UnitingCare Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Community Affairs Senate Inquiry into the Support at Home Program (‘Support at Home’). The UnitingCare Network comprises thirteen aged care providers, and eleven of those currently deliver services under Support at Home. Our Network has coverage across all states and territories, including in urban, regional and remote settings, and we are well placed to speak to the issues and challenges that have arisen since Support at Home’s commencement on 1 November 2025.

We note that the following four providers in our Network will be lodging submissions in response to this inquiry: Uniting NSW.ACT; Juniper; UnitingCare Queensland; and Uniting Communities. We encourage the Inquiry to consider the on-the-ground insights and detailed case studies that these providers will present as part of their evidence.

While eight new levels of care, and new schemes like the End-of-Life Pathway are welcome, delivering Support at Home has not been a smooth transition for providers in the UnitingCare Network. Overall, the current design and implementation of Support at Home have presented significant risks to both consumer outcomes and provider sustainability. Without targeted reforms to address funding adequacy, administrative processes, system integration, and communication, there is a risk that the program will fail to meet its objectives.

Notwithstanding the extensive wait times for assessments and packages, UnitingCare Australia notes the following key issues with Support at Home:

• The provision of Minimum Service Offerings;
• Administrative complexities and inefficiencies;
• Confusion around common prices and false media reports on price gouging;
• Care management caps not enabling effective coordination of care;
• The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme; and
• Frontline workers experiencing psychosocial distress and burnout.

Addressing these issues is essential to ensure that older Australians receive timely, appropriate, and safe care in their homes, while maintaining a viable and sustainable sector.

Download the PDF to read the submission in full.