From 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program is setting off one of the biggest changes the aged care sector has seen in decades. For Allied Health professionals, this reform brings a new set of challenges: from complex compliance demands to unpredictable pricing pressures. Adapting early isn't just an advantage, it's essential for staying sustainable.

In this article, we'll break down the need-to-know about Support at Home, what it means for Allied Health providers, and how splose, your AI-powered practice management software, helps practices streamline operations and thrive under the new system. splose is purpose-built to free clinicians from admin so they can focus on helping people.

What is the Support at Home Program?

Support at Home is the government’s new model for community aged care, introduced as part of the ongoing Aged Care Reform following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

It represents the merging of the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs, with the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) expected to be integrated in the coming years.

The goal is clear: simplify aged care, boost quality, and give older Australians easier access to the essential services you provide.

While the reform aims to improve life for older people, it creates a whole new mountain of operational and financial challenges for providers, especially those working with tight margins. New compliance, new reporting, and pricing pressures can feel like a lot to hold together.

This is where the power of an AI-first platform becomes your backbone. splose is purpose-built to cut the legwork, helping practices move faster and work smarter under the new system so you can focus on your clients, not the admin.

1. Funding and Pricing Pressures

• Travel can no longer be billed separately and must be included in the unit price.
• Approved providers now consistently add charges on top of allied health rates to recoup lost margins after care management was capped at 10%.
• Pricing guidance under Support at Home is lower than independent benchmarks like the StewartBrown Aged Care Report, raising sustainability concerns.

Providers are hoping that from 1 July 2026, the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) will deliver fairer recommendations for capped service prices.

2. Increased Regulatory and Administrative Burden

Approved aged care providers face heightened compliance requirements, which are flowing through to allied health associate providers (subcontractors). These include:

• More scrutiny of invoices and evidence of service delivery.
• Proof of staff training and adherence to Aged Care Quality Standards.
• Reporting obligations under the Act such as the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS).

3. Workforce Training and Knowledge

Allied health professionals must now understand the new concepts including:

• Client contributions under Support at Home.
• The new AT-HM scheme.
• Pathways for restorative care and end-of-life care.
• Navigating quarterly budgets.

4. Care Coordination and Reporting

With the aged care reform placing greater emphasis on transparency and accountability, practices are under pressure to improve efficiency, track budgets, and collaborate more closely with providers. Finding smarter, more efficient ways to manage these tasks is essential as much of this work involves additional, non-billable time.

The aged care sector is changing fast, and tighter margins mean efficiency isn't just nice - it's the backbone of a sustainable practice. That’s where splose, the AI-powered platform, steps in. We're purpose-built to free up clinicians so they can focus on what they do best: helping people.

Automations That Save Time

Consider this your digital desk, tidied. splose cuts the legwork by handling the repetitive stuff, running quietly in the background so your practice always stays on track.

• Referrals: Incoming clients? They're managed automatically.
• Waitlists: Keep your pipeline moving with our easy, inbuilt waitlist tool.
• Batch invoicing: Generate invoices for multiple clients in seconds.
• Reporting: Instantly create reports to review your business productivity.

splose AI: The Clinician's Secret Weapon

We’re AI-first because we know every minute you save on admin is a minute you spend with clients. Our AI is so easy, it's second nature.

• It drafts progress notes and reports faster than you can think.
• It slashes non-billable admin time, giving you more time on your calendar.
• It significantly lightens the cognitive load, so you can leave the paperwork behind and focus 100% on client care.

Cases for quarterly budgets

Support at Home funding can be complex, but managing it shouldn't be.

• Manage quarterly budgets directly within client cases, no more spreadsheets.
• Prevent tricky over- or under-spending against your Support at Home funding.

Support at Home is bringing sweeping change, from pricing uncertainty to demanding compliance. Providers will need to work smarter to remain sustainable, and that means putting an AI-powered platform to work.

By combining cutting-edge AI and powerful automation, splose helps Allied Health practices adapt quickly to the new environment—protecting your margins while ensuring compliance.

We’re helping thousands of Allied Health professionals, and we’re only just getting started. Now's the time to prepare and position your practice for success in the future of aged care.