🏡 Technology, Equipment & Home Modifications: What’s Covered?

Written By Emily Barrett

From 1 July 2025, older Australians receiving aged care at home will benefit from a simpler, fairer way to access assistive technology and home modifications.

These vital supports will be delivered through a new system called the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, designed to ensure you can stay safe, independent, and comfortable in your home — without needing to save up from your care budget. It’s a seperate stream of funding entirely.

Here's what you need to know.

✅ What Can Be Funded?

The Support at Home program recognises that many people need extra equipment or home changes to live well and safely. The AT-HM scheme will fund a wide range of items that support day-to-day life, mobility, safety, and care.

Examples of Assistive Technology (AT):

  • Walking frames and wheelchairs

  • Shower chairs and non-slip mats

  • Personal alarms and smart sensors

  • Hearing or vision aids

  • Pressure-relieving cushions

Examples of Home Modifications (HM):

  • Grab rails and handrails

  • Ramps and widened doorways

  • Stair lifts

  • Bathroom upgrades (e.g. accessible showers)

These supports are designed to reduce falls, promote independence, and make your home easier to live in — whether you’re aging in place or recovering from illness or injury.

💰 How Much Funding Will Be Available?

The AT-HM scheme introduces not only a separate funding source but also funding tiers — so you won’t need to use money from your Support at Home classification budget to pay for these items.

You’ll be assessed and approved for one (or both) of the following funding types:

Funding Tier. Amount Available

LowUnder $500

Medium. Up to $2,000

High Up to $15,000

These limits apply per need — not as an annual cap — and are designed to match the scale and complexity of your support requirements.

📝 Final funding arrangements will be confirmed before the program officially launches on 1 July 2025.

How Will I Be Approved?

To access these supports, you’ll need to go through a simple assessment process, typically via your aged care assessor or an allied health professional (like an occupational therapist).

Here’s how approval usually works:

  • Low-risk, low-cost items (e.g. shower chairs, walking sticks) may be approved directly

  • Higher-cost or specialised equipment (e.g. mobility scooters) will likely need a prescription or professional recommendation

  • Home modifications will need a full assessment, and in some cases, a quote or building plan

You may be approved for:

  • An Assistive Technology tier

  • A Home Modifications tier

  • Or both, depending on your individual needs

How Does This Relate to My Support at Home Budget?

Your classification under Support at Home still determines how much funding you receive for ongoing care services like personal care, cleaning, or nursing.

These are the indicative annual budgets for each classification:

Classification Annual Support Budget

1 ~$11,000

2 ~$16,000

3 ~$22,000

4 ~$30,000

5 ~$40,000

6 ~$48,000

7 ~$58,000

8 ~$78,000

💡 Important: These budgets are for care services only. Equipment and home modifications will now be funded separately through the AT-HM scheme — a significant improvement over the current system.

🏠 What This Means for You

This new approach gives older Australians and their families:

✅ More timely access to essential equipment
✅ Less pressure to “save” their care budget for home modifications
✅ Clearer, fairer approval processes
✅ Improved safety and independence at home

Whether it’s a simple grab rail or a full bathroom modification, you’ll be able to access what you need — when you need it — without eating into your care funds.

📝 How to Prepare

To get ready for these changes:

  • Book a reassessment if your needs have changed recently

  • Talk to your care provider or consultant about future equipment or safety concerns

  • If you’ve already had an OT assessment or quote, keep it handy

  • Stay informed about funding updates closer to July 2025, as already mentioned some of the details are still sketchy and need clarification.

📚 Want to Learn More?

This post is part of our series on the July 2025 aged care changes.

👉 Read our other blogs on:

  • What you need to know about the Support at Home program

  • What Support at Home means for your care and your wallet

  • Two new Pathways to support you at home: End-of-Life & Restorative Care Pathways

  • Support at Home Classifications. What are they?

Emily Barrett
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Support at Home Classifications. What are they?