Home Care Transport Costs and What's Covered

What home care transport actually covers

Transport, sometimes listed as community access, is one of the everyday-living services in Support at Home. Support at Home is the government program that started on 1 November 2025 and replaced Home Care Packages. The service is simple to picture. A worker helps you get where you need to go, and sometimes stays with you while you are there.

Getting to medical and allied health appointments

This is the most common use. A worker can drive you to the GP, a specialist, the dentist, or an allied health visit such as physiotherapy. They can wait and bring you home again. If you need a hand walking in or carrying things, they can help with that too.

Shopping, errands and banking

Transport also covers the practical trips that keep daily life running. A worker can take you to the supermarket, the pharmacy or the bank. Some people prefer to do the shopping themselves with support nearby. Others ask the worker to drive while they stay in the car. Both are fine.

Social outings and community access

Staying connected matters. Transport can get you to a friend's place, a club, a place of worship, or a community group. This part of the service helps reduce isolation, which is good for both mood and health.

What transport does not cover

Transport does not pay for things like petrol you buy yourself, your own car costs, or trips that are not part of your care goals. It also does not cover medical transport such as an ambulance. If you are unsure whether a trip fits, ask your provider before you book.

How transport is charged: per trip or per hour

There is no single price for transport. How you are charged depends on the provider and the kind of trip.

Per-trip pricing explained

Some providers charge a flat fee for each trip, no matter how long it takes. This can suit short, predictable journeys, like a regular run to the local shops. The benefit is that you know the cost up front. The catch is that a flat fee can work out expensive for a very short trip.

Per-hour pricing and the kilometre rate

Other providers charge for the worker's time by the hour, then add a separate rate for each kilometre travelled. So a one-hour outing 10 kilometres away has two parts: the hourly rate for the worker, plus the kilometre charge for the distance. This is common, so always ask about both parts.

Questions to ask before you book a trip

Before you book, ask: Is this per trip or per hour? Is there a per-kilometre charge on top? Does the time start when the worker leaves their home or when they reach mine? Is waiting time charged? Clear answers help you budget and avoid surprises on your home care invoice.

Self-managed versus full-service transport costs

The way you arrange transport changes what it costs. There are two main paths, and the price gap between them can be large.

How self-managed transport works and the 10% loading

With self-management, you and your family choose your own worker from the local community, agree a price with them, and your provider onboards that worker to meet Commonwealth standards. A 10% self-management loading applies to the cost of workers you arrange. It covers workforce assurance (the checks) and paying the invoice. Because you set the worker's rate yourself, the underlying cost is often lower.

How full-service transport pricing works

With full-service, the provider employs the workers and offers a fixed price list. You book a trip and pay the listed rate. This is simple and hands-off. You do not manage the worker or agree a rate. You accept the provider's published price.

Why the same trip can cost more under full-service

The same drive to the same appointment can cost more under full-service. Full-service hourly rates for everyday services typically sit 50% to 100% above the matching self-managed rate, based on Trilogy Care's comparison of published provider price lists.

Transport, your budget and participant contributions

Transport is funded from your Support at Home budget, but a contribution may apply. Here is how the money side works.

How transport comes out of your quarterly budget

Your Support at Home budget is set per quarter, based on your funding classification (1 is lowest, 8 is highest). Every transport trip is paid from that quarterly budget. So a lot of outings in one quarter means less left for other services. Unspent budget can carry over, but the carry-over is capped at the greater of $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget per quarter. Funds you transitioned from an old Home Care Package are not capped.

When a means-tested contribution applies

Transport is an everyday-living service, so it may carry a means-tested participant contribution. This means some people pay a part of the cost themselves, and some people pay nothing. Your assessment sets your contribution level. Clinical services such as nursing are fully government-funded with no participant contribution within your budget, but transport is not clinical.

Indicative prices the government has published

The government has deferred price caps. It has, however, published indicative prices, which are provider-reported intentions. These are indicative figures, not price caps or recommended prices. Use them as a rough guide only, and always check your own provider's actual price list.

Questions about this topic

Is transport covered by Support at Home?

Yes. Transport, also called community access, is an everyday-living service under Support at Home. It covers getting to appointments, shops, errands and social activities when you cannot drive or use public transport easily.

How much does home care transport cost?

It depends on the provider and how they charge. There is no single price. Self-managed transport often costs less because you agree the worker's rate yourself, plus a 10% self-management loading. Always check your provider's price list.

Is transport charged per trip or per hour?

Both methods are used. Some providers charge a flat fee per trip. Others charge per hour of the worker's time, often with a per-kilometre rate added on top. Ask which method applies before you book.

Can I use my Support at Home budget for taxis or rideshare?

This depends on your provider and your care plan. Support at Home transport is usually a worker-assisted service, not a reimbursement for taxis or rideshare you book yourself. Ask your provider what your budget can be used for.

Do I have to pay a contribution for transport?

You might. Transport is an everyday-living service, so it may carry a means-tested participant contribution. Some people pay nothing. Your assessment, arranged through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, sets your contribution level.

See what transport could cost you