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

It’s easy to feel like aged care is something done to people. But self-managed care flips that idea on its head. It gives people in Mackay a genuine say—not just a checkbox to tick. A self-managed Home Care Package means you hold the reins. You decide who delivers your care, how it’s delivered, and when.

Instead of going through a case manager for every small change, you set the direction. It’s not about rejecting support—it’s about reshaping it so it feels like yours.

And here’s what that brings:

• A real sense of control – not just over the schedule, but over the relationships built through care.
• Space for personal values – cultural preferences, lifestyle choices, and emotional comfort are no longer left out.
• Freedom to adjust – because needs change, and your plan should move with them.
• Smarter use of funds – with less overhead and more hours of care that count.

We stay behind the scenes to keep things compliant and clear. We don’t interfere—we protect the structure so you can build something that works. Our support feels more like a safety net than a checklist.

Across Mackay, this shift is bringing confidence back to families and individuals who’ve spent too long navigating impersonal systems. Self-managed care is not about doing more. It’s about doing what feels right—with the right people beside you.

Freedom to Choose the Right Carers for Your Life

There’s nothing more personal than the people you trust to walk beside you in your care journey. In self-managed Home Care Packages, that choice is entirely yours. You’re not handed a rotating list or asked to fit your needs into a fixed system. You choose. You set the tone. You select the faces that feel familiar, the voices that understand, and the hands that help in ways that feel respectful and right.

In Mackay, many of our participants tell us that this ability to hand-pick their carers is the most life-changing part of self-management. It brings care out of the shadows of a system—and into the rhythm of everyday life.

Here’s how Support Network honours that choice with dedicated carers across a wide range of services:

Home Care

Our home care workers don’t rush through tasks—they settle into the pace of your life. Whether it’s preparing a warm meal, helping tidy up the living space, or simply being a kind presence in the room, their focus is always on preserving your comfort, dignity, and independence. You choose someone you can welcome into your home and trust in your space.

Daily Living

From assistance with getting dressed to support during meal preparation or shopping trips, our carers help make daily living less of a burden. They aren’t just completing tasks—they’re creating routines that feel safe, familiar, and respectful of your preferences. You can choose a carer who understands your habits and adapts to your daily rhythm.

Domestic Assistance

A well-kept home isn’t about appearances—it’s about mental clarity, physical safety, and emotional ease. Our domestic support carers focus on the little things: fresh sheets, clean dishes, clear walkways. They work quietly, respectfully, and without intrusion—leaving your home feeling lighter, more manageable, and more like you.

24 Hour Care

For those with high support needs, having someone nearby at all times can offer deep peace of mind. Our 24-hour carers rotate seamlessly and gently, always ensuring continuity of care without making the home feel clinical. Whether it's daytime assistance or overnight peacekeeping, they remain close without ever taking over.

Personal Care

When it comes to washing, grooming, or toileting, respect and sensitivity matter more than anything else. Our personal care workers are trained not just in skills but in empathy. They protect your privacy, maintain your dignity, and listen without judgment. You can choose someone who makes these private moments feel safe and unhurried.

Overnight Care

Some needs arise when the rest of the world is asleep. Our overnight carers remain alert while you rest. Whether you need scheduled assistance or just the comfort of knowing someone’s close by, you’ll have the chance to choose a worker who brings calm, gentle presence through the quiet hours.

Disability Care

For participants living with a disability, it’s never just about physical care—it’s about finding someone who gets it. Our carers bring patience, compassion, and the ability to adapt support plans to match each person’s goals, abilities, and communication styles. You choose a carer who connects, not just completes.

Disability Support

Support isn’t only about assistance—it’s about opening doors. Our disability support workers help clients explore activities, develop life skills, and grow confidence through one-on-one support. Whether it’s navigating the community, learning something new, or getting out more often, you’ll choose someone who uplifts, not just assists.

Complex Care

Complex medical conditions require advanced care—but just as important is emotional steadiness. Our complex care staff are experienced in providing support for those with chronic health issues, medication routines, and high care needs. Their training is clinical, but their approach is personal. With self-management, you can choose a carer with the right mix of knowledge and warmth.

High Care

When someone’s needs are extensive, care must be delivered with both speed and sensitivity. Our high care professionals are equipped to assist with mobility, feeding, positioning, and critical hygiene tasks—without compromising on respect. With self-managed support, you can match with a carer who’s not only qualified but genuinely caring.

Social and Community Participation

Isolation can weigh heavily—but the right support can gently bring someone back into the world. Whether it's joining a hobby group, attending community events, or going for a beachside walk in Mackay, our carers encourage safe, supported participation. They walk beside you, not ahead of you.

Behaviour Support

When behaviours become challenging, it’s often communication trying to find a voice. Our behaviour support workers don’t just react—they listen, observe, and build trust over time. They work alongside allied professionals, follow therapeutic frameworks, and always see the person behind the behaviour. With self-management, you decide who that support person should be—someone you feel at ease with.

Dedicated Support for Every Health Condition and Need

Every health condition brings its own weight. Not just the symptoms, but the quiet challenges that happen in the background—the emotional load, the daily adjustments, the decisions made behind closed doors. That’s why finding the right carer matters so much.

When you self-manage your Home Care Package, you’re not just arranging services. You’re choosing the people who’ll show up in your life, often at vulnerable moments. With Support Network, families across Mackay have the freedom to select carers who understand the specific needs behind each condition. And we support that process, quietly and carefully, while staying in the background where we belong.

Here’s how we support your choice across different health journeys—gently, respectfully, and on your terms.

Arthritis Care

Living with arthritis changes how you move through the day. The mornings might feel stiff, and the smallest task can take longer than it used to. Our carers are there to ease the strain, not take over. Whether it’s helping with movement, household tasks, or simply making things a bit more manageable, you choose someone who brings patience, not pressure.

Autism Care

Autism looks different for everyone. That’s why our carers take time to understand routines, communication styles, and sensory needs. They're not coming in with a one-size-fits-all plan—they meet you where you are. Whether it's supporting a child or an adult, you can choose someone who makes the day feel calmer, not more complicated.

Cancer Care

Cancer support isn’t just about care—it’s about presence. Our carers are there through treatment, rest, and recovery, offering help with hygiene, meals, or simply a steady hand on the hard days. They bring compassion without pity, and you get to decide who walks with you during this deeply personal time.

Epilepsy Care

When you live with epilepsy, confidence comes from knowing someone nearby understands what to do. Our carers are trained to respond safely during seizures and help support daily routines that keep things steady. But more than that, they bring a sense of calm and normalcy—you choose someone who lets you live your life without fear.

Heart Disease Care

After a heart event or while managing a chronic condition, small efforts can feel big. Our carers help with day-to-day movement, medication routines, and healthy habits without rushing the process. You’ll want someone who notices when you’re tired, encourages when you’re strong—and with self-management, you choose that person yourself.

Huntington's Disease Care

Huntington’s can feel like it’s changing everything. Over time, routines shift, needs increase, and support becomes more essential. Our carers are steady, experienced, and gentle in the way they adapt. You’ll choose someone who respects the changes—and helps make the present more livable.

Mental Health

Some days feel heavier than others. When mental health challenges show up—whether it’s depression, anxiety, PTSD, or anything else—you need someone who won’t try to fix you, but will stay with you. Our carers are trained to support with sensitivity, routine, and care that doesn’t feel clinical. You’re in control of who you let in.

Motor Neurone Disease Care

As this condition progresses, support becomes more physical—but emotional presence matters just as much. Carers help with feeding, mobility, communication aids, and hygiene, but they also know how to offer calm in the face of loss. You choose someone who brings skill, yes—but more importantly, grace.

Muscular Dystrophy

With muscular dystrophy, care isn’t static. Needs evolve. Some days require more, some less. Our carers move with those shifts, helping with transfers, personal care, and keeping routines in place. You find someone who isn’t just prepared—they’re patient enough to stay alongside you for the long run.

Out of Hospital Care

Coming home after a hospital stay can bring uncertainty. Things that felt normal before might feel a little off. Our carers step in quietly, helping with the transition—meals, medications, wound care, safety. You decide who helps you find your footing again, someone you can trust to ease you back into home life gently.

Parkinson’s Disease Care

Tremors, slowness, rigidity—they shape how your day moves. But with the right support, they don’t have to define it. Our carers assist with dressing, movement, exercises, and routines that reduce discomfort. But it’s their ability to slow down and meet you where you are that truly matters—and you get to choose who that is.

Palliative Care

End-of-life care isn’t about medical routines—it’s about presence, dignity, and peace. Our carers offer gentle, non-intrusive support that keeps you or your loved one comfortable. You’ll find someone who knows how to listen, how to sit quietly, and how to honour these moments without taking them over.

Dementia Care

Dementia changes the conversation—but it doesn’t take away the need for connection. Our carers are consistent, respectful, and trained to support memory care with compassion. They understand how to bring calm to confusion, and how to recognise the person still very much present. You choose someone who helps bring light into unfamiliar spaces.

In Mackay, we’ve seen the quiet transformation that comes when the right person steps into the room. It’s not about filling a shift—it’s about choosing someone who sees the condition, understands the care, and still recognises the individual first. With self-management, that choice is always yours.

Support Network’s Platform: Making Self-Management Simple

It’s one thing to say you have choice. It’s another to feel it in your hands.

That’s what our online platform is designed for. We know how overwhelming it can be to manage the practical side of your care, even when you know it’s the right path for your life. That’s why we didn’t build a complicated system full of extra features. We built something that lets you keep track, stay confident, and feel steady—without needing tech skills or endless paperwork.

At Support Network, we help families in Mackay self-manage with ease, by offering a platform that holds everything in one place. It’s simple. It’s quiet. And it gives you space to focus on the care itself—not the clutter around it.

Post jobs at your own pace

Describe what you need, when you need it. Whether it’s for domestic support, overnight care, or daily help, you can post roles in your own words and find carers who feel right for you.

See and approve timesheets easily

No long phone calls or delays. Once a carer logs their hours, you’re notified. You can check and approve it all in minutes.

Handle invoices without confusion

You’ll never wonder where your funds are going. Every invoice is listed clearly, and we ensure it meets all NDIS requirements. It’s always clean and ready, without any back and forth.

Track your budget in real time

Your available balance, how much you’ve used, and what’s coming up next—it’s all right there. No surprises, just steady visibility.

Whether you’re just beginning to self-manage or have been doing it for years, our platform stays in the background—quietly holding everything together while you get on with living.

The Real Benefits of Self-Managing Your Home Care Package

Self-managing your Home Care Package isn’t just about taking control—it’s about finally shaping your care around your life, instead of the other way around. In Mackay, families who’ve made the switch say it brings peace of mind. It restores a sense of dignity. And it helps them feel connected to the process, rather than pushed along by it.

You’re no longer waiting for someone else to decide. You’re the one choosing who walks into your home, what support you need, and how that support fits into the way you live.

Here are just a few reasons why self-managing makes a meaningful difference:

• More time with the right carerWithout traditional provider overheads, more of your budget goes into care hours. That means more time, better relationships, and real consistency with carers you trust.
• Your culture, your comfortWhether it’s language, traditions, or values—self-management lets you find someone who understands where you’re coming from, not just what you need help with.
• Clear view of your care fundingEvery dollar is accounted for. You see where your funds are going and how much you have left. No confusion. Just control.
• Flexibility when life changesNeed more hours next month? Prefer someone new? Want to try a different kind of support? You don’t need approval—you decide and adjust as needed.
• Steady support in the backgroundEven though you’re in charge, you’re never left alone. Support Network handles the behind-the-scenes compliance, payments, and guidance, so everything keeps running smoothly.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what feels right—for you, and the people you love.

Contact Us

Choosing to self-manage your care package is a big step—but you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. If you have questions about your care plan, want to understand your care options better, or simply need help starting the process, our friendly team is here to help. Whether you're looking into In-home Care, support with daily tasks, or you're unsure about the assessment process, we’ll walk you through it—gently and clearly.

Reach out today, and let’s talk about how we can support you in building a care path that genuinely improves your quality of life. We’re here to offer guidance, not pressure. Just calm, helpful advice from people who truly care.