Aged Care
Supporting Independent Living!
ILSA began providing support to Older Australians receiving Home Care Packages in 2018 due to ongoing requests and feedback from our community. Currently, we only provide this service in the Cairns region.
ILSA believes that providing stable, quality supports to Older Australians is of critical importance to ensure you feel safe and comfortable while we support you in your home. We take the time to respond to your calls, and listen to what it is you need from us to ensure you receive support your way.
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home is a government-funded program designed to help older Australians live independently and safely in their own homes. It replaces the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.
More information about Support at Home:
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/about
What Are the Funding Categories?
Support at Home provides funding across several categories to support your health, safety, and independence at home:
Personal care
Domestic Assistance
Social Support
Transport
Home Maintenance & Modifications
Health & Allied Health Services
Assistive Technology
Restorative and End-of-Life Care
How much do we charge for services?
At ILSA, we do our best to keep our cost for supports down to ensure package funding can be extended for client use.
| Support type | Daytime rates | Includes |
|---|---|---|
Personal care | $100/hour | Assistance with showering, dressing, personal hygiene, toileting |
Social support | $98/hour | Assistance to access the community, support for social connection and attending appointments |
Domestic assistance | $95/hour | Assistance with general cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping |
Gardening | $95/hour | Light gardening and mowing |
Nursing | $150/hour | Assistance with clinical support in the home |
ILSA also offers evenings, weekends and public holiday support. Prices can be provided if required. Please contact us for more information.
ILSA charges the required 10% care management fee to each client.
ILSA reserves the right to charge a 10% overhead/admin fee for services provided by associated providers.
What is a Home Care Package?
Home Care Packages provide older people who want to remain living at home with access to a range of ongoing support services to help with day-to-day activities. Individuals are assessed by an assessor to determine eligibility of level of support.
There are four levels of funding support available. ILSA offers support under all the Home Care Packages including:
1
Home Care Package Level 1
basic care needs
2
Home Care Package Level 2
low level care needs
3
Home Care Package Level 3
intermediate care needs
4
Home Care Package Level 4
high level care needs
1
2
3
4
Home Care Package Level 1
low level care needs
Home Care Package Level 2
basic care needs
Home Care Package Level 3
intermediate care needs
Home Care Package Level 4
high level care needs
We have well trained staff to cater to meet the needs of people living with disability or those who require support to maintain their independence in their own home.
The range of Home Care services we offer include:
Personal care
Assistance with self-care; assistance with client self-administration of medication.
Nursing
to help you treat and monitor medical conditions at home;
Meals and Food Preparation
to assist you in your home;
Domestic Assistance
including cleaning, laundry and other chores;
Light Gardening
tasks such as mowing;
Transport
with our support staff to get you to appointments and other community activities;
Social Support
including assistance with shopping and other social activities;
Care Management
including assisting with arranging appointments, managing support teams, and ordering aids and other equipment.
What can I do with funding?
Depending on your assessed needs, your Support at Home funding can be used for:
- Personal and in-home care services
- Transport to appointments and community activities
- Help around the home with cleaning, meals, or gardening
- Health services and therapies delivered at home
- Equipment and home modifications to enhance independence
Your support plan will be developed in partnership with you and can evolve as your needs change.
What happens if I am receiving a Home Care Package?
Clients currently receiving Home Care Packages will be “grandfathered” into the Support at Home program. If you are already receiving support through a Home Care Package or were assessed to receive a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, you will be classified as a “grandfathered client.” This means:
- You will not be required to undergo reassessment immediately when Support at Home begins.
- You will continue to receive your current level of care and funding, even after the new program starts.
- Your existing care arrangements will stay in place until you ask for a reassessment or a significant change in your needs occurs.
Do I Need to Contribute to the Cost of Services?
Yes, unless you are a grandfathered client who does not pay an Income Tax Fee. Under Support at Home, the government funds the majority of care, but a co-contribution model has been applied.
You may be asked to pay a set fee per hour or unit of service, depending on your income and financial circumstances. Services Australia will determine any income-tested fees and co-contribution requirements based on your financial assessment.
What can I do with funding?
My Aged Care provides a taxpayer funded subsidy towards the various packages of Home Care. This subsidy is paid to an approved Home Care Service provider of your choice (like ILSA!). As part of your initial assessment, it may be determined that you need to pay an income tested care fee.
The types of services you can use your funding for include personal care, domestic assistance and social support – all of which ILSA can help you with. A full list can be found through My Aged Care. You can also get information on the various package levels and fees you may be charged by Aged Care or your Provider.
What are ILSA's service rates, fees and other costs?
The standard rate of supports (6am-8pm Monday-Friday) is $61.50 per hour for personal care, social and community support (including assistance to attend appointments), cleaning and household tasks, and light gardening. If you believe you will need supports outside standards hours, please contact ILSA and ask for our Pricing Schedule.
Other fees and costs relating to your supports are listed in the table below:
SERVICE RATES
|
Support Type (cost per hour) |
Standard (6am-8pm) | Non-Standard | Saturday | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal Care | $67.05 | $75.07 | $84.05 | $110.05 | $135.03 |
Cleaning & Household Tasks | $67.05 | $75.07 | $84.05 | $110.05 | $135.03 |
Light Gardening | $67.05 | N/A | $84.05 | $110.05 | N/A |
In-home Respite | $67.05 | $75.07 | $84.05 | $110.05 | $135.03 |
Nursing | $125 | $148 | $174 | $210 | $262 |
FEES & OTHER COSTS
| Cost per fortnight | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic Daily Care fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Care Management fee | $49 | $87 | $184 | $282 |
Package Management Fee | $40 | $76 | $163 | $228 |
Staff travel cost (when supporting a client with a social activity) | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
How do I access Support at Home?
- Register with My Aged Care: Call 1800 200 422 or visit [www.myagedcare.gov.au]
- Get Assessed: A trained assessor will determine your eligibility and care classification.
- Receive Your Support Plan: You’ll be allocated a funding level based on your needs.
- Choose a Provider: Select a provider—like us—to deliver your services.
- Begin Your Services: Start receiving tailored support to help you live independently.
Need help understanding the changes or managing your transition? Our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
More information on co-contributions:
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features#participant-contributions
Support at Home booklet for older people
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/support-at-home-program-booklet-for-older-people-families-and-carers?language=en
The My Aged Care Assessment Team to contact in Cairns is:
Cairns ACAT
- 381 Sheridan Street CAIRNS
- (07) 4226 4595
- fnq_acat@health.qld.gov.au
An aged care assessment nurse can meet with you to talk about the service levels available to meet your specific care needs. If you have received an approval letter from My Aged Care you can look online for support providers in your area who can provide your package assignment.
How do I access My Aged Care and Home Care Packages?
The first stage is to find out if you are eligible for subsidised aged care. This involves a two-part assessment process that understands your needs and what services could help you. It starts with a simple eligibility check which you can do online or over the phone by calling 1800 200 422, followed by an in-person assessment. Make sure you have your Medicare card when checking your eligibility.
If you are eligible and proceed to an in-person assessment, it is worth spending time preparing by gathering information and identification. You can find more information about preparing for your assessment here.
At all stages of checking your eligibility and assessment, you are welcome to have a support person present to assist you. As you answer the questions, think about how you manage on your worst day, as this will provide a better representation of what support you need. Feel free to contact ILSA if you would like us to assist you with the process of applying for My Aged Care.
The My Aged Care Assessment Team to contact in Cairns is:
Cairns ACAT
- 381 Sheridan Street CAIRNS
- (07) 4226 4595
- fnq_acat@health.qld.gov.au
An aged care assessment nurse can meet with you to talk about the service levels available to meet your specific care needs. If you have received an approval letter from My Aged Care you can look online for support providers in your area who can provide your package assignment.
