (~$18,000/year) and a Level 8 participant (~$78,106/year) can both access personal care, nursing, allied health, domestic assistance, and the AT-HM scheme. The budget determines how much of each service you can receive, not which services are available to you. Read our guides to home care package levels and Level 4 home care packages.
Can I use my package for in-home respite care?
Yes — in-home respite care (a support worker coming to your home so your regular carer can take a break) can be funded. Residential respite is funded separately through the government’s 63-day annual residential respite entitlement and cannot be paid from your Support at Home budget. For more, read our guide to how long someone can stay in respite care.
How to Maximise Your Home Care Package Funding: Practical Tips
💡 10 Tips to Get Maximum Value From Your Package
- Use all your clinical care entitlements first. Clinical services are 100% free — physiotherapy, OT, nursing, podiatry, dietetics. Many recipients underuse these because they assume there is a cost. There is not. Book all clinically recommended services before spending budget on everyday living services.
- Get an OT assessment early. Occupational therapists are funded under clinical care (free) and can unlock home modification funding, prescribe assistive technology, and identify services you did not know you qualified for. An OT assessment often saves families money in the long run.
- Document every care need specifically. Vague requests are often declined. “I need help at home” is weak. “I have a documented fall risk requiring grab rail installation and weekly physiotherapy” is specific and linked to a safety need. Work with your care team to document needs clearly.
- Review your care plan every quarter. Your needs change. Your care plan should reflect current needs — not what was assessed 18 months ago. Request a Support Plan Review through My Aged Care if your needs have increased significantly.
- Understand the 10% care management cap. Providers can charge a maximum of 10% of each quarterly budget for care management. That means at least 90% of your funding must go to actual services. If your provider’s management fees are consuming more than this, question it.
- Carry forward unspent funds. Up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) carries forward to the next quarter. Plan for larger purchases or modifications by accumulating carry-forward amounts where needed — but do not leave large amounts unspent indefinitely.
- Ask about the AT-HM scheme for modifications. Home modifications and assistive technology have their own separate funding stream. They do not come from your quarterly support budget. Always ask your provider whether a needed modification qualifies for AT-HM funding before assuming it comes from your regular budget.
- Keep records of all services and invoices. You have the right to receive monthly statements showing all services delivered and charges made. Review these carefully. Errors do occur, and you are entitled to a transparent accounting of how every dollar is spent.
- Be honest about your worst days, not your best. Care plans are built on assessed needs. If you minimise difficulties during assessments to seem more capable than you are, your funding will not reflect your real needs. Describe the hardest days and the most difficult tasks honestly.
- Consider changing providers if services are not being delivered as planned. You have the right to change providers at any time. If your provider is not maximising your funding, is not transparent about charges, or is not delivering the services in your care plan, find one who will.
Frequently Asked Questions: Home Care Package Inclusions and Exclusions
What are the home care package inclusions and exclusions in Australia?
Home care package inclusions cover services that directly support health, safety, and independence at home — personal care, nursing, allied health, domestic assistance, transport, social support, assistive technology, and home modifications. Clinical services are 100% government-funded. Exclusions include general living costs (rent, groceries, bills), medications, medical fees, gambling, holidays, cash payments to family, cosmetic renovations, and items covered by other government programmes like Medicare or the PBS. The support at home inclusions and exclusions mirror the old HCP inclusions and exclusions, with some stricter rules around goods purchases.
What can I spend my aged care package on in 2026?
In 2026, your aged care package (Support at Home) can be spent on: personal care (showering, dressing), nursing care, physiotherapy and allied health (all free), domestic assistance, meal preparation (not food itself), transport to appointments and activities, social support, home modifications for safety, assistive technology (mobility aids, alarms), continence aids, and in-home respite care. It cannot be spent on groceries, rent, bills, medications, holidays, alcohol, gambling, cash to family, or general entertainment. See the complete inclusions and exclusions lists above.
What are the Support at Home inclusions and exclusions?
The Support at Home inclusions and exclusions (SAH inclusions and exclusions) follow the same principles as the old HCP inclusions and exclusions but with three important differences: clinical care is now 100% government-funded for all recipients; personal care will be fully government-funded from 1 October 2026; and there are stricter rules around purchasing goods (items like generic tablets or smartwatches require stronger clinical justification). Services are grouped into Clinical Care, Independence Services, and Everyday Living — each with different contribution requirements. The full SAH inclusions and exclusions list is covered in detail above.
What is the home care package exclusion list?
The home care package exclusion list includes: rent, mortgage, utilities; food and grocery costs; prescription medications and PBS items; GP, specialist, and hospital fees; private health insurance; gambling, alcohol, tobacco; holidays and leisure travel; cash payments to family; cosmetic renovations; hairdressing and beauty therapy; services for family members (not the recipient); gym memberships (unless clinically prescribed); and any item available through Medicare, NDIS, PBS, DVA, or other government programmes. The key test for any exclusion is whether it directly supports health, safety, and independence — if not, it is excluded.
What are the home care package guidelines for 2026?
The key home care package guidelines for 2026 include: all services must directly relate to assessed care needs; clinical care is 100% government-funded; personal care will be fully funded from October 2026; everyday living and independence services attract means-tested contributions; the standardised service list applies consistently across all providers; care management fees are capped at 10% of each quarterly budget; up to $1,000 or 10% of quarterly budget carries forward; home modifications and assistive technology have their own AT-HM scheme budget; and from 1 July 2026, government price caps apply to all Support at Home services.
What are common services excluded in lower-tier plans?
All eight Support at Home classification levels access the same service list — lower levels are not excluded from certain service types. The difference is the annual budget amount, not the services available. A Level 1 recipient can access physiotherapy (free), personal care, domestic assistance, and AT-HM modifications. They simply have less total budget than a Level 8 recipient. What limits lower-level recipients is budget — not service exclusions.
Understanding Home Care Package Inclusions and Exclusions Is Just the Beginning
The inclusions and exclusions rules exist for a clear reason: to ensure government funding delivers genuine support for the health, safety, and independence of older Australians at home — not to pay for general living costs or lifestyle choices. Once you understand the framework, you can work with your provider to build a care plan that genuinely maximises every dollar of funding you are entitled to.
The most impactful thing most families can do is use their fully-funded clinical care entitlements more aggressively. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nursing, podiatry, and dietetics are all 100% government-funded. Many recipients are not accessing nearly enough of these services, leaving real value unused while spending their budget on lower-priority everyday support. Getting an OT assessment is particularly high-value — it is free, it unlocks home modification funding, and it often identifies services and equipment the family did not know were available.
Whether you are navigating home care package eligibility, trying to understand the Support at Home programme, or thinking about whether the time has come to consider residential aged care, having clear information makes every decision better.
When Home Care Is No Longer Enough — Superior Care Group Is Here
For many families across Queensland, the Support at Home journey eventually leads to a point where even the most intensive home care package inclusions cannot fully meet the level of care needed. When that moment comes — and for many families it does — the decision about residential aged care deserves the same careful thought as every decision that preceded it.
Superior Care Group is one of Queensland’s most trusted residential aged care providers, with renowned residences in Redland City and on the Gold Coast. We are family owned and operated — and we have been providing personalised, dignified residential aged care since 1979.
Our Wellington Park Private Care residence sits in Wellington Point on Brisbane’s south-east bayside corridor — a remarkable natural setting backing onto native bushland, with manicured gardens and its own working Eden farm that is simply not found anywhere else in Redland City aged care. Our Merrimac Park Private Care residence on the Gold Coast offers modern, purpose-built aged care with the same family-run values, warm personalised approach, and complete fee transparency our families have come to trust over 45 years.
Many of our residents arrive having spent time on a Support at Home package. They know the aged care system. They have done their research on home care package inclusions and exclusions and everything else. When they choose Superior Care Group, it is because they have looked carefully — and found that what we offer is genuinely different from a large corporate facility. Every resident is known as an individual. Every family is treated as a partner. And every fee is explained clearly before anything is signed.
Further reading: Home Care Package Eligibility 2026 · Home Care Package Levels · What Is Support at Home? · Home Care vs Residential Aged Care · Choosing Aged Care in Brisbane
