Home Care Reform Australia 2025: Support at Home Workforce Solutions

The Australian Government is introducing the Support at Home program from 1 July 2025, replacing the existing Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. This major reform is designed to streamline aged care services and improve how older Australians access support to live independently at home.

For aged care providers, the transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity. With the right preparation and workforce support, you can confidently meet the new expectations and deliver better outcomes for your clients. McArthur Aged Care is here to support your organisation with tailored locum and permanent recruitment solutions, designed specifically for the new Support at Home framework.

What Is the Support at Home Program?

The Support at Home program is part of the Government’s broader aged care reform, aiming to simplify and improve access to home-based support. It brings together several programs under a single structure, creating a more flexible and person-centred model.

Key features include:

• A single assessment system led by the new Aged Care Assessment Service.
• A defined Support at Home Service List outlining what services are available.
• Individualised funding and budget management for older Australians.
• A stronger emphasis on outcomes, quality and accountability from providers.

Learn more about the program directly from the Department of Health and Aged Care.

What Aged Care Providers Need to Know

As an aged care provider, you will need to adapt to a new way of delivering care. Some of the major changes include:

• Implementation of a new classification of service types, requiring role clarity and service scope understanding.
• Increased focus on regulatory compliance, reporting and quality improvement.
• Integration of clinical and non-clinical intake and assessment processes.
• Greater demand for care coordination, allied health services, and personalised support.

To meet these expectations, many organisations will need to invest in workforce planning, system upgrades, and cultural change.

Key Changes for Your Organisation

The transition to Support at Home is not simply an operational change. It is a sector-wide evolution in how care is planned, delivered, and monitored. The major shifts to plan for include:

• Workforce capability building to meet new compliance and outcome-based standards.
• System upgrades and process redesigns to align with individualised budget management and data entry requirements.
• Cultural change and leadership development to support your teams in adapting to a more person-led model of care.
• Enhanced intake and assessment practices, which now involve both clinical and non-clinical elements.

All these changes will require thoughtful planning, upskilling, and the right people in the right roles at the right time.

McArthur Aged Care Recruitment: Supporting Your Transition

As one of Australia’s most experienced aged care recruitment specialists, McArthur understands the challenges and opportunities this transition brings. We have supported aged care organisations through reform before and are ready to help your team succeed through this one.

We offer both locum and permanent recruitment solutions across every function required under the Support at Home program. Our extensive network includes experienced candidates ready to step into roles such as:

• Quality, Compliance, and Auditing professionals to ensure you meet new regulatory standards.
• Change Management and Leadership specialists to drive your internal transformation.
• Intake and Assessment officers, both clinical and non-clinical, who are already familiar with modern care planning frameworks.
• Case and Care Managers with proven experience delivering outcomes-focused care.
• Allied Health professionals, including physiotherapists, OTs, and more.
• Experienced Rostering Coordinators who can optimise team coverage and continuity.
• Aged Care Administrators and Data Entry staff who are system-ready.
• Customer Service and Care Coordinators who provide seamless front-line support.
• Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, and Care Workers, all screened for cultural alignment and readiness for sector changes.

Why partner with McArthur Aged Care?

• Experienced candidates who understand aged care reform and sector requirements.
• Support across locum and permanent recruitment, tailored to your organisation’s size and needs.
• Deep knowledge of regulatory standards and workforce planning for the care economy.
• Access to a nationwide candidate database of aged care professionals.

Our consultants work closely with aged care providers to identify workforce gaps, align roles with the Support at Home service list, and place experienced professionals who can deliver compliant, high-quality care from day one.

Take Action Now to Prepare for 1 July 2025

The deadline for transitioning to the Support at Home program is fast approaching. Now is the time to assess your workforce readiness, update systems, and secure the talent needed to operate under the new model.

McArthur Aged Care can help you:

• Recruit skilled professionals aligned with Support at Home service types
• Build temporary teams to support your change projects
• Upskill existing staff for new compliance and care standards

Whether you need a locum Case Manager for intake assessments, a permanent Allied Health professional, or an interim Quality Auditor to support compliance, McArthur can help.

Contact McArthur Aged Care today to learn how we can support your organisation with recruitment and workforce solutions tailored to the new Support at Home program.

Helpful resources about the Support at Home program