Aged Care Home Care Packages

It’s comforting to know that there is support available for Australians who want to grow old in their own home. My Aged Care is the government entry point to the aged care system and funding. To start you can either call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422  or you can visit myagedcare.gov.au to register.

Cootharinga have over 450 highly trained and qualified staff throughout North, Far North and North West Queensland that are continually being upskilled to provide the highest quality service to support older Australians live independently in their community. 

You’re eligible to apply for government support once you turn 65, or 50 if you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. The government support you receive depends on the support you require.

If you are eligible for government funded services, you’ll be referred for an assessment in your home. The assessor will contact you within two to six weeks to arrange your assessment.

The assessor will visit you at home to talk with you about your situation, health, lifestyle, and how you’re going with completing daily tasks around the home. This will help them to recommend the right services for your needs.

Sometimes the assessor may recommend you or your loved one access the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) or a Home Care Package (HCP).

The types of services you can receive through CHSP and HCP are very similar. Both fund in-home services that enable independent living. The main difference is in the level of care you can receive with each program.

 The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is intended for entry-level support for people who have been living independently. If you’re mostly able to care for yourself, but you’ve recently noticed changes in your ability to perform daily life activities, then it’s likely you can qualify for CHSP support.

Home Care Packages are for people who need more complex or extensive care. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that affects your ability to live independently, or if you’ve had a significant change in your mobility or ability to care for yourself, then you might qualify for a Home Care Package. You could also qualify for these funds if you’re already receiving CHSP funding and your needs have become more complex over time.

Cootharinga are an approved provider of services under Home Care Package Funding ONLY. We do not offer the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

There are four levels of Home Care Packages, and each provides a different amount of funding. All of them can include the same types of services – the only difference is the total amount of funding and care services you can receive.

Some examples of the services you can receive through include the following:

• Meal preparation
• Personal care
• Nursing and medical support
• Occupational therapy
• Housecleaning
• Gardening
• Home maintenance
• Assistive technology
• Transportation services

The Australian Government contributes a different amount for each level of Home Care Package. The level you are approved at will depend on your assessment. The government subsidy for each package level is as follows:

*Subsidies as of 1 July 2022  – see My Aged Care for the latest

When you receive a Home Care Package, you have a budget to pay for the services you need. Your budget will depend on your level of care  and may include contributions from you. Your contribution may include:

• Your Basically Daily Fee: Cootharinga does not charge this and this is an important consideration when choosing a service provider
• Your Income Tested Care fee: Some people may have to pay an income-tested care fee. Whether you pay it, and how much of it you pay, is determined through a formal income assessment from Services Australia. If you have to pay this fee, there are annual and lifetime limits on how much you can be asked to pay

For more information on income tested fees please visit My Aged Care

If you are a full pensioner then you will not be required to pay an income tested fee. This means you can utilise all the funds allocated to you toward the cost of your care. Cootharinga will work with you to ensure that you stay within your budgeted amount.

Download the Home Care Packages fee schedule for 2023 here.