What Is Aged Care in Australia? The Complete 2026 Guide for Families
Most families do not go looking for information about aged care until something forces their hand. A parent’s fall. A hospital discharge that comes with a list of decisions and a short timeframe. A slow recognition that caring at home has become unsustainable. Or simply the quiet, responsible instinct to understand the system before you need it.
Whatever has brought you here, this guide will walk you through Australia’s aged care system clearly and honestly — every type of support available, how the system changed in 2025, what things actually cost, who can access care, and exactly what to do first. Written for real families, in plain Australian English, without the jargon that turns an already difficult topic into a wall of confusion.
Quick Answer: Aged Care in Australia at a Glance
- What it covers: Services supporting older Australians with daily living, personal care, health management, and accommodation — from a few hours of home help per week to full-time residential care
- Who can access it: Australians generally aged 65+ (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
- How to start: Contact My Aged Care — call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au
- Is it free? The government subsidises the majority of costs. Means testing determines your personal contribution — eligibility is based on care needs, not finances
- What changed in 2025: The Aged Care Act 2024 took effect 1 November 2025 — introducing legally enforceable rights, new fee structures, and the Support at Home programme
- Government investment: $39.2 billion in FY2025 — up 9.6% year on year
Understanding Aged Care: What It Actually Means
Aged care is the system of services and support provided to older Australians who need assistance with daily living, health management, personal care, or safe accommodation. The purpose is not to take over a person’s life — it is to fill the gaps that ageing, illness, or reduced mobility create, so that older people can continue living with dignity, safety, and as much independence as possible.
In practice, it looks very different from family to family. For one household, it means a support worker visiting twice a week to help with showering and cleaning. For another, it means moving a parent into a residential facility where nursing care is available around the clock. For a third, it means a short respite stay — giving a family carer a few weeks of rest — before returning home. Aged care is not a single service or a single building. It is a spectrum of support, designed to meet people at whatever stage of need they are at.
Australia’s aged care system is funded by the federal government and delivered by thousands of approved providers across the country — government agencies, not-for-profit organisations, and private companies. The Aged Care Act 2024, which came into force on 1 November 2025, now governs the entire system under a rights-based framework. For a full explanation of what changed, read our guide to the Australian aged care reforms.
Who Can Access Aged Care in Australia?
Access to government-funded aged care is based on assessed care needs — not your financial situation. Your income and assets are assessed separately to determine what contribution you make toward costs, but they do not determine whether you are eligible for support. Eligibility is assessed through a formal process managed by My Aged Care.
✅ General Eligibility
Aged 65 or over, living in Australia as a citizen or permanent resident, with assessed needs for help with daily living or health care
✅ First Nations Australians
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians can access services from age 50, reflecting the significant difference in life expectancy across communities
✅ Younger People
In some circumstances, younger people with significant care needs who cannot be supported through other systems may also be eligible
To find out whether you or a loved one is eligible, the first step is contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visiting myagedcare.gov.au. A trained care navigator will ask about current needs and arrange a formal assessment. Visit our aged care eligibility page for a more detailed breakdown.
Types of Aged Care Services in Australia (2026)
One of the most common points of confusion for families is understanding that aged care is not one thing — it is a continuum. Services range from minimal in-home support right through to full-time residential care, and most people move along this continuum gradually over time. Here is a complete overview of every major category of aged care available in Australia in 2026.
1. Support at Home (Launched 1 November 2025)
Support at Home is Australia’s new in-home aged care programme, launched on 1 November 2025 as part of the most significant aged care reforms in three decades. It replaced the Home Care Packages programme and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. The Australian Government invested $4.3 billion in the programme — the largest single commitment to in-home aged care in Australia’s history.
Support at Home provides funded, personalised support for older Australians who want to remain living at home — the strong preference of the vast majority. Importantly, different types of services attract different contribution levels:
Clinical Care
Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology
Government funds 100% — you pay nothing
Independence
Personal care, showering, dressing, medication management, assistive technology
Moderate means-tested contribution
Everyday Living
Cleaning, gardening, shopping, transport, meal preparation, social activities
Highest contribution rates apply
There are eight Support at Home classification levels, ranging from approximately $11,000 to $78,106 per year, determined by an independent assessment. Funding is delivered in quarterly budgets, with up to $1,000 or 10% of each quarterly budget (whichever is greater) able to be carried forward. A separate Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) budget is available for equipment and home adaptations.
💡 Already on a Home Care Package? If you were receiving a Home Care Package — or approved for one — as at 12 September 2024, you automatically transitioned to Support at Home on 1 November 2025 under the No Worse Off principle. Your funding was maintained or increased, unspent funds carried over, and your contribution rates stayed the same or lower. Read our full Home Care Package eligibility guide for more.
2. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is Australia’s entry-level in-home support programme for older Australians who need a small amount of help to stay independent at home. In 2023–24, around 835,000 Australians aged 65 and over accessed CHSP services — making it the most widely used aged care programme in the country.
CHSP services include domestic assistance, personal care, transport, social support, meal delivery, home maintenance, and allied health. Unlike Support at Home, CHSP does not involve a personal budget — services are delivered directly through approved local providers, with small co-payments typically in the $5–$15 range. CHSP is expected to transition into the Support at Home programme no earlier than 1 July 2027.
3. Residential Aged Care
Residential aged care — often referred to as a nursing home or aged care home — provides full-time accommodation with 24/7 personal care, nursing services, meals, social activities, and a safe living environment. It is the most comprehensive form of aged care support and is designed for older Australians who can no longer live independently at home, even with significant in-home support.
Residential care includes both permanent care and respite care — short stays that give family carers a planned break. Government-subsidised respite provides up to 63 days per year. Under the aged care reforms, all residential homes must now meet mandatory staffing requirements, including 200 minutes of care per resident per day and a 24/7 registered nurse on site.
What Residential Aged Care Provides
Choosing the right residential facility is one of the most important decisions a family can make. For a detailed guide to comparing aged care homes in South East Queensland, read our guide to choosing aged care facilities in Brisbane.
4. Respite Care
Respite care gives family carers a planned or emergency break from their caring role. It can be delivered in the home, in the community, or in a residential facility. According to the AIHW, up to 70% of unpaid carers experience fatigue — and respite care is one of the most direct and effective interventions for preventing carer burnout.
There is also a practical benefit many families discover: a trial respite stay in a residential facility is one of the best ways to gently introduce a parent to care before committing to a permanent move. Residents who experience care through a respite stay tend to adjust to permanent care with significantly less distress than those who make a cold transition.
5. Specialised Care Services
Beyond the main programmes, Australia’s aged care system includes a range of specialist services for people with specific needs:
- Dementia care — specialist memory care environments with specifically trained staff, purposeful design, and structured therapeutic activities. Available in both residential and home settings.
- Palliative care — compassionate end-of-life support focused on comfort, dignity, pain management, and family support. Families often find it helpful to read about advance care directives when planning this stage. Delivered in the home or in residential facilities.
- Transition care — short-term care (up to 12 weeks) after a hospital stay, helping older Australians recover and regain independence before returning home.
- Restorative care — now incorporated into Support at Home as a dedicated pathway, providing up to $6,000 per episode (up to 16 weeks) of allied health services to help maintain or regain independence.
- Veteran care — the Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides additional aged care support for eligible veterans, including fully funded residential care in some circumstances.
- Cultural and community-specific care — services tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, LGBTI+ older people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those with specific disability needs.
- Ageing in place — services and environments designed to accommodate increasing care needs within the same setting, avoiding the need for multiple transitions as health changes.
How to Access Aged Care in Australia: Step by Step
The aged care access process has a clear pathway — but it is not widely known, and families often discover it under pressure. Here is exactly how it works, from the first phone call to receiving care.
Contact My Aged Care
Call 1800 200 422 (Monday–Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm) or visit myagedcare.gov.au. The call takes 15–20 minutes and can be made by the older person, a family member, GP, or hospital social worker with consent. Have a Medicare card ready. This is free and is the single entry point to all government-funded aged care.
Aged Care Needs Assessment
An accredited assessor evaluates physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs — usually at home. For residential care or higher-level in-home support, a comprehensive ACAT assessment is required. This is free and takes 1–3 weeks from referral to appointment. The median time between referral and approval was 22 days in 2023–24 (AIHW 2025).
Receive Your Approval Letter
If approved, you receive written confirmation of eligibility and the classification level or care type approved. For Support at Home, this specifies your funding level (1–8). For residential care, it confirms permanent or respite approval. Take this letter to every facility or provider you approach.
Financial Assessment — Services Australia
Contact Services Australia on 1800 227 475 for a separate means assessment that determines your financial contribution toward care. Do not skip this — without a means assessment, providers can charge you at the maximum rate. It is always in your interest to complete this process, even if you expect to have a high assessed contribution.
Choose a Provider
Use the Find a Provider tool on myagedcare.gov.au to compare providers by location, Star Ratings, services, and fees. For residential care, visit facilities in person — ideally twice, at different times of day. You have 56 days from approval to select a provider. Take the approval letter and ask about care minutes, staffing, fees, and how care plans are developed.
Develop Your Care Plan
Once you sign a service agreement with your chosen provider, a personalised care plan is developed with you — covering your goals, preferences, cultural needs, daily routine, and how services will be delivered. Under the Aged Care Act 2024, the care plan must be developed with the older person, not handed to them. It is reviewed regularly and updated as needs change.
How Much Does Aged Care Cost in Australia in 2026?
Cost is one of the biggest anxieties for families — and one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of the aged care system. The honest answer is: it depends on the type of care, your income, and your assets. But the important reassurance is this: the Australian Government subsidises the majority of costs for everyone, and legal caps prevent unlimited financial exposure.
Residential Aged Care Costs (Entering From 1 November 2025)
| Fee Type | Amount (April 2026) | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Daily Fee | $65.55 per day (~$23,926/year) | All residents — not means tested |
| Hotelling Contribution | Up to $22.15 per day | Means-tested: meals, cleaning, laundry |
| Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC) | Up to $107.32/day; capped at $137,917 or 4 years | Means-tested: personal care, lifestyle |
| Clinical Care | $0 to resident — fully government funded | Government pays 100% |
| Accommodation (RAD) | Average $745,393 in Brisbane; max $758,627 without approval | Means-tested — lump sum, daily payment, or both |
✅ Government contribution ratio: For every $1 a resident contributes toward care, the Australian Government contributes an average of $3.30. Residents with income below $35,313.20/year and assets below $64,500 have accommodation fully funded by the government — paying only the basic daily fee.
For a complete breakdown of how the means tested care fee is calculated and what the annual and lifetime caps are, read our detailed guide to the maximum means tested care fee for aged care. To understand how aged care is funded at a system level, read our guide to aged care funding in Australia. For general financial guidance, visit our financial information page.
Support at Home and CHSP Costs
Under Support at Home, all clinical care services are fully government-funded — you pay nothing toward nursing, physiotherapy, or allied health. Independence and everyday living services attract means-tested contributions based on income and assets assessed by Services Australia. From 1 July 2026, government-set price caps will apply to all Support at Home services.
CHSP services involve small co-payments set by providers — typically $5–$15 per service. No eligible person should go without essential CHSP support due to financial hardship, and providers are required to offer subsidised rates where needed.
Your Legal Rights in Aged Care — What the New Act Guarantees
One of the most significant changes brought by the Aged Care Act 2024 is that older Australians now have legally enforceable rights in government-funded care — not just guidelines. The Act introduced a Statement of Rights that every registered provider must uphold, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has the power to investigate breaches and impose civil penalties on providers who fail to meet the standard.
✅ Legally Enforceable Rights Under the Aged Care Act 2024
- Independence and autonomy — make your own decisions about how you live and receive care, including decisions that involve personal risk
- Respect and dignity — be treated as a whole person with your identity, culture, language, and history acknowledged
- Privacy — your personal information, medical details, and living arrangements protected
- Safe, high-quality care — delivered by a qualified, adequately staffed team meeting mandatory standards
- Raise issues without fear — make complaints or challenge decisions without risk of losing your place in care or facing retaliation
- Supported decision-making — nominate people to help you communicate your decisions without surrendering your right to decide for yourself
- Equitable access — regardless of background, location, culture, or financial situation
- Transparent fees — all costs explained in writing before you sign any agreement
- Access to visitors — at all times, subject to reasonable facility management
Complaints and rights concerns: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 1800 951 822 | Independent advocacy (free): 1800 700 600
Aged Care Quality Standards: The Eight Domains That Every Provider Must Meet
The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards — introduced alongside the new Act — define what good care looks like across eight domains. All registered providers must demonstrate compliance across all eight areas. These standards are audited by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and the results are published publicly.
1. Consumer Dignity and Choice
Residents treated with respect and able to make their own decisions
2. Ongoing Assessment and Planning
Care plans developed with the person and reviewed regularly
3. Personal and Clinical Care
Safe, evidence-based care delivered by qualified staff
4. Services for Daily Living
Meals, activities, social connection, and independence support
5. Service Environment
Safe, clean, well-maintained living and care environments
6. Feedback and Complaints
Open, accessible complaints processes — no fear of retaliation
7. Human Resources
Adequate, trained, supervised staff — 24/7 registered nurses
8. Organisational Governance
Sound leadership, financial management, and transparent reporting
10 Practical Tips for Families Navigating Aged Care in 2026
- Start before a crisis hits. The median wait from My Aged Care referral to assessment approval is 22 days. Registering while things are still manageable removes enormous pressure when an urgent decision is needed.
- Never skip the means assessment. Contact Services Australia on 1800 227 475. Without it, providers can charge you at the maximum rate — the assessment always works in your favour.
- Read the Statement of Rights first. It sets the standard for everything that follows. Download it from myagedcare.gov.au — available in 29 languages and Easy Read format.
- Visit facilities twice — once at a scheduled time, once unannounced or at mealtime. The atmosphere over lunch tells you more about a facility than any brochure ever will.
- Ask specifically about care minutes. Providers must now deliver 200+ minutes of direct care per resident per day. Ask how many they actually deliver above the legal minimum — and ask to see the data.
- Consider a respite stay before committing to permanent care. It dramatically reduces transition anxiety for the resident and gives the family genuine confidence before making a permanent decision.
- Check all four Star Rating sub-scores — not just the overall rating. A strong total score with a poor compliance sub-score is a meaningful warning sign worth investigating.
- Seek financial advice on accommodation decisions. The RAD vs DAP decision, combined with new RAD retention provisions (up to 2% per year), warrants advice from an accredited aged care financial adviser before you commit.
- Report financial changes within 28 days. This is now a legal requirement under the new Act. Failing to report changes to income or assets can result in a debt to Services Australia.
- Know your complaints channels. Learn how to make an aged care complaint — Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: 1800 951 822. Aged Care Advocacy Line (free, independent): 1800 700 600. Both are confidential.
Key Contacts for Aged Care in Australia
My Aged Care
1800 200 422 | myagedcare.gov.au
Services Australia
1800 227 475 | Means assessments
Quality & Safety Commission
1800 951 822 | Complaints & rights
Aged Care Advocacy
1800 700 600 | Free & independent
Frequently Asked Questions About Aged Care in Australia
What is aged care in Australia and what does it cover?
Aged care in Australia is the system of government-funded and private services that support older Australians who need help with everyday living, personal care, health management, or accommodation. It covers in-home support through programmes like Support at Home and CHSP, residential aged care (nursing homes), respite care, and specialist services for dementia and palliative care. In 2023–24, more than 1.5 million Australians used aged care services of some kind (AIHW).
How do I access aged care services in Australia?
Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. A care navigator will conduct a screening call and arrange a formal needs assessment. Once assessed and approved, you receive an approval letter allowing you to select from registered providers. A separate financial assessment from Services Australia (1800 227 475) determines your cost contribution. The whole process from first call to receiving care typically takes 3–8 weeks for in-home services, and longer for residential care depending on availability.
How much does aged care cost in Australia?
Costs vary by care type and individual means. Residential care for anyone entering after 1 November 2025 includes a basic daily fee of $65.55/day, plus means-tested contributions for hotelling (up to $22.15/day) and personal care (up to $107.32/day). Clinical care is fully government-funded. In Brisbane, the average accommodation deposit is $745,393. Support at Home clinical services are free; independence and everyday living services attract means-tested contributions. Full details are in our means tested care fee guide.
What changed in aged care in Australia in 2025?
On 1 November 2025, the Aged Care Act 2024 replaced the Aged Care Act 1997 — the biggest overhaul in nearly 30 years. Key changes include: a legally enforceable Statement of Rights for all older Australians in government-funded care; Support at Home replacing Home Care Packages with 8 funding levels up to $78,106/year; new residential fee structures for anyone entering care after 1 November 2025; mandatory 24/7 registered nurse in all residential homes; minimum 200 minutes of care per resident per day; and strengthened quality standards and complaints mechanisms. Read our full aged care reforms guide.
What is the difference between a nursing home and an aged care home in Australia?
“Nursing home” is an older, still commonly used term for residential aged care. The official current term is “residential aged care home” or “aged care home.” Both refer to the same thing: a facility providing full-time accommodation with 24/7 personal care, clinical nursing, meals, and support services for older Australians who can no longer live independently at home. All operate under identical government regulations, the same quality standards, and the same fee structures. For a comparison of in-home versus residential options, read our guide to home care vs residential aged care.
What aged care services are available in Brisbane and Queensland?
All types of aged care services are available in Brisbane and Queensland — in-home support through Support at Home and CHSP, residential care through 57 accredited homes in Brisbane, respite care, dementia care, and palliative care. Families in Brisbane’s south-east bayside corridor (Redlands, Cleveland, Wellington Point, Birkdale) and the Gold Coast are well served by a range of local providers. Read our guide to choosing aged care in Brisbane or explore our residences at Wellington Park and Merrimac Park.
What is all about aged care — is there a single guide I can use?
This page covers the complete picture for 2026. For more detail on specific topics, explore our related guides: Australian Aged Care Reforms | Means Tested Care Fee Guide | Choosing Aged Care Facilities in Brisbane | Home Care Package Eligibility. The My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au) and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing site (health.gov.au) are also authoritative government sources.
Understanding the System Is Just the Beginning — We’re Here for the Whole Journey
Reading a guide like this one gives you knowledge. But navigating the actual journey — the assessments, the facility tours, the paperwork, the difficult conversations, the financial decisions — that is where most families feel the pressure most acutely. It is rarely just an administrative task. It is happening against a backdrop of worry, love, and often exhaustion.
At Superior Care Group, we have been walking alongside Australian families through exactly this process since 1979. We are family owned and family run — not a corporate brand managed at a distance — and the same family has been leading our homes continuously for over 45 years. That continuity matters in aged care, where trust is built slowly and relationships with staff are what make the difference between a house and a home.
We founded our first residence, Wellington Park Private Care, in Wellington Point on Brisbane’s south-east bayside corridor in 1979. Backing onto native bushland with manicured gardens and its own working Eden farm, it offers a setting unlike anything else in the Redlands aged care market — and a continuity of care built over four decades of service to local families. In 2011, we extended that commitment to the Gold Coast with Merrimac Park Private Care, bringing the same values of personalised, transparent, dignified care to families across South East Queensland’s fastest-growing corridor.
We meet every requirement of the Aged Care Act 2024 — 24/7 registered nurse coverage, the mandatory care minute standards, complete fee transparency before any agreement is signed, and a genuine commitment to every resident’s rights under the Statement of Rights. But meeting requirements is not what drives us. What drives us is the belief that every older Australian deserves to be known — their history, their preferences, their quirks, their relationships — not just cared for as a set of clinical needs on a roster. That belief has not changed in 45 years. It is what makes us who we are.
If you are at the very beginning of this process, we hope this guide has given you a clearer picture of the system and more confidence to take the next step. If you are further along — ready to visit a facility, compare your options, or talk through what care might look like for your family — we are here for that conversation. No pressure. No script. Just honest people who have been doing this for a very long time.
🌿 Wellington Park Private Care
16 Balmoral Street, Wellington Point, Brisbane
(07) 3822 1876
Learn more →Explore our aged care services, understand eligibility, or visit our financial information page. When you are ready to take the next step, we are here.
