Stuck on the Home Care Package Waiting List? What to Do While You Wait (2026)
Your parent has been assessed. They've been approved for a Home Care Package. Now you're told the wait could be 3, 6, or even 12+ months. Meanwhile, they're at home alone, struggling to manage, and you're watching their health decline while the system catches up.
You're not powerless. There are services you can access right now — and most families don't know they exist.
Current Home Care Package Waiting Times (2026)
The Australian Government publishes quarterly waiting time data. While the Support at Home program (replacing HCP from July 2025) is transitioning, significant waiting lists persist. Here are the current approximate wait times:
| HCP Level | Care Needs | Annual Budget | Approx. Wait (2026) | People Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Basic care needs | ~$9,500/year | 1–3 months | ~5,000 |
| Level 2 | Low-level care needs | ~$16,800/year | 3–6 months | ~30,000 |
| Level 3 | Intermediate care needs | ~$36,700/year | 6–9 months | ~25,000 |
| Level 4 | High-level care needs | ~$55,600/year | 9–12+ months | ~40,000 |
The Hard Truth
- • Over 100,000 Australians are currently waiting for a Home Care Package at their approved level
- • An estimated 16,000+ Australians died waiting for a Home Care Package in the most recent reported year
- • Many people are assigned an interim lower-level package (e.g., Level 2 while waiting for Level 4) — this provides some support but not what they actually need
- • Wait times vary significantly by region: metropolitan areas generally have shorter waits than rural/remote
What You CAN Access Immediately: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
The CHSP is the single most under-utilised aged care program in Australia. It provides entry-level support services with minimal wait times — often just days to weeks. Most families approved for a HCP don't know they can also access CHSP services as a bridge. You don't have to choose one or the other.
CHSP Services You Can Start This Week
- • Domestic assistance: Help with cleaning, laundry, vacuuming (2–4 hours per fortnight)
- • Meals on Wheels: Hot meals delivered daily ($8–$12 per meal, subsidised)
- • Personal care: Showering assistance, dressing, grooming
- • Social support: Transport to appointments, community group outings, social visits
- • Home modifications: Grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications
- • Allied health: Physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy
- • Nursing: Wound care, medication management, health monitoring
- • Respite care: In-home or centre-based respite for carers
| Feature | CHSP | Home Care Package |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time | Days to weeks | Months to 12+ months |
| Assessment | Regional Assessment Service (RAS) | ACAT/ACAS (comprehensive) |
| Flexibility | Fixed service types (less flexible) | Budget you control (highly flexible) |
| Cost to client | Small co-contribution (means-tested) | Basic daily fee + income-tested fee |
| Volume of support | Entry-level (a few hours/fortnight) | Substantial (multiple hours/week) |
| Referral | Call My Aged Care 1800 200 422 | Via My Aged Care after ACAT |
How to Access CHSP While Waiting for HCP
Call My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and say: “My parent has been approved for a Home Care Package Level [X] but is on the waiting list. We need interim CHSP services.” They will arrange a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment — this is different from the ACAT assessment your parent already had. RAS assessments are typically done within 1–2 weeks, and services can begin immediately after.
Private Care Options While Waiting
If CHSP services aren't enough and you need more support while waiting, private care is an option. It's not cheap, but it's available immediately without waitlists.
| Service | Cost Range | How to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Private home care worker | $35–$65/hour | Agencies: Kinela, HomeMade, Mable, Five Good Friends |
| Private nursing care | $65–$120/hour | Nursing agencies, hospital discharge teams |
| Meal delivery (private) | $10–$18/meal | Lite n' Easy, Youfoodz, HelloFresh (pre-prepared) |
| Private transport (medical) | $30–$80/trip | Shebah, medical transport services |
| Daily monitoring calls | From $1/week | Kindly Call — daily check-in calls with family reporting |
| Personal alarm | $30–$60/month | MePACS, Tunstall, VitalCall |
Mable: The “Self-Managed” Care Option
Mable (mable.com.au) is an online platform that connects families directly with independent care workers. You choose the worker, set the hours, and negotiate the rate. It's typically 30–50% cheaper than using a traditional home care agency because there's no agency margin. Workers are background-checked and insured. This is particularly useful as an interim solution while waiting for a HCP, and many providers on Mable can also deliver your HCP services once it's assigned.
Financial Assistance While Waiting
Caring for an elderly parent while waiting for government support can be financially draining. Several payments and concessions are available to ease the burden.
| Payment | Amount (approx.) | Eligibility | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carer Payment | $1,064/fortnight | Providing constant daily care; income/asset tested | Services Australia (Centrelink) |
| Carer Allowance | $153/fortnight | Providing daily care and attention; NOT income tested | Services Australia (Centrelink) |
| Carer Supplement | $600/year (lump sum) | Receiving Carer Allowance or Carer Payment on 1 July | Automatic (no application) |
| Carer Adjustment Payment | Up to $5,612 (one-off) | Catastrophic event (stroke, fall with fracture, etc.) | Services Australia (Centrelink) |
| Tax offset for carers | Up to $2,833/year | Invalid and invalid carer tax offset (check ATO eligibility) | ATO via tax return |
Carer Gateway: Free Support for You
Carer Gateway (1800 422 737 or carergateway.gov.au) provides free support specifically for carers. This includes counselling, peer support groups, respite care, emergency respite, skills training, and financial support packages. Many family carers don't realise they qualify — you don't need to be a full-time carer. Even if you work full-time and check on your parent daily, you may be eligible.
How to Check Your Queue Position and Speed Things Up
Check Your Queue Position
Call My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and ask specifically: “What is my parent's queue position for their Home Care Package?” They can tell you the approximate position and estimated wait time. Check every 4–6 weeks — positions change as packages are released.
Request a Reassessment If Needs Have Changed
If your parent's condition has deteriorated since the original ACAT assessment, request a reassessment. If they're upgraded from Level 2 to Level 4, they go to the front of the Level 4 queue (not the back). Call My Aged Care and explain the decline — falls, hospitalisations, increased confusion, or new diagnoses all warrant reassessment.
Accept an Interim Lower-Level Package
While waiting for a Level 3 or 4, you may be offered a Level 1 or 2 interim package. Always accept it. It provides immediate support, and you retain your position in the queue for the higher level. Refusing an interim package does NOT speed up the higher-level assignment.
Choose a Provider Early
You can research and choose your Home Care Package provider before your package is assigned. This means the moment it's released, services can start immediately rather than adding more weeks of onboarding. Use the My Aged Care provider finder to compare local options. Look at: fees (administration, case management, exit fees), service range, reviews, and staff availability.
Contact Your Local MP
If your parent's safety is at risk and the wait is unacceptable, contact your federal MP's electorate office. They have a dedicated liaison with My Aged Care and can escalate urgent cases. Include a letter from the GP describing the clinical urgency. This won't guarantee a faster package, but it puts political pressure on the system and creates a documented record of need.
DVA Gold Card Holders: Skip the Queue
If your parent is a veteran with a DVA Gold Card, they may be eligible for DVA-funded community nursing, domestic assistance, and personal care through DVA's own programs — completely separate from the My Aged Care system. DVA wait times are typically much shorter. Call DVA on 1800 555 254.
Daily Monitoring: Keeping Them Safe While You Wait
The biggest risk during the waiting period is that something happens — a fall, a missed medication, a health decline — and no one notices for days. Daily monitoring bridges this gap affordably.
What Daily Check-In Calls Provide During the Wait
- • Daily welfare check: Confirms they're safe, alert, and managing every single day
- • Health monitoring: Tracks appetite, sleep, mood, pain, and medication compliance
- • Fall detection: If they've fallen or had a near-miss, it's detected within 24 hours
- • Companionship: Reduces the isolation that accelerates decline while waiting
- • Family reports: You receive daily summaries, so you know how they're actually doing — not just what they tell you
- • Evidence for reassessment: If their health declines during the wait, daily call data provides documented evidence for ACAT reassessment
- • Cost-effective: From $1/week — a fraction of private care costs
per week for basic daily check-in calls
free trial — no credit card required
maximum time before a problem is detected
What Happens When Your Package Arrives
When your Home Care Package is assigned, you'll receive a letter from My Aged Care. Here's what happens next and what to watch out for:
| Step | Timeframe | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Assignment letter received | Day 0 | Must choose a provider within 56 days or lose the package |
| 2. Choose a provider | Days 1–14 | Compare fees, services, reviews. Ask about exit fees. Use My Aged Care finder |
| 3. Home Care Agreement | Days 14–21 | Sign agreement. READ IT — check admin fees, case management %, exit fees |
| 4. Care plan developed | Days 21–28 | Provider creates a plan with your parent. Include their priorities |
| 5. Services begin | Days 28–35 | Regular services start. Monthly statements should arrive |
Provider Red Flags to Watch For
- • Administration fees above 20%: Some providers charge 30–40% in combined admin and case management fees — leaving less for actual care
- • Exit fees: Some charge $500+ to leave. Look for providers with no exit fees
- • Inflexible service hours: You should be able to change services as needs change
- • No monthly statement: You have a legal right to see how your package budget is being spent each month
- • Unspent funds not rolling over: Unspent funds belong to your parent, not the provider
Give Them Connection. Give Yourself Peace of Mind.
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