Guest speaker at the June meeting of the Bairnsdale and District Diabetes Support Group was Craig Ryan, sales and customer service officer with Latrobe Community Health.
His subject was How to live at home longer – Home Care packages. The current federally funded “Home Care Packages” were due to change as of the July 1, 2025 to the new “Support at Home” program. However the change has been delayed and is now due to start November 1, 2025.
The new classification system will see participants assessed into one of 10 new funding classification which will improve on the current four packages available through the Home Care Packages programme by better aligning funding to need.
This included ongoing classifications, and two short term classifications – the restorative care pathway and end-of-life pathway. Under Support at Home the highest ongoing classification exceeds the current Level 4 HCP, with a budget of almost $78,000 per year.
Participants will have upfront access to assistive technology and home modifications through a separately funded scheme. This means people will no longer have to save their package funds for these supports.
Under Support at Home, participants will contribute towards the cost of some
assessed services, while other services will be free of charge. These contributions will only be paid for services that have been delivered.
Contribution rates will vary by the type of service received and the participant’s income and assets. The Age Pension means test will be used to determine the means tested percentage contribution, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders will pay lower contributions than other self-funded retirees.
All individuals who have a Home Care Package on June 30, will maintain the same level of funding and retain any unspent funds under Support at Home.
Individuals on the National Priority System or who have been approved for a package as of June 30 will receive a Support at Home budget equivalent to their approved package level when one becomes available, these participants have another assessment, and are entitled to a higher level of funding, they will move to the new Support at Home classification when one becomes available.
Craig distributed information kits to everyone present and answered many questions, both on current packages and the coming forecast changes. Members showed their appreciation with a round of applause and a request for a return visit.
John Child presented Craig with a small gift on behalf of the Group and thanked him for the informative presentation and for answering the many and varied questions.
