Support at home program Australia 2026 explained: funding, services, co-contributions, and how older Australians can apply through My Aged Care.
1. What Is Personal Care in Aged Care and What Does It Include?
When older Australians begin exploring home care options, personal care is often one of the first services they come across. But what exactly is personal care in aged care, and what does it actually include day to day?
Personal care refers to the hands-on support that helps older Australians maintain their personal hygiene, grooming, and daily routines at home. It covers practical tasks like showering, dressing, continence support, and mobility assistance, the everyday activities that become more difficult as we age or manage a chronic health condition.
In this guide we explain exactly what personal care in aged care includes, who delivers it, how it is funded under the Australian Government’s Support at Home program, and how to arrange personal care services at home in Sydney.
If you are not yet sure whether your loved one needs home care support, our article on the signs your elderly parent needs home care is a helpful starting point before reading on.
2. What Does Personal Care in Aged Care Include?
Personal care in aged care covers a wide range of daily living tasks. While the specific services delivered will depend on each individual’s care plan and assessed needs, personal care typically includes the following.
Showering and Bathing Support
Many older Australians find it difficult to shower or bathe safely on their own, particularly following a fall, a hospital stay, or as a result of reduced mobility, balance problems, or fatigue. A personal care worker can assist with safe transfers in and out of the shower or bath, washing hair and body, and drying and applying skin care products where needed.
Dressing and Grooming Assistance
Getting dressed each morning can become a significant challenge for older adults with reduced strength, limited range of movement, or cognitive difficulties. Personal care support includes help with selecting and putting on clothing, managing buttons, zippers, and footwear, and attending to grooming tasks such as hair brushing and shaving.
Continence Care and Support
Continence support is one of the most important and most sensitive aspects of personal care in aged care. A trained personal care worker can assist with managing continence aids such as pads and catheters, provide support with toileting routines, and help maintain skin integrity to prevent pressure injuries.
Oral Hygiene Assistance
Good oral hygiene is essential for overall health, particularly in older adults. Personal care support can include assistance with brushing teeth, cleaning dentures, and maintaining oral health routines that can be difficult to manage independently.
Mobility and Transfer Support
Personal care workers can assist with safe movement around the home, including helping a client move from bed to chair, supporting safe walking, and assisting with the use of mobility aids such as walking frames and wheelchairs. This support reduces the risk of falls and maintains independence within the home environment.
Meal Preparation and Feeding Assistance
For older adults who have difficulty preparing their own meals or eating independently due to physical or cognitive limitations, personal care support can include meal preparation, assistance with eating and drinking, and monitoring of nutritional intake.
Morning and Evening Routine Support
Many clients receive personal care visits at the start and end of the day to support their morning and evening routines. This can include help getting out of bed, preparing for the day, personal hygiene tasks, and assistance with getting ready for bed in the evening.
3. Who Delivers Personal Care in Aged Care?
Personal care in aged care is delivered by trained personal care workers employed by registered home care providers. These are not nurses, but they are specifically trained to deliver personal care safely, respectfully, and with full attention to the client’s dignity and individual preferences.
A good personal care worker will:
- Follow the client’s personalised care plan at every visit
- Treat the client with respect, patience, and sensitivity
- Adapt their approach to the client’s cultural background and personal preferences
- Communicate any changes in the client’s condition to the supervising nurse or care coordinator
- Build a consistent, trusting relationship with the client over time
At Expert Health Services, our personal care workers are carefully selected, fully trained, and matched to clients based on language, cultural background, and personality. We believe personal care should always be delivered with dignity and genuine compassion.
4. How Is Personal Care Different From Domestic Assistance?
Personal care and domestic assistance are two distinct categories of home care services that are often confused. Understanding the difference is important when discussing your care needs with a provider or assessor.
Swipe left or right to see the full table →
| Personal Care | Domestic Assistance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Tasks related to the person’s body and hygiene | Tasks related to the household and home environment |
| Examples | Showering, dressing, continence support, grooming | Cleaning, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping |
| Who provides it | Trained personal care workers | Home support workers |
| Funding category | Clinical supports category | Everyday living support category |
| Government funded | Yes, for eligible participants | Income tested contribution may apply |
Both services can be included in a single Support at Home care plan and delivered by the same provider, which is why choosing a provider who offers both under one roof makes the process much simpler for clients and families. To understand how costs work across all categories of the Support at Home program, read our guide on how much home care costs in Australia.
5. How Is Personal Care in Aged Care Funded?
Personal care in aged care is funded through the Support at Home program for eligible older Australians aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program is accessed through My Aged Care and provides a government funded budget based on your assessed level of need.
For NDIS participants under 65 who require personal care as part of their disability support, personal care can also be funded through an approved NDIS plan under the Daily Activities support category.
How personal care is funded under the Support at Home program:
- Personal care sits under the Clinical Supports funding category under the Support at Home program
- Eligible participants receive a government funded quarterly budget to access personal care services
- You choose a registered provider to deliver your approved personal care services
- Your care plan is reviewed regularly to ensure your funding matches your current needs
- To start the process, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or apply online at myagedcare.gov.au
To understand the full picture of how the Support at Home program works and what each funding category covers, read our detailed guide on the Support at Home program in Australia.
For those who previously held a Home Care Package and want to understand how the new system compares, our guide on home care package levels 1 to 4 explained provides a clear and useful comparison.
6. How to Access Personal Care Services at Home in Sydney
Accessing personal care services at home in Sydney involves the following steps.
Step 1 — Contact My Aged Care
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or apply online at myagedcare.gov.au to begin the assessment process. My Aged Care will complete an initial phone screening to determine whether a full assessment is appropriate for your situation.
Step 2 — Complete a Home Care Assessment
A trained assessor will visit you at home and assess your needs across all daily living areas, including personal care, domestic tasks, clinical needs, and social participation. Your assessment determines your approved level of support and which services will be included in your care plan.
Step 3 — Choose a Registered Provider
Once approved, you choose a registered provider to deliver your personal care services. You have the freedom to choose any registered provider and to change providers at any time if your needs or preferences change.
Step 4 — Begin Your Care Plan
Your chosen provider will develop a personalised care plan in partnership with you. This outlines which services you will receive, how often, at what times, and which care workers will visit. Most providers can begin services within a few days of your agreement being signed.
7. Personal Care Services in Sydney — Expert Health Services
At Expert Health Services, we provide professional personal care services across South Western and South Eastern Sydney. Our experienced, compassionate personal care team is trained to deliver high-quality support that respects each client’s dignity, independence, cultural background, and personal preferences.
We are a fully NDIS-registered and aged care-approved provider with over 15 years of experience supporting older Australians at home. Our services are all coordinated through a single trusted provider:
- Personal Care
- Nursing Care
- Nurse Practitioner Home Visits
- Domestic Assistance and Support
- Allied Health Support
We service Bankstown, Revesby, Milperra, Padstow, Punchbowl, Lakemba, Campsie, Canterbury, Belmore, Randwick, Maroubra, Rockdale, Hurstville, Campbelltown, Liverpool, and surrounding suburbs. To confirm whether we cover your suburb, visit our locations page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Support at Home
What is personal care in aged care?
Personal care in aged care refers to hands-on support that helps older Australians with daily living tasks related to personal hygiene, grooming, and physical wellbeing. This includes assistance with showering, dressing, continence support, grooming, oral hygiene, mobility, and morning and evening routines. It is delivered by trained personal care workers as part of an individualised care plan.
What is the difference between personal care and domestic assistance in aged care?
Personal care covers tasks related to the person’s own body and hygiene, such as showering, dressing, and grooming. Domestic assistance covers household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, and shopping. Both can be included in a single Support at Home care plan and delivered by the same provider.
Who provides personal care in aged care?
Personal care in aged care is delivered by trained personal care workers employed by registered home care providers. They are not nurses but are specifically trained to deliver personal care safely and respectfully in accordance with each client’s care plan and individual preferences.
Is personal care in aged care covered by the Australian Government?
Yes. Personal care is funded under the Support at Home program for eligible older Australians aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NDIS funding is also available for eligible participants under 65. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to start your assessment and find out what you are eligible for.
How often will a personal care worker visit me at home?
The frequency of personal care visits depends entirely on your individual care plan and assessed needs. Some clients receive personal care support once or twice a week, while others may require daily visits morning and evening. At Expert Health Services, we work closely with you, your family, and your general practitioner to determine the most appropriate visiting schedule for your situation. Contact us on 0414 072 871 to discuss your needs and we will tailor a care plan that fits your daily routine.
Conclusion
Personal care in aged care is one of the most fundamental and valuable supports available to older Australians living at home. It covers the everyday tasks of showering, dressing, grooming, continence support, and mobility assistance that allow older people to maintain their dignity, hygiene, and independence in the comfort of their own home.
Choosing the right personal care provider is just as important as understanding what personal care includes. At Expert Health Services, our experienced team delivers compassionate, respectful, and professional personal care to older Australians across South Western and South Eastern Sydney, all tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each client.
If you would like to learn more about our personal care services or discuss your situation with our friendly team, we are here to help.
Call us today on 0414 072 871 or visit our contact page to speak with our friendly team.
