Switching your Support at Home provider can feel overwhelming. You might worry about losing funding or experiencing disruptions to your daily care.
The good news is that under the Support at Home program, switching aged care providers in Australia is simple. Your funding stays with you, and there is a clear process to help you transition smoothly.
Here is why many older Australians choose to switch to HomeMade, and how we support you every step of the way.
Reasons for switching Support at Home providers
Many people find their current provider no longer meets their day-to-day needs. Some common challenges might include:
- High administration or hidden service fees
- Little or no choice over who comes into your home
- Frequent worker turnover, making it hard to build trusting relationships
- Support workers failing to turn up as scheduled
- Confusing statements or billing disputes.
Switching to HomeMade gives you genuine choice and control over your care. Whether you or a family member choose to self-manage your funding, or, be supported by the fully managed team, HomeMade provides flexible solutions tailored to your life.
What happens during the switching process?
Leaving your current provider does not mean losing your funding. Support at Home funding follows you, not the provider.
Here is what stays the same:
- Your classification level and funding
- Your approved services
- Your government support plan and assessment outcome.
Here is what changes:
- A new provider will work with you to develop or update your care plan and manage your funding administration.
- If you self-manage, you choose and schedule your support workers directly.
- If fully-managed, the provider will find support that meets your schedule.
How to switch to HomeMade: a step-by-step guide
This is your step-by-step guide for completing a Support at Home provider transfer:
Step 1: Prepare your details
- Find your Support at Home Notice of Decision letter (mailed by the government or in your My Aged Care Online account). It outlines your Support at Home classification, quarterly budget and approved services.
- Review your current provider service agreement for any notice period (often 2-4 weeks).
- Make a list of your current support worker services - this can help ensure nothing is missed during the switch. You may be able to continue your existing support workers. If you want to add new support services, confirm they’re included in the Support at Home government service list and are approved in your Notice of Decision.
Step 2: Notify your current provider
- Give written notice to your current provider (you don’t need to give a reason).
- Request a final summary of your quarterly budget, including any unspent funds and carry-over balance.
Step 3: Set up your HomeMade arrangement
- Connect with the HomeMade team to confirm how you would like your package managed.
- If self-managing support workers, you can sign up to Mable, which is part of the same group of companies as HomeMade, to browse and connect with local independent support workers.
- Meet with potential support workers to discuss your preferences and schedule.
Step 4: Transition your care
- Finalise agreements with your new support workers before your old service agreement ends.
- Align start dates so your care continues smoothly without interruption.
- Begin your first support sessions with HomeMade, enjoying greater control over your daily care.
How does HomeMade support you through the switching process?
Changing your Support at Home provider in Australia can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to manage it alone.
The HomeMade team is here to guide you through the transition, answer your questions, and ensure you feel confident in your care.
To learn more about switching or self-managing your Support at Home funding, explore our support tools and guides or reach out to our team today.
Common questions about leaving an aged care provider
Do I have to tell my current provider a reason why I'm leaving?
Do I need to give my aged care provider a notice period?
What happens if I have unspent quarterly Support at Home funds?
Will my classification level change when I switch?
Do I have to self-manage my support when I switch to HomeMade?
What if my needs change after I switch?
Will there be a gap in my care?
The information provided in this article is general information only and based on current information at the date of publication. In addition to considering the information shared in this article, HomeMade encourages you to conduct your own research and seek independent advice about funding disability support services.