Do Support at Home services continue on public holidays?
Find out how Support at Home services work on public holidays, including Christmas and New Year availability, scheduling, costs and what to check with your provider.
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Public holidays can change the usual rhythm of care.
A regular Tuesday visit may suddenly fall on Christmas Day. A personal care service may still be needed on New Year’s Day. A family member who usually helps might be away. Or a client may simply want to know if their usual service will go ahead and whether the cost will be different.
Under Support at Home, services can continue on public holidays, but availability, scheduling and pricing may vary between providers and service types.
The best time to check is before the holiday period begins.
Can Support at Home services be delivered on public holidays?
Yes. Support at Home services may be delivered on weekends and public holidays if the provider offers those service times and they have been agreed as part of the person’s care arrangements.
Providers are required to publish pricing information for the hours in which they deliver services, including non-standard hours, weekends and public holidays. They must also agree prices with participants before charging them.
That means a public holiday does not automatically mean services stop. But it also does not mean every service will run exactly as usual.
Some providers may have reduced availability, different rosters or specific arrangements for essential services during Christmas, New Year and other public holidays.
Which services may still be important on a public holiday?
Some supports are easier to move to another day.
Others may be part of someone’s daily routine and still need to happen.
For example:
- personal care such as showering, dressing or toileting
- medication-related support
- meal preparation
- nursing care
- continence support
- mobility assistance
- respite or planned support for a family carer
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services under Support at Home are fully funded by government, with no participant contribution. However, the provider’s service price still matters because it is charged against the participant’s Support at Home budget.
This is why planning around public holidays is not only about asking, “Will someone come?”
It is also worth asking, “Do I need this service on the public holiday itself, or could it safely be moved?”
Do Support at Home services cost more on public holidays?
They can. Support at Home providers set their own service prices, and pricing may differ depending on when a service is delivered. My Aged Care notes that service costs can depend on the service required and when it is needed.
Providers must publish their pricing for all service delivery hours, including weekends and public holidays, and agreed prices must be included in or handled according to the person’s service agreement.
So before booking a public holiday service, check:
- whether a different public holiday rate applies
- how much the service will cost
- whether that rate has already been agreed
- how the cost will affect the quarterly budget
- whether another day would work just as well
The important part is that the price should not come as a surprise.
Check your service agreement before the holiday period
Your Support at Home service agreement is a good place to start. Service agreements must include the services the provider will deliver and the agreed prices. They also set out the rights and responsibilities of both the participant and provider.
Your care plan should also include practical details such as when services are delivered and how often, including preferred days and times. Before Christmas or New Year, it can help to confirm:
- which regular visits fall on a public holiday
- which visits you still need
- whether any services can be moved
- whether your usual Support Worker will be available
- what happens if the regular worker is unavailable
- whether public holiday pricing applies
- how cancellations need to be communicated
A short conversation in advance can make the holiday schedule much clearer.
Think about your quarterly budget too
Public holiday services may cost more than the same service delivered during standard hours. That means they can use a larger portion of the person’s quarterly Support at Home budget.
Your Support at Home budget is used to pay for the services you receive, and charges come out of that quarterly allocation. If several services fall over the Christmas and New Year period, it may be worth reviewing the schedule with your Care Partner.
For example, you may decide that personal care still needs to happen on Christmas Day, while domestic assistance could move to the following day.
If you want to understand the rates that may apply, you can also review Leora’s Support at Home Price Guide, including pricing for weekends and public holidays, before finalising your holiday schedule.
The goal is not simply to avoid public holiday services. It is to make sure the schedule reflects what the person actually needs and how they want to use their available funding.
What about cancellations over Christmas and New Year?
Holiday plans change. Family may visit. Someone may travel. A regular appointment may no longer be needed.
This is where it is important to understand your provider’s cancellation arrangements.
Check how much notice is required if you want to cancel or move a service and whether any fee may apply. These arrangements should be explained as part of the service agreement and provider terms.
If you already know that you will be away or spending time with family, let your provider know early so the roster can be adjusted.
A simple public holiday checklist
Before the holiday period, ask your provider:
- Which of my regular services fall on a public holiday?
- Will those services still be available?
- Will my usual Support Worker be available?
- Is there a different public holiday price?
- Can any non-essential services be moved to another day?
- How will public holiday services affect my quarterly budget?
- What notice do I need to give if plans change?
- Who should I contact during the holiday period if I need help?
These are small questions, but answering them early can make December and January much easier to plan.
Planning Support at Home over the holidays with Leora Healthcare
At Leora Healthcare, we encourage clients and families to review holiday schedules before Christmas and New Year.
Some services may be essential and need to continue as usual. Others may be easier to move around family visits, travel plans or public holiday dates.
Our team can help you review your service schedule, understand any public holiday pricing and plan care around your Support at Home budget. If you are unsure what will happen to your services over the holiday period, speak with your Care Partner or contact Leora Healthcare early so we can help you plan ahead.