Calvary Health Care

Calvary Home Care supports you to live independently in your own home, with care that fits around your life. We provide personalised support for everyday living, health needs and wellbeing, whether you need a little help or more regular care.

Home care is suitable for older people over the age of 65 who want to remain living at home but need support with daily tasks, personal care, health needs or staying socially connected. It can also support family carers by providing extra help or respite.

Many people start home care when everyday tasks become harder, their health needs change, or carers need support. Home care doesn’t have to be a big decision; you can start small and adjust services as your needs change. The sooner you apply to receive support at home, the longer you’re able to remain independent at home.

The Support at Home program is a new initiative by the Australian Government, which aims to improve in-home aged care by combining several existing programs into one streamlined system. The focus is on helping older Australians stay independent, healthy, and connected to their communities while receiving the right support in their own homes.

Each participant will have a single Support at Home service provider. This provider will be responsible for:

A provider is endorsed by the government and they claim the funds for you to use on the Support at Home services you want.

If your needs change we can support you to be reassessed through My Aged Care.

Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages and offers:

The Support at Home service list has two categories.

Clinical Supports: Nursing care, Allied health and other therapeutic services, Nutrition, Care management, restorative care management

Independence Support: Support delivered to help you manage activities of daily living and live more independently. This includes personal care (Assistance with self –care such as showering, dressing, administration of medications), social support and community engagement, therapeutic services for independent living, respite, transport and assistive technology and home modification. showering, dressing), social support and community engagement, therapeutic services for independent living, respite, transport and assistive technology and home modifications.

The Single Assessment System will determine the level of funding you are eligible to receive for your care. This will also prescribe the services you can access from the service list.

Yes. Calvary has a dedicated support team that can help source the service for you. We can book your assessment, assist with tricky questions, and help with extra documentation that may be needed for your assessment.

We’re here to help you achieve the best outcome and hold your hand through the whole process.

Yes. You need to be:

However if you are under these age limits we can assist you with other government funding if you need home care assistance. Simply call and chat to our Calvary Assist team for more information.

Services are flexible, and you can work with your provider to adjust them as your needs change.Detailed information about the services can be found in the Support at Home service list.

Budgets are based on your individual aged care assessment, which considers your needs, goals, and health status. Funding is provided quarterly, giving you flexibility to plan and adjust your services. When you receive your Support at Home funding package, the amount you contribute depends on two factors: your personal income and assets, and the specific services you select.

Your package fully covers all clinical services you require, giving you peace of mind about your health support.

For Independence and Daily Living supports that help you maintain your lifestyle, Services Australia will determine what your contribution will be to the cost, keeping quality care affordable while giving you choice in how your care dollars are spent. Calvary will work with you to design a package that supports your needs and affordability.

To access Support at Home you will need to contact the Government's My Aged Care service for an assessment. Ready to explore your home care options? We're just a telephone call away. Get in touch with our friendly team of experts for further assistance.

The wait time for a package can vary. We suggest reaching out for help as soon as you think you may benefit from it, so that you get the support you need sooner rather than later.

Services Australia will provide a notification of assessment outlining your budget, your assessed needs, and your care classification under the Support at Home program.

While waiting for Support at Home funding, Calvary can assist you during your wait-time, so call our helpful Calvary Assist team on 1800 52 72 72 to see what we can do for you.

Yes. Our Home Care team can arrange a free telephone call to explain how the Support at Home program works, what you’re eligible for, and help guide you through the assessment process.

We work tirelessly to expedite urgent cases.

We’re here to help any way we can so simply call our Calvary Assist team on 1800 52 72 72.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be assigned one of eight ongoing funding classifications. The cost of home care depends on:

Calvary is transparent about pricing, with competitive hourly rates, no hidden fees, and no basic daily fees.

Your contribution depends on your income and the type of services you receive:

You only pay for services you use.

No. If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, a no-worse-off guarantee applies. This means you’ll pay the same or less than before.

If you experience financial hardship, support is available. Calvary can help you understand hardship options and guide you through the process.

If you’re waiting for funding to start, you may be able to access:

Our team can help you understand your options and arrange interim support.

Yes. The exact amount of funding you could receive is determined by your income and asset test through Services Australia.

The client contribution is determined by Services Australia and is based off your yearly income and assets.

Start by contacting My Aged Care to check eligibility:

If eligible, you’ll receive an in-person assessment at home, followed by a care plan and funding details.

We understand that it’s a hard time and an often exhausting process to go through, that’s where Calvary can help. We can activate your assessment for you – all you have to do is call our team of Home Care experts to start the process.

Call us today on 1800 52 72 72.

If you have an accountant who knows your assets or you or a family member has filled out a pension application previously, then the information from these may help you at this point of the process.

Your monthly statement from Calvary lists the full amount of your government subsidy and your co-payment fees. Funding is provided quarterly, giving you flexibility to plan and adjust your services.

You are allocated a budget to support you best and you are encouraged to spend the allocation to meet all of your needs. If you find you have unspent funds and don’t use your full budget, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your budget (whichever is greater) into the next quarter.

This ensures you can access additional support when you need it most, without losing any funding.

Your Support at Home program is completely flexible and changes can be made to your services in consultation with your case manager if you need different care. Calvary can also advocate with My Aged Care (MAC) on your behalf if you need further support either whilst you are waiting for Support at Home to start or if your needs change.

In addition to this, you always have the option to ‘top-up’ your support with Calvary’s private services at any time, just chat to your case manager to arrange this.

For over 135 years Calvary has provided quality care to many Australians. With a health network spanning public and private hospitals, home and aged care, we make sure your health care service is tailored to your needs.

We build unique and individualised relationships with you, and always respect you and your home. With a diverse range of services built off a long-standing reputation of care, you know you’re in safe hands with Calvary.

We respect you rights and take your privacy seriously.

Calvary adheres to the government Privacy Act of 1988, designed to protect your rights with respect to information that can be used to uniquely identify you.

On joining Calvary we ensure that you have full literature on your rights and responsibilities plus the ability at any time to lodge any complaints through ourselves and independent state bodies.

Home care services may include:

Services are tailored to your needs and can change over time.

Yes. Many people begin with just a few hours of support each week and increase services as their needs change.

Your care plan is reviewed regularly. If your needs change, our team can help tailor the services you receive without starting over.

At the start of each visit, your support worker will check in with you to see how you’re feeling and whether anything has changed. They’ll then help you with the tasks outlined in your care plan for that day. Care is delivered with flexibility and respect, so support can adapt to how you’re feeling on the day.

Where possible, we aim to provide consistency, so you see familiar faces from our trusted care team. If your regular support worker is unavailable due to illness or leave, another trained team member who understands your care needs will step in to support you.

Care management helps ensure your care is coordinated, your services remain appropriate, and your funding is used effectively to support your goals. If you’re approved for ongoing Support at Home services, 10% of your quarterly budget is set aside for care management.

Support at Home funding is allocated quarterly. With Calvary’s guidance, you’ll have flexibility in how your budget is used for approved services. Your Care Manager will help you plan services, monitor spending, adjust care as needs change, and make sure you’re getting the best value from your funding.

Respite care provides short-term support for older people while giving carers a planned break from their caring responsibilities. It can be provided in a respite cottage, day centre, residential aged care home, or in the person's own home.

Respite care is available to older Australians who require support and their carers. Eligibility may vary depending on the service type and funding arrangements. Our team can help determine the most suitable option for your situation.

You may be asked to contribute towards the cost of respite services. The amount will depend on the type of support you receive, your eligibility for government funding, and your individual circumstances.

Our team can explain any costs before services commence.

Getting started is easy. Simply contact our team on 1800 52 72 72 or make an enquiry and we'll guide you through the process, discuss your needs, explain funding options and help find the right respite service for you.

Requirements vary depending on the service and length of stay. During your assessment and intake process, we'll provide a checklist of any personal items, medications or documents you may need to bring.

Yes. Selected Calvary respite cottages offer overnight stays ranging from one night to several weeks, depending on availability and individual circumstances.

Yes. We encourage ongoing connection with family and friends. Visiting arrangements may vary by location and service type, so please speak with your local respite team for details.

Respite can be provided for a few hours, a full day, overnight, several days, or longer periods depending on your needs, funding arrangements and service availability.

The smoothest approach is to line up your new provider before ending services with your current one, so there is no break in care.

If there is a gap, you generally have 56 days to enter into an agreement with a new provider. If you need more time, you may be able to request an extension through My Aged Care. Planning ahead can help ensure your care continues without interruption.

This is one of the most common concerns, and it’s completely understandable. Your current provider is expected to continue providing care during your notice period, up until your agreed end date. To minimise disruption, it helps to:

A well-managed transition should feel steady, not disruptive.

No. You cannot be charged exit fees when leaving a provider, and you won’t be charged for starting with a new one. However, it’s still important to:

A good provider will be transparent about how your budget is used.

Yes. Our Support Workers and Case Managers provide phone support during business hours between 8:30 am-4:30 pm. After-hours phone support is available outside of business hours, between 6 am-10 pm.

Yes. With your consent, family members or trusted people can be involved in planning and managing your care.

You can get in touch with our Calvary Home Care team on 1800 52 72 72 or make an enquiry to learn more, discuss the support that best suits your needs, and take the first steps toward home care. Our team can help you with every part of the process, including assessments, referrals and setting up services.