Becoming a Registered Aged Care Provider: Navigating the Support at Home Reforms

The Support at Home Program, commencing 1 November 2025, will replace the current Home Care Packages (HCP) program and introduce a new single registration framework under the Aged Care Act 2024. For existing home care providers — or new entrants considering the sector — this represents one of the most significant reforms in decades.

This article explains what it means to become a Registered Provider under the new Act, and compares the key differences between today’s Approved Provider system and tomorrow’s Registered Provider model.

1. Understanding the Shift to Support at Home

Under the current system, providers hold approval under the Aged Care Act 1997 to deliver specific programs (e.g., HCP, CHSP, residential care). Funding is paid in advance, contributions are assessed through income tests, and pricing is largely set by the market.

From November 2025, this will change. A new single registration model will be introduced under the Aged Care Act 2024, with strengthened quality standards, government price caps, and tighter accountability for governance and consumer outcomes.

2. Home Care: Approved Provider vs Registered Provider

The table below highlights the practical differences that matter most to home care providers as they transition to the new system.

Current Home Care Approved Provider vs Future Registered Provider

Requirement	Current Approved Provider – Home Care Packages (HCP)	Future Registered Provider – Support at Home (from 1 Nov 2025)
Participant Interaction	Provider holds an agreement with the care recipient under the HCP program. Participants may also access CHSP services from separate providers.	One primary Registered Provider per participant (“Single Provider Model”). Responsible for overall care planning, budget, and coordination (including subcontracted services).
Funding Flow	Subsidy paid in advance each month, based on package level. Providers must acquit unspent funds.	Services paid in arrears, only for services delivered and approved in the participant’s Notice of Decision and support plan.
Participant Contributions	Care recipients pay a basic daily fee (optional) and an income-tested care fee (assessed by Services Australia).	New contribution model: clinical supports = no contribution; independence supports = moderate; everyday living = highest contribution. Providers must apply and manage collection.
Pricing	Providers set their own prices for services, with transparency requirements (e.g., Home Care Pricing Schedule). No formal government caps.	From 1 July 2026, government price caps will apply to all home care services, covering admin, travel, and delivery costs.
Programs Covered	Home care and CHSP are separate; many participants access both, leading to split care and multiple providers.	CHSP will transition into Support at Home (no earlier than 1 July 2027). Until then, CHSP continues separately.
Compliance Standards	Must comply with current Aged Care Quality Standards and provider responsibilities under the 1997 Act.	Must comply with Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards under the 2024 Act, with higher expectations for governance, consumer safety, and quality improvement.
Governance	Approved Provider obligations: fit and proper checks, key personnel responsibilities.	Stronger obligations: directors and boards accountable for governance, financial sustainability, and risk management.
Reporting & Oversight	Providers report to ACQSC on care delivery and quality; subject to audits and compliance checks.	Registered Providers report directly to ACQSC; oversight expanded with stronger enforcement powers under the 2024 Act.

3. What This Means for Providers

The changes are not just technical — they fundamentally alter the business model for home care:

• Cash flow impact → Payments will shift from advance subsidies to arrears claims, tightening liquidity.

• Pricing pressure → Government-imposed price caps from July 2026 will reduce flexibility in setting service margins.

• Contribution management → Providers will need systems to apply and collect new contribution categories.

• Governance burden → Directors and boards face stricter accountability, with ACQSC having stronger enforcement tools.

• Program consolidation → CHSP transition (from 2027) will create one integrated in-home care stream, changing referral and market dynamics.

4. How blackCAPstone Can Assist

At blackCAPstone, we support providers in preparing for the Support at Home reforms by:

• Readiness reviews – mapping current systems against 2024 Act requirements.

• Application support – preparing registration documentation and governance frameworks.

• Governance training – equipping boards and executives to meet new accountability duties.

• Financial structuring – assessing cash flow and pricing strategies in light of arrears funding and price caps.

• Ongoing compliance – advising on risk management, reporting, and ACQSC engagement post-registration.

  
  

5. Final Insights

The transition from Approved Provider (HCP) to Registered Provider (Support at Home) is more than a change of terminology — it is a structural reform that reshapes how home care is funded, delivered, and overseen. Providers who act now to align their systems, governance, and financial models will be best positioned to thrive under the new regime.

If your organisation delivers home care or is planning to enter the sector, blackCAPstone can provide tailored legal and compliance guidance through the transition. Contact us today to discuss your registration pathway.