What is a Self-Managed Home Care Package — and Why It’s Changing Lives

A self-managed Home Care Package is a funding arrangement provided by the Australian Government to help older individuals receive care in their own home. What makes this model different is that it places the decision-making in your hands — not in the hands of a provider.

You choose your support workers. You schedule your care when it suits your lifestyle. You allocate your funds in ways that align with your priorities. It offers flexibility that many traditional models don’t. And for many people, that flexibility makes all the difference.

The emotional value is just as significant as the practical benefits. When care is shaped around your preferences, it feels less like a service and more like an extension of your life. It gives you the ability to remain involved in decisions. It allows you to work with people you trust. And it often means you can stretch your funding further, receiving more hours of support for the same budget.

At the same time, self-management doesn’t mean managing everything alone. That’s where we provide quiet, reliable assistance. We oversee the compliance requirements. We ensure all reporting and budgeting aligns with government guidelines. We process invoices and offer support when needed — all without interrupting your choices.

In Bendigo, more people are moving towards this model not just because it offers better value, but because it brings something harder to measure: comfort. It respects the fact that you know your own needs. It gives you a framework to act on them. And it ensures you are supported without feeling directed.

It’s a model built on trust — in your judgment, and in our commitment to walk alongside you, not ahead of you.

Freedom to Choose the Right Carers for Your Life

When you step into self-managed home care, you’re not just adjusting a few settings. You’re reclaiming something much more personal — the right to decide who walks beside you each day. The right to shape care in a way that suits your values, your comfort, your life.

One of the most meaningful parts of self-managing your Home Care Package is the ability to choose the people and services that actually work for you. No one-size-fits-all arrangements. No unfamiliar faces being sent at random. Just care that reflects who you are and what you need — with the full support of a team that quietly respects your lead.

Our carers bring more than experience — they bring compassion, presence, and consistency. Each service below has been designed not just to meet requirements, but to respond to lives. Here's how we support those who choose their care with purpose and clarity.

Home Care

Home is more than a place — it’s where your memories live. Our home care workers understand this. They offer support with a gentle presence, assisting with tasks while preserving the rhythms and routines that make home feel safe. Whether it’s tidying, laundry, or light meal preparation, it’s never just about the task — it’s about respecting the space you’ve built.

Daily Living

Independence often lies in the small, daily things — dressing, preparing meals, managing time. Our carers assist without taking over, supporting your routines without disrupting them. You remain in charge; we’re simply there to steady the flow where needed. It’s practical help, delivered with dignity.

Domestic Assistance

Keeping a home running can become difficult over time, but it doesn’t have to fall apart. Our carers offer thoughtful domestic support — from cleaning and organizing to managing groceries and bills — with care that understands the emotional connection people have to their space. No judgment. Just help that respects your ways.

24 Hour Care

For those who need consistent support throughout the day and night, we provide around-the-clock care delivered by carers who remain attentive, calm, and steady. Whether the need is medical, emotional, or simply reassurance, our team is trained to be present without intrusion — care that remains close, without overwhelming.

Personal Care

Showering. Grooming. Dressing. These are private moments, and we treat them as such. Our carers support personal care with sensitivity and professionalism, always making sure you feel comfortable, never rushed or reduced to a task. We take our time, because your dignity is never secondary to the schedule.

Overnight Care

When the house grows quiet, vulnerabilities can feel louder. Our overnight carers offer calm presence during those hours — whether you need medication reminders, help to the bathroom, or simply peace of mind knowing someone is nearby. Sleep easier, knowing the night is not something you have to navigate alone.

Disability Care

Disability care is never about limitations — it’s about unlocking the right kind of support for every stage of life. Our carers work with people of all abilities, focusing on strengths and adapting care to suit individual needs. We don’t assume; we listen. We ask. And we adjust as your needs evolve.

Disability Support

More than day-to-day care, our disability support team focuses on building independence, confidence, and connection. Whether it’s supporting educational goals, employment pathways, or daily routines, our carers are here to walk alongside — not in front. Your direction. Our support.

Complex Care

Health conditions don’t define a person — but they do require care that is highly skilled and deeply respectful. Our complex care staff are trained to manage advanced needs, including PEG feeding, catheter care, wound care, and more. But beyond training, they bring the ability to deliver that care without ever making you feel like a case file.

High Care

High care needs demand reliability, structure, and a calm, experienced presence. That’s exactly what we offer. Our high care carers are selected not just for their qualifications but for their ability to form genuine, trusting relationships with those in their care. Because consistency and trust are not optional — they are essential.

Social and Community Participation

Being part of something matters — and that doesn’t end with age or diagnosis. Our carers can support you to reconnect with your community, attend social events, or simply spend time in spaces you enjoy. Whether it's joining a group, visiting a market, or walking through a familiar garden, we’ll be right there with you — encouraging, never directing.

Behaviour Support

Some individuals require specialised, calm support in navigating behaviours that are complex or triggered by stress, trauma, or communication barriers. Our carers receive advanced training in behavioural support strategies, with an approach that centres on safety, respect, and emotional understanding — never control or judgment.

Dedicated Support for Every Health Condition and Need

Every health condition tells a different story — some unfold slowly, others appear all at once. Some are visible; others are carried quietly. But behind each diagnosis is a person trying to hold on to their routine, their independence, and their identity. That’s where real care begins — not with checklists, but with understanding what each day feels like for the person living it.

We don’t just offer services. We offer presence. That means listening before stepping in, adjusting our pace, and providing condition-specific support that honours the individual. Our carers are chosen not just for their skill, but for their ability to care with intention. Below is how we support different health conditions — not with sameness, but with sensitivity to what’s unique.

Arthritis Care

With arthritis, even simple movements can feel heavy. Some mornings arrive with stiffness that lingers. Our carers don’t rush in with routines — they work around yours. Whether it’s helping with gentle mobility, household tasks, or just being patient when the body feels slow, we offer support that follows your rhythm.

Autism Care

Supporting someone with autism isn’t about ticking boxes — it’s about recognising patterns, preferences, and environments that feel safe. We take time to understand what soothes and what overwhelms. Our carers bring predictability and calm — building familiarity over time, never forcing trust, always earning it.

Cancer Care

Care during cancer treatment is deeply personal. It’s not just physical fatigue or nausea — it’s the emotional toll that often goes unseen. Our carers are there through the long days, the quiet evenings, and the moments in between. Whether it's managing medications or simply sitting beside someone who doesn’t want to talk, we know when to step in and when to just be present.

Epilepsy Care

Living with epilepsy often brings unpredictability. Our support focuses on safety, steady reassurance, and awareness. Carers are trained to respond to seizures and reduce risks at home — but they’re also careful to avoid hovering. Independence is always respected. Our role is to protect without limiting.

Heart Disease Care

With heart conditions, small efforts can feel like uphill climbs. We support daily routines gently — preparing meals, managing medication, and helping with movement in a way that keeps your energy intact. We watch closely, without pressure, knowing that steadiness is just as important as strength.

Huntington's Disease Care

Huntington’s doesn’t just affect the body — it changes relationships, roles, and communication. Our care adapts as the condition progresses. That may mean more physical help one day, more emotional support the next. Through it all, our carers offer consistency — the kind that builds trust even in change.

Mental Health

Mental health isn’t always visible, and it rarely follows a fixed pattern. Whether someone is living with anxiety, depression, or something harder to name, our carers meet them quietly. We offer structure without rigidity, conversation without pressure, and a calm presence in moments that feel unsettled.

Motor Neurone Disease Care

MND asks for sensitive, high-level support — but also patience and calm. Our carers are trained in assisted communication and mobility support, but beyond that, they focus on keeping the person involved. We don’t take over. We make space for the person to be present, heard, and at ease, even when the body begins to change.

Muscular Dystrophy

Support for muscular dystrophy includes everything from transfers and stretching to managing fatigue. But it also means understanding what still brings joy, and helping you stay connected to it. Our carers assist with the physical side of things, yes — but they also help keep life full and meaningful.

Out of Hospital Care

Coming home after a hospital stay can feel like returning to a life that’s a little unfamiliar. There are new routines, changes in strength, and sometimes, uncertainty. We offer care that helps rebuild confidence at home — wound care, medication help, support with stairs or sleep — all done quietly, with care.

Parkinson’s Disease Care

Parkinson’s doesn’t follow a predictable script. Some days the steps come easy. Others, not so much. Our carers know how to work with tremors, slower movements, and shifts in cognition — without making you feel rushed or reliant. Support is offered with gentle hands, and an even gentler approach.

Palliative Care

In palliative care, what matters most isn’t the condition — it’s comfort. Our carers are experienced in supporting pain relief and daily tasks, but more than that, they help hold the emotional space. For individuals and families alike, we bring calm into a time that often feels fragile. We honour each day — without expectations.

Dementia Care

Dementia care asks for more than memory reminders. It requires familiarity, patience, and kindness that doesn't falter. Our carers stay consistent — same voices, same smiles — to help reduce confusion and build trust. When words fade, presence speaks louder. That’s where our care begins.

Support Network’s Platform: Making Self-Management Simple

Managing your own care doesn’t mean you have to handle everything alone. In fact, the best kind of self-management is the kind that lets you stay in control without becoming overwhelmed by the details. That’s exactly what our platform is here to support.

We’ve created a space where the practical side of care becomes clear, not complicated. Everything is organised in one place — simple to understand, and even simpler to use. No noise. No confusion. Just quiet, steady support behind your choices.

You can easily post jobs when you’re ready to bring someone new onto your care team. Whether you need someone for daily support, a few hours a week, or specialised help, the platform gives you space to write exactly what you're looking for — no middle layers.

Approving timesheets becomes just a small task, not a back-and-forth. With a couple of clicks, you confirm care hours and move forward. And if something doesn’t feel right, you can raise it — immediately.

Invoices are just as simple. You can upload, review, and approve them without waiting days for an answer. Everything is tracked, and nothing gets processed without your approval. This means no unexpected surprises — and no confusion about where your money is going.

Your budget sits in front of you clearly. You’ll see what’s been used, what’s left, and how your decisions shape the support you receive. It gives you room to plan — not react. And if something feels unclear, we’re here quietly in the background to help make sense of it.

You’re not left to figure it out. You’re just finally given the tools to shape your care on your terms, with steady guidance just one step behind.

The Value of Self-Managing Your Home Care Package

There comes a point where care must start feeling like yours — not something managed from a distance or filtered through systems that don’t quite see who you are. Self-managing your Home Care Package offers that shift. It lets you choose, plan, and adjust care in ways that reflect your real life — not a standard model.

But self-management is not about doing more. It’s about doing things differently — with purpose, with transparency, and with a quiet kind of control that gives you space to breathe.

Here’s what this model can offer:

• Personal Choice, Without CompromiseYou decide who supports you. You choose what kind of care fits best. Whether it’s someone familiar or someone culturally aligned, the decision rests with you — not a provider assigning someone unfamiliar.
   
• Better Value, More HoursSelf-management often means lower fees, which leaves more of your funding available for actual care. That can mean longer visits, more frequent support, or simply getting the help you need without stretching things thin.
   
• Full Visibility at Every StepYou see where the money goes. You know how hours are used. Nothing moves in the background without your say — because it’s your package, and your voice shapes how it’s delivered.
   
• Culturally Matched CarersSometimes comfort is found in shared language, customs, or background. When you manage your own care, you have the freedom to choose people who understand not just your needs, but your world.
   
• Less Waiting, More FlexibilityChanges to care no longer require layers of approval. You can adjust things as your needs shift — calmly, confidently, and without being held back by unnecessary delays.
   
• A Trusted Partner in the BackgroundSupport Network doesn’t take over — we hold things together quietly, managing compliance and paperwork while you focus on living. You’re not alone. You’re just leading the way, with steady support behind you.
   

Self-management isn’t a burden — it’s a return to choice, dignity, and trust in your own judgement. With the right support structure in place, it becomes a simple, steady way to receive care that truly belongs to you.

Contact Us

If you’re thinking about self-managing your care but feel unsure where to start, we’re here to walk through it with you. Whether your needs are simple or complex, we’ll help you explore a wide range of care services — from basic care and daily living tasks to specialised medical care and allied health services.

Our dedicated team is here to listen. No pressure. No rush. Just clear guidance that respects your pace.

Reach out today to speak with someone from our friendly team who understands the aged care system and can help you explore government-funded Home Care Packages, personalised care plans, and how to make it all work in your daily life.