Home Nursing Care: What It Includes and What It Costs

What is home nursing care?

Home nursing care brings a qualified nurse to your front door. Instead of travelling to a clinic, you receive clinical treatment in your own lounge room or bedroom. This suits older people who find it hard to get out, or who simply heal better in familiar surroundings.

A nurse can do a great deal at home. They treat wounds, help with medicines, check vital signs and keep an eye on long-term illnesses. They also work with your GP and any other health professionals so everyone stays on the same page.

Nursing as a clinical service under Support at Home

Support at Home is the Australian Government program that started on 1 November 2025 and replaced Home Care Packages. It funds care for older people through eight classifications, numbered 1 (lowest funding) to 8 (highest funding). Your classification reflects how much help you need.

Under this program, services are grouped into clinical care, independence, and everyday-living services. Nursing sits firmly in the clinical group. That grouping matters, because clinical care is treated differently when it comes to cost. More on that below.

Who provides the care: RN compared with EN

You may see two types of nurse. A registered nurse (RN) holds a university degree and can carry out the full range of clinical tasks, including complex assessments and care planning. An enrolled nurse (EN) trains through a diploma and works under the guidance of an RN.

Both are skilled professionals. The type of nurse you see depends on the task. A straightforward dressing change might be handled by an EN, while a complex wound or a new health concern may call for an RN.

What does home nursing care include?

Nursing covers a wide span of clinical jobs. Your care plan sets out which ones apply to you. Here are the most common.

Wound care and skin integrity

Wounds that heal slowly, such as leg ulcers, pressure sores or surgical wounds, need regular attention. A nurse cleans the wound, changes the dressing and watches for signs of infection. They also help protect skin that is fragile or at risk of breaking down.

Medication support

Getting medicines right can be tricky, especially when there are several to manage. A nurse can give injections, set up dosing aids, and check that you are taking the right amount at the right time. They will flag any side effects with your doctor.

Monitoring ongoing health conditions

Many older people live with conditions like diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease. A nurse checks things such as blood pressure, blood sugar and weight, then acts early if something changes. Steady monitoring at home can keep small problems from becoming hospital stays.

Other clinical tasks a nurse may help with

Depending on your needs, a nurse may also:

• Manage continence and catheter care
• Provide pain relief and palliative support
• Carry out clinical assessments and update your care plan
• Coordinate with your GP, pharmacist and allied health team

What does home nursing care cost?

Here is the part most people want to know. For eligible nursing within your budget, the answer is reassuring.

Clinical care is fully covered within your budget

Clinical care like nursing is funded in full within your budget. Support at Home funds this care, so you do not pay a participant contribution for it as long as it fits within your funded budget.

That is different from some other services. Independence services and everyday-living services, such as help around the house or social support, may carry a participant contribution, which is a means-tested amount you pay based on your finances. A participant, sometimes called a client, is the person receiving Support at Home funding. Clinical care does not work this way.

Why there is no participant contribution for nursing

The program treats clinical care as essential health support. Because of that, the rules remove any participant contribution for clinical services delivered within your budget. You will not be billed an out-of-pocket fee for a funded nursing visit.

How nursing sits within your overall budget

Your Support at Home budget pays for a mix of services. Nursing is drawn from that same pool. A Care Management fee, capped at 10% of your quarterly budget, is also drawn from it. This fee covers the work of organising and overseeing your care. Under the former Home Care Packages program there was a separate package management fee. That no longer applies under Support at Home.

Because the budget is shared, your provider and assessor help you plan how to spend it. Heavy nursing needs leave less room for other services, and vice versa, so the plan is built around what matters most to you.

How home nursing fits into your care plan

Nursing does not start on its own. It flows from an assessment and a care plan that match support to your real needs.

Getting assessed through My Aged Care

My Aged Care is the government's front door for aged care. You can reach it on 1800 200 422 or at myagedcare.gov.au. After you make contact, an assessment is arranged. People with higher or clinical needs are usually assessed by an ACAT, the Aged Care Assessment Team. Those with lower needs may instead see a RAS (Regional Assessment Service) assessor.

The assessment looks at your health, your home and the help you already have. From there, you are matched to a classification and a budget.

How visit frequency is decided

How often a nurse visits depends on your care plan, not a fixed rule. Someone recovering from surgery might need daily dressing changes for a short stretch. Someone with a stable long-term condition might see a nurse weekly or fortnightly. Your needs are reviewed over time, so the schedule can rise or fall as things change.

Comparing nursing across providers

Most providers can arrange nursing, but their prices and the way they deliver care differ. Comparing helps you understand the range before you choose.

How to compare nursing on HomeCare Prices

HomeCare Prices lets you see nursing prices side by side, alongside the indicative prices the government has published. These are indicative figures, not price caps or recommended prices. You can compare nursing prices in your area or browse all home care services to see the wider picture.

Questions about this topic

Do I pay a contribution for home nursing under Support at Home?

For eligible nursing within your budget, you do not pay a participant contribution. Clinical services such as nursing are funded in full from your Support at Home budget, so there is no out-of-pocket fee for a funded visit.

What is the difference between a registered nurse and an enrolled nurse?

A registered nurse (RN) holds a university degree and can perform the full range of clinical tasks, including complex assessments. An enrolled nurse (EN) trains through a diploma and works under an RN's guidance. Both are qualified to deliver care at home.

Can a home nurse give me my medication?

Yes. A nurse can give injections, set up dosing aids and check that you are taking the right medicines at the right times. They will also watch for side effects and raise any concerns with your doctor.

How often will a nurse visit me at home?

It depends on your care plan. Short-term needs, like wound care after surgery, may mean daily visits for a while. Stable long-term conditions might mean weekly or fortnightly visits. Your plan is reviewed, so the schedule can change with your needs.

Do I need a referral for home nursing care?

You start by contacting My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for an assessment. The assessment and your resulting care plan decide whether nursing is funded and how it is delivered, so a GP referral is not the entry point. A GP can still refer you to My Aged Care, but it is not required.

See what nursing costs in your area