Can I choose my own support workers under Support at Home? 

Having the right support worker can make a meaningful difference to your everyday life. You may want someone who understands your routines, communicates in your preferred language or shares an interest that helps you feel comfortable and connected. 

Under the Support at Home program, you may have greater choice over who delivers your approved aged care services. This can include choosing a worker from your registered provider’s team or asking to use an independent worker you already know and trust. 

However, choosing your own support worker does not mean engaging anyone without approval. Your worker, services and arrangement must meet Support at Home requirements. 

Yes. You can talk to your registered Support at Home provider about the qualities, skills and availability you are looking for in a support worker. 

For example, you may prefer someone who: 

Your provider can consider these preferences when matching you with someone from their team. Worker availability may affect the options offered, but you can raise concerns if a match does not feel right. 

Self-managed aged care may also allow you to choose a third-party worker who is not directly employed by your registered provider. 

This could be a support worker you already know or someone you find independently. Under Support at Home, the arrangement must be agreed with your provider. The provider must engage the worker directly or through an associated provider before they can deliver funded aged care services. 

Your registered provider remains responsible for the care delivered, including services provided by third-party workers. This means they must confirm that the worker meets the applicable workforce, safety and service requirements. 

The exact requirements will depend on the type of support being provided. 

Before approving a third-party worker, your registered provider may need to review information such as: 

For example, clinical and allied health services must be delivered by appropriately qualified professionals. Your provider must also make sure workers operate within their qualifications and scope of practice. 

No. The worker must deliver a service that has been approved for you. 

Support at Home funding can only be used for services that: 

The Support at Home service list includes services across clinical supports, independence and everyday living. It covers services such as personal care, domestic assistance, social support, nursing and allied health, depending on what has been approved in your support plan. 

There may be situations where a worker does not meet the required checks, cannot provide the approved service or charges a rate that is not sustainable within your budget. 

Your provider should explain the reason clearly and help you consider another suitable option. You may be able to choose a different independent worker or explore workers available through your provider. 

At Leora Healthcare, we take the time to understand what a good support worker match looks like for you. 

You may choose from Leora’s experienced support workers or talk to us about including an independent worker in your self-managed arrangement. We will explain the requirements, complete the necessary checks and help you understand how the service will fit within your support plan and budget. 

Talk to Leora about having more choice over who supports you at home.