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

A self-managed Home Care Package gives you full control over how your government-funded support is used. Rather than working through an agency that makes decisions on your behalf, self-management allows you to choose your own care workers, negotiate their rates, and shape a care routine that truly fits your lifestyle.

This model is designed for individuals who want to be more hands-on with their care—but not alone. With Support Network by your side, you won’t need to worry about the administrative load or compliance requirements. We handle the behind-the-scenes responsibilities—managing your budget, making sure your care workers are paid on time, and ensuring everything is NDIS-compliant. But the decision-making? That belongs to you.

The emotional shift that comes with self-management is hard to describe, but easy to feel. It means having the final say in who comes into your home. It means setting the tone for your day, not adjusting to someone else’s plan. It brings peace of mind, pride, and a deeper connection to the life you’ve built.

And in Coffs Harbour, where community and connection matter deeply, self-managed care is proving to be a meaningful alternative. It's helping people stretch their care budget further, bring in trusted local faces, and remain actively engaged in their daily routines.

We understand that stepping into self-management might feel unfamiliar at first—but we’re here to walk with you, offering structure where needed and stepping back where not. Because the best support honours your autonomy, without ever letting you feel unsupported.

Freedom to Choose the Right Carers for Your Life

There is something deeply personal about care. It touches not just the physical aspects of living, but your sense of self, your routine, your comfort, and how safe you feel in your own home. That’s why self-managed care isn't just a funding model—it’s a philosophy built around respect and trust.

When you manage your own Home Care Package through Support Network in Coffs Harbour, you’re not locked into a fixed roster or a rotating team of strangers. Instead, you have the power to choose who supports you, and in what way. It means the person helping with your meals, cleaning your home, or taking you to appointments is someone you trust—someone you’ve selected because they fit.

Our dedicated carers understand that care is more than a checklist. It's a relationship. And when you’re at the centre of that relationship, everything begins to feel more human again.

Home Care

Home should be a place of ease, not frustration. Our home care professionals are here to support you in preserving that sense of peace—keeping things tidy, well-run, and just the way you like them. From help with meal preparation to keeping your home clean and safe, our carers work with a sense of respect, always honouring the routines that matter most to you. They’re not there to take over, but to support you in living well on your terms.

Daily Living

The seemingly small tasks—getting dressed, brushing your hair, preparing breakfast—can start to feel overwhelming over time. But with the right support, they don’t have to. Our carers assist with the daily living activities you’d like help with while encouraging you to do what you still enjoy. Their presence is gentle, reassuring, and always focused on preserving your independence wherever possible.

Domestic Assistance

It’s not just about cleaning a home—it’s about creating an environment that feels lived in and loved. Our domestic support workers understand that your home is a reflection of you. Whether it’s vacuuming, dusting, laundry, or changing bed linens, we carry out tasks with care, discretion, and attention to detail. It’s not just work—it’s support, given with pride.

24 Hour Care

Some needs don’t clock off at 5 PM. For individuals who need support throughout the day and night, our 24-hour care team provides round-the-clock assistance. Whether it’s mobility support in the middle of the night or simply the reassurance of having someone nearby, our carers are there with quiet reliability. With rotating shifts and consistent faces, you’ll never feel alone or unsure of who’s at your side.

Personal Care

Dignity lies at the heart of personal care. Whether you need assistance with showering, dressing, grooming, or continence care, our carers are trained to approach these tasks with sensitivity and compassion. We understand how personal these moments are, and we treat them with the utmost care, ensuring you feel respected and safe, always.

Overnight Care

Peaceful sleep shouldn’t be a luxury. Our overnight carers are there to help you settle in, respond to your needs during the night, and support you in the morning as the day begins. For families and primary carers, it also brings peace of mind—knowing a professional is watching over their loved one with quiet attentiveness.

Disability Care

Living with disability brings unique challenges, and our carers respond not with assumptions—but with curiosity, patience, and personalised support. Whether it’s physical assistance, emotional encouragement, or structured routines, we tailor our care to your preferences, goals, and lifestyle. Because no two people are the same, and neither is our approach.

Disability Support

Beyond physical care, disability support can also mean supporting your ability to engage with the world—your routines, your community, your passions. Our disability support workers help remove barriers so you can live your life fully. Whether it’s assistance with education, work, hobbies, or transport, we walk beside you with quiet encouragement and practical help.

Complex Care

Some care situations require a higher level of clinical skill or coordination. Our complex care services are designed for individuals with multiple or intensive needs, such as those requiring PEG feeding, wound care, or post-hospital recovery. Each carer is trained to manage these needs with professionalism, but also with a gentle, human approach—so that you feel like a person, not a patient.

High Care

For those with high-level care needs, the importance of stability, experience, and respect cannot be overstated. Our high-care workers are skilled in managing more advanced health conditions while making sure your environment remains calm, compassionate, and responsive. They are guided not only by training but also by empathy, ensuring your safety is never separated from your dignity.

Social and Community Participation

Staying engaged in the world around you is essential to your wellbeing. Whether it's attending a community group, going out for coffee, joining an art class, or reconnecting with your spiritual or cultural roots—our carers help make it happen. We believe that participating in life shouldn’t stop just because support is needed. In fact, we see our role as helping you stay connected to what brings you joy.

Behaviour Support

For individuals experiencing behaviours that challenge or distress, the right kind of support can make all the difference. Our behaviour support workers take a gentle, person-centred approach—understanding triggers, building trust, and helping shape calm, positive routines. We work with respect and discretion, never labelling but always listening, so that individuals can thrive in an environment that feels safe and supportive.

Dedicated Support for Every Health Condition and Need

Every person’s story is different. And so is every care journey. What one person needs might not be what another does. Some people need support with getting up and dressed. Others need someone nearby just in case. Some need help with memory, others with moving from room to room. But all of them deserve one thing: to be treated like a person—not a task.

We’ve seen how life changes when care is built around someone, not handed to them. That’s what self-managing your Home Care Package allows. You choose the carers who understand what you’re going through, and who can respond to your condition—not with sympathy, but with real support.

Below are just some of the ways we provide condition-specific care. And when it’s done right, care can feel like a part of your day—not an interruption to it.

Arthritis Care

Living with arthritis doesn’t just affect your joints—it affects how you start your day, how you cook, how you move around your home. On tougher days, even simple tasks can feel like a stretch. Our carers understand that. They don’t rush, and they don’t take over. They just step in where needed, helping with movement, dressing, meal prep or just carrying the things that weigh too much. They're there to make things easier, not busier.

Autism Care

Support for autistic individuals needs to come with patience, understanding, and respect for boundaries. We take time to match you with carers who work quietly, listen carefully, and offer support without making assumptions. Whether it's help at home, going out to appointments, or sticking to a daily routine that feels safe, our carers know how to build trust—slowly, gently, consistently.

Cancer Care

Cancer changes everything. Not just the body, but the pace of life, the energy, the emotions. Our carers aren’t just there to offer physical support—they’re there to make the days easier. They’ll help with food, offer a steady hand, sit with you during long days, or quietly take care of what’s needed around the house. It's about being present, not pushy.

Epilepsy Care

When you live with epilepsy, peace of mind means knowing someone is nearby who understands what to do. Our support workers are calm, prepared, and respectful. They assist with creating a safe space, helping with daily routines, and being alert to warning signs. Whether you need regular check-ins or overnight support, they’re there when it counts, without ever making a big show of it.

Heart Disease Care

With heart conditions, it’s often the little things that take the most energy. Climbing stairs. Making meals. Even just moving from one room to another. Our carers understand the need to slow things down and give your heart the space to rest. They’re there to help with everyday tasks in a way that supports your health—and your independence.

Huntington's Disease Care

For those living with Huntington’s, things can shift quickly. Movement, mood, memory—each day might feel different from the last. That’s why our carers are chosen not just for their training, but for their steadiness. They support people with dignity, never rushing, never correcting harshly. They bring calm to a condition that can feel unpredictable.

Mental Health

Mental health challenges don’t always show on the outside. But that doesn’t make them less real. Our carers support people with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other conditions by simply being present. They help with daily structure, keep the home feeling manageable, and offer quiet companionship. It’s not about doing big things—it’s about showing up, consistently.

Motor Neurone Disease Care

Motor neurone disease often brings a gradual loss of physical strength—but that doesn't mean a loss of self. Our carers know how to support with positioning, eating, breathing aids, and communication, while making sure your choices stay front and centre. They don’t take control. They give it back, where they can.

Muscular Dystrophy Care

For those living with muscular dystrophy, care needs to be gentle and flexible. Our team helps with transfers, mobility, personal care and general tasks around the house—without being overbearing. They’re there when you need them, and they step back when you don’t. That’s what real support looks like.

Out of Hospital Care

Coming home from hospital can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. You’re expected to rest, but also to manage medications, meals, and appointments. That’s where we step in. Our carers help bridge the gap—keeping things simple, safe, and steady. You decide how much support you need. We’ll be there to provide it, no more, no less.

Parkinson’s Disease Care

With Parkinson’s, some days feel smooth, others don’t. Tasks that were once simple might take more effort. Our carers understand the ups and downs. They’re trained to support tremors, slowness, and stiffness, but more importantly, they don’t rush. They help you move through the day in a way that feels balanced.

Palliative Care

When the focus shifts from treatment to comfort, everything slows down. And so should the care. Our carers provide palliative support with tenderness and deep respect—for the individual and for their family. They help with comfort care, hygiene, positioning, and being present in a way that brings peace and quiet support, without words when none are needed.

Dementia Care

Dementia care is never one-size-fits-all. Some days are clearer. Some are not. Our carers know how to recognise what kind of day it is—and meet it with the right tone. They build routine, use familiar phrases, and never force. They don’t argue. They gently guide, with care that’s built on understanding and trust.

Support Network’s Platform: Making Self-Management Simple

Self-managing your care doesn’t mean doing it all on your own. It simply means you’re calling the shots—with tools that make those decisions easier to carry out. We’ve built an online platform that puts clarity, comfort, and control at your fingertips. You’re not expected to be a bookkeeper or a tech expert. You just need a simple way to see what’s going on—and that’s what we offer.

Here’s how our platform helps bring calm and confidence into your care journey.

Post Jobs with Ease

Looking for a new carer? You don’t need to go through layers of people. Just log in, write a short job post, and set your terms. You can describe the kind of support you need, the timing, and anything else that matters to you. It’s your care, your way—and the platform helps you find the right match without delays.

Approve Timesheets on Your Own Terms

No more wondering how many hours someone worked or waiting on emails. Each week, timesheets appear in your dashboard. You review, make sure everything looks right, and approve them with a click. It’s quick, clear, and always in your control.

Manage Invoices Without the Headache

When your carers or support providers submit an invoice, it lands directly in your portal. You’ll see who submitted it, how much, and what it was for. If anything doesn’t look right, you can raise it before it’s processed. No confusion. No middle steps. Just clarity.

Track and Monitor Your Budget

Your budget shouldn’t feel like a mystery. Our platform shows you what you’ve spent, what’s pending, and how much remains—all in plain language. Whether you’re planning your support for the next few weeks or just checking in, everything is easy to understand and right in front of you.

Stay in Charge—But Not Alone

We built this platform to give you independence, not isolation. If something isn’t working or doesn’t make sense, we’re here to step in quietly and help. We don’t take over. We don’t crowd in. We just make sure you always feel supported in the background, just enough to keep things moving.

The Real Benefits of Self-Managing Your Home Care Package

There’s a certain peace that comes from being in control—not just of your care, but of the way it fits into your life. Self-managing your Home Care Package doesn’t mean doing everything on your own. It means setting the pace, choosing who walks with you, and knowing where your funding is going without having to ask.

This approach isn’t just practical. It’s personal. Here are a few benefits that truly make a difference.

Personal Choice

You decide who supports you and when. You don’t have to accept whoever’s available—you choose someone who fits your rhythm, values, and lifestyle.

Real Budget Control

You see where every cent goes. You know how much you’ve spent and how much is left. There’s no guessing, and no waiting for answers.

More Hours, Lower Fees

When the admin costs are lower, more of your funding goes where it belongs—toward actual care. That means more time with the people who help you, not more money lost in paperwork.

Carers Who Understand You

Want someone who speaks your language or understands your culture? You can find that. And when you do, care becomes something that feels natural—not foreign.

Clear, Honest Oversight

Invoices, timesheets, support hours—it’s all there in front of you. No chasing people. No waiting for a reply. You’re not left in the dark.

Contact Us

If you’re thinking about managing your own care but not sure where to start, we’re here. You don’t need to figure it all out on your own. Sometimes it just helps to talk it through.

Our friendly team takes the time to sit with you, explain what your options are, and help shape a care plan that fits how you actually live—not how someone else thinks it should look. Whether it’s help with basic care, sorting out respite care, or understanding what your package funds can be used for, we’ll walk through it together.

There’s no pressure. Just quiet support, from a dedicated team that knows the ins and outs of aged care services and what it takes to get it right. You’ll always have someone in your corner, ready to help with the details, the forms, or the decisions.