Home Care Package · Level 3 of 4
Level 3 Home Care Package: Intermediate care needs
Level 3 Home Care Package supports older Australians with intermediate care needs – daily personal care, regular nursing involvement + a complex care plan addressing multiple conditions. Level 3 is the threshold where the package starts to make residential placement avoidable for many people, even with progressive conditions like early-to-moderate dementia, Parkinson's or chronic heart failure.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Level 3 Home Care Package: federal subsidy of ~$40,529/year paid by the Commonwealth to your provider (roughly $1,559/fortnight, $779/week).
- ✓Typical service volume: 7–9 hours of direct care per week – covering personal care, domestic help, nursing + allied health.
- ✓You pay the basic daily fee (17.5% of the single Age Pension, ~$12.75/day) and, if your income is above the threshold, an income-tested care fee capped at ~$36.04/day.
- ✓Care + package management fees combined are capped at 20% of the package value under the 2024–25 reforms. Exit fees are banned.
- ✓Gateway: ACAT assessment via My Aged Care (1800 200 422) – free, federally funded, conducted in your home.
Funding at a glance
Federal subsidy for Level 3
Annual subsidy
$40,529
paid to your provider, not to you
Fortnightly
$1,559
paid in arrears to provider
Direct care volume
7–9 hours
per week typical
Subsidy figures indexed twice yearly with the Age Pension by the Department of Health. Cross-check current rate at health.gov.au/our-work/home-care-packages-program/funding before any financial decision.
Who qualifies
ACAT eligibility for Level 3
ACAT assesses you as having intermediate functional decline – typically: difficulty with multiple ADLs (showering, dressing, toileting, mobility), needs daily support, one or more progressive conditions (dementia, Parkinson's, COPD, heart failure), benefits from coordinated care from multiple allied health disciplines. Often the level at which families decide whether to continue at home with significant package support or transition to residential aged care.
Application steps
- Apply via My Aged Care online or 1800 200 422.
- Complete an ACAT in-home assessment (typically 4–6 weeks scheduled out).
- Receive your written approval letter with assigned level.
- Choose an HCP provider from myagedcare.gov.au.
- Sign the Home Care Agreement + Care Plan with your provider.
- Services commence once the package is assigned + activated.
What it covers
Typical services in a Level 3 care plan
- Daily personal care visits (showering, dressing, mobility, ~5–7 hours/week)
- Domestic assistance (3–4 visits/week, ~5 hours total)
- Regular nursing visits (weekly review, medication management, wound care)
- Allied health (physio, OT, dietetics, podiatry, speech – weekly to fortnightly)
- Transport (multiple trips/week, medical + social)
- Social support + community participation (group activities, day programs)
- Respite to support carers (in-home or short-term centre-based)
- Dementia-specific support (cognitive stimulation, behaviour management strategies)
- Home modifications (bathroom, kitchen, mobility supports)
- Assistive technology (hoist, bed, falls monitoring)
What it doesn't cover
- × Continuous 24/7 care (24-hour live-in is not affordable at Level 3 alone)
- × Live-in support workers (overnight care is typically by-exception, short-term)
- × Daily living expenses + housing costs
- × Long-term acute medical care (requires hospital or residential setting)
Sample weekly budget
How a Level 3 package gets spent
Indicative breakdown for a typical Level 3 care plan. Actual spend varies by provider hourly rates, location + your individual care plan. Total annual federal funding ~$40,529.
| Service component | Weekly cost |
|---|---|
| Personal care (7 hrs/wk at $80/hr) | $560 |
| Domestic assistance (5 hrs/wk at $65/hr) | $325 |
| Nursing visit (weekly review) | $130 |
| Allied health (physio + OT, weekly) | $150 |
| Transport (3 trips/wk) | $105 |
| Care + package management fee (20% cap) | $156 |
| Total weekly direct spend | $1,426 |
Hourly rates used: personal care ~$80/hr (varies $70–$110), domestic assistance ~$65/hr ($55–$80), nursing visit ~$130/hr, physiotherapy ~$120/visit. Provider rates published on individual provider websites; compare 2–3 quotes before signing the Home Care Agreement.
Transitioning between levels
If your needs change
Your care plan can be reviewed at any time by your provider, your treating clinician, your family or you. If needs grow beyond Level 3, request an ACAT reassessment through My Aged Care. The reassessment is free, in-home + can be triggered by anyone in your care circle.
- Reassessment takes ~2–4 weeks to schedule.
- Higher level is offered when available – interim period can use lower-level services.
- You can switch providers when changing levels – packages are fully portable.
Family caregiver considerations
For the family supporting the recipient
Level 3 is professional support – not a replacement for family caregiving. Families remain central to: care plan decisions, medication management, social companionship, end-of-life planning + advocacy when something isn't working.
- Free carer support: Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 + carer respite via residential respite.
- Carer Payment + Carer Allowance (Centrelink) if you provide substantial daily care.
- OPAN advocacy service: free, independent help if something goes wrong with the package. opan.org.au.
Common questions
Level 3 Home Care Package – common questions
Is Level 3 enough for someone with moderate dementia?
For many people, yes – particularly with strong family caregiver support + a clear care plan. Level 3 funds daily personal care + nursing oversight. The decision point between Level 3 at home + residential placement usually rests on: (a) night-time safety + wandering risk, (b) caregiver burden + sustainability, (c) home environment suitability. Many families combine Level 3 with regular residential respite as a hybrid model.
How long is the wait for a Level 3 package?
Historically the longest wait of any level – 6–12 months from approval to commencement. Recent reform funding has reduced this materially. Until your assigned package starts, you can access an interim Level 2 + supplementary CHSP services to bridge the gap. Always ask My Aged Care for current waiting times before planning.
Can I get Level 3 if I live alone?
Yes – ACAT eligibility is based on functional need, not living arrangements. Many Level 3 participants live alone. The level provides daily contact + structured care plus a personal alarm + falls monitoring. The key trade-off is night-time risk: Level 3 funds daytime support; if night risk is high, residential placement or Level 4 becomes the consideration.
What's the difference between Level 3 + Level 4?
Level 4 is the highest HCP level – ~$60k/year vs Level 3's ~$40k. The extra funding supports: daily nursing involvement, more personal care hours (10–13 vs 7–9 per week), structured 7-day-a-week care, additional allied health input, more substantial home modifications. ACAT reassessment moves you between levels as needs change.
Can I save my unspent Level 3 budget for later?
Yes – unspent funds carry over fortnight-to-fortnight within your package. Many participants build a small reserve for one-off costs (a major home modification, a piece of assistive technology, a respite block). Your provider must show you the running balance in monthly statements. The 2024–25 reforms tightened how unspent funds can be used; check current operational manual rules with your provider.
Compare across levels