Key Takeaways
- In a full-service model, the provider employs the workers and offers a fixed price list. So you choose services rather than choose your own workers.
- Full-service hourly rates for everyday services usually sit 50% to 100% above the matching self-managed rate. This is based on Trilogy Care's comparison of published provider price lists.
- The care management fee (capped at 10% of your quarterly budget) is a set program fee under Support at Home. Providers do not haggle over it.
- Full-service can suit people who want less admin or prefer a provider to handle rostering. It can also suit people with complex needs who benefit from joined-up clinical care.
- The trade-off is cost. You also have less say over who comes to your home and what they charge per hour.
- HomeCare Prices is operated by Trilogy Care, which is listed and ranked by the same method as every other provider on the site.
What full-service home care actually is
Full-service is one of two ways you can run your home care under Support at Home. Support at Home is the government program that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. The other way is self-management, where you choose your own worker and agree the price.
The provider employs the workers
Under full-service, the provider hires the support workers and sends them to your home. You do not interview anyone or agree a rate with them. The provider takes care of training, police checks, insurance and rostering.
The fixed price list explained
A full-service provider publishes a price list. It sets out what each service costs per hour or per visit. Cleaning might be one rate, personal care another, and nursing another again. You choose the services you want from that list.
Coordination and care management as add-ons
Some full-service providers offer extra coordination on top of the workers. This can include a named contact, regular check-ins, or help planning your care as your needs change. These add-ons sit alongside the program care management fee, so it is worth asking exactly what is included.
What you pay for under full-service
It helps to separate three things: the hourly rates for services, the care management fee, and any participant contribution.
Hourly rates for everyday services
Everyday services are things like cleaning, help getting dressed, transport, and meal preparation. Under full-service, these come at the provider's listed rate. Full-service hourly rates for everyday services usually sit 50% to 100% above the matching self-managed rate, based on Trilogy Care's comparison of published provider price lists.
How the care management fee fits in
Care management is the work of planning and overseeing your care. Under Support at Home, the care management fee is capped at 10% of your quarterly budget. (Your budget is set each quarter based on your classification, a number from 1 to 8.) It is a set program fee, not something you negotiate.
What is government-funded and what carries a contribution
Clinical services, such as nursing, are fully government-funded. You pay no participant contribution for them within your budget. Independence and everyday-living services may carry a means-tested participant contribution, worked out from your income and assets.
Full-service vs self-managed: the core difference
The two models suit different people. The core difference comes down to who chooses the workers and how much you do yourself.
Who chooses and arranges your workers
With self-management, you and your family choose your own worker from the local community and agree a price. The provider then signs that worker up to meet Commonwealth standards. With full-service, the provider employs the workers and sends them to you, so you do not arrange anyone yourself.
How the pricing compares
Self-management usually costs less per hour because you agree the rate directly with the worker. A 10% self-management loading applies to the cost of workers you arrange. It covers workforce assurance (the safety and qualification checks) and invoice payment. Full-service rates sit higher because the provider carries the wages, rostering and overheads.
How much effort each model asks of you
Full-service asks little of you week to week. The provider does the rostering and admin. Self-management asks more. You help find workers, agree times, and keep an eye on the schedule. For some families that effort is worth the savings, for others the convenience of full-service is worth more.
When full-service suits you
There is no single right answer. Full-service is a strong fit in a few clear situations.
You want less admin and rostering
If the idea of finding workers, agreeing rates, and managing a roster feels like too much, full-service takes that off your plate. This often suits people who live alone or whose family lives far away.
You have complex or clinical needs
If you need regular nursing or joined-up clinical care, a full-service provider can manage the moving parts. They can line up the right qualified staff and keep your care plan up to date as things change.
You prefer a single provider to coordinate care
Some people simply want one organisation responsible for everything. Full-service gives you that single point of contact. It is still worth checking how much real coordination is included rather than assuming it is all covered.
The trade-offs to weigh
Every model has costs as well as benefits. Weigh these honestly against your budget and how much control you want.
Higher hourly rates on everyday services
The clearest trade-off is price. Paying 50% to 100% more per hour on everyday services means your quarterly budget covers fewer hours of help. If your needs are mostly everyday tasks rather than clinical care, that gap adds up over a year.
Less control over who comes to your home
In a full-service model the provider rosters the workers. You may not always see the same face, and you cannot pick the person yourself. For some people consistency and choice of worker matter more than convenience.
Reading the price list and service agreement carefully
A fixed price list is only useful if you read it. Check the rate for each service you expect to use, plus any travel charges or minimum visit lengths. Read the service agreement closely too. That way there are no surprises later.
How to compare full-service providers
If full-service suits you, compare a few providers properly before you commit.
Ask for the full price list in writing
Do not settle for a sample or a "from" price. Ask for the complete list so you can see every service rate, including travel and minimums.
Check what coordination costs are included
Some providers fold coordination into the price. Others charge for it on top of the program care management fee. Ask plainly what is included and what is extra.
Compare like-for-like services across providers
Line up the same services across each provider so you are comparing the same thing. Our comparison tool and our home care services and prices guide can help you check rates side by side.
Questions about this topic
What does full-service home care mean?
It means your provider employs the support workers, sets a fixed price list, and arranges your care. You choose services from the list rather than choosing your own workers. The provider handles rostering, checks and admin.
Is full-service home care more expensive than self-managed?
Usually yes for everyday services. Full-service hourly rates for everyday services usually sit 50% to 100% above the matching self-managed rate. This is based on Trilogy Care's comparison of published provider price lists.
What does a full-service home care provider do?
They hire and train the workers, roster visits, supervise the staff, cover sick days, and handle the admin. They also publish the price list you choose from and can offer extra coordination as an add-on.
Can I switch from full-service to self-managed home care?
Yes. You can move between models, and you can change providers under Support at Home. Check your service agreement for the notice period first. Then arrange the change with your new provider.
Does the care management fee change if I choose full-service?
No. The care management fee is capped at 10% of your quarterly budget and is a set program fee under Support at Home. It is the same whether you choose full-service or self-management.
See your options
The right model depends on your budget, your needs, and how hands-on you want to be. You can see prices for providers in your area on this site. Or call Trilogy Care on 1300 318 723 to talk it through.
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