The Albanese Government is well on its way to delivering an extra 20,000 Home Care Packages before the once-in-a-generation reforms commence on 1 November 2025-with many of the promised packages already in the hands of older people.
As of Monday 6 October, 6,665 packages have been allocated with releases later this week expected to take that number to half of the additional 20,000 packages. The remaining packages are on track for allocation before the Home Care Packages program transitions to the new Support at Home program on 1 November.
Demand for in-home care has more than doubled in the last 5 years, with an anticipated 320,000 people to have a Home Care Package allocation by 31 October 2025, compared to around 155,000 in 2020.
In the coming weeks, Labor will continue to release even more new Home Care Packages to meet this unprecedented demand and get more care to the older Australians who need it most.
This batch of 20,000 Home Care Packages is just the start-we'll roll out an additional 63,000 Support at Home places by 30 June 2026 after our generational reforms commence on 1 November.
Packages continue to be released on a weekly basis in line with the National Priority System which allocates care on an individual needs basis.
Every single person identified as high priority and requiring urgent support will continue to receive their package within one month.
