Understand the latest guidance on financial hardship under Support at Home. This practical online session will help in-home aged care providers manage contribution discussions, non-payment and continuity of care with confidence, compassion and compliance in mind.
From 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program introduces means-tested participant contributions, reshaping how everyday support services are funded. While designed to improve fairness and sustainability, the reforms are already raising practical challenges for providers supporting older people who may be unable to pay.
Since our workshops last year, Services Australia has released updated operational guidance, providing greater clarity on how financial hardship is assessed in practice. This session draws on those updates, along with new sector insights and early provider experience.
What’s new since our last session?
This updated session includes:
Insights from the Services Australia Operational Blueprint
Clearer guidance on how hardship applications are assessed in practice
Common issues emerging from early provider experience
Practical advice on managing financial hardship in line with Support at Home service agreement requirements and audit expectations, helping reduce financial, compliance and continuity of care risk
About the session
This interactive online session explores the financial hardship policy, a key safeguard for participants who genuinely cannot meet their contribution obligations under Support at Home.
It examines how hardship decisions intersect with provider responsibilities, including:
Lawful fee charging
Service agreement management
Responding to non-payment
Maintaining continuity of care
These are all areas of increasing compliance and audit focus.
What you will learn
In this session, you will learn:
How to navigate the SA462 financial hardship application process
The eligibility criteria and documentation requirements
Practical strategies for contribution discussions and non-payment
How to maintain service continuity while meeting regulatory obligations
Who should attend
This event is for people working in CHSP and Support at Home-funded aged care who support service agreements, client contributions and care planning, including:
Care managers
Team leaders
Intake staff
Quality and compliance managers
Meet your facilitators
Angus Kerr – LiveWell Care
A Social Worker with a background in case management, Home Care Package provider management, aged care consultancy, community support and advocacy, Angus is the founder of LiveWell Care and Care Finder Program Manager at COTA Victoria. He brings over a decade of hands-on expertise in helping older people and providers navigate the complexities of aged care.
Rosie Bouton – We Plan Financial
An experienced financial adviser with a focus on aged care planning and Services Australia processes. Rosie supports providers and families in making informed financial decisions under the aged care system and specialises in hardship and fee structure guidance.
Cost
This workshop is offered at no cost to Support at Home providers
Presented by
The SSD Connect Alliance
Act Now
Places are limited – reserve yours today!
This session will not be recorded
Although funding for this event has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.