Published date: 8 July 2022
If you receive a Home Care Package, your provider may seek to change your existing home care arrangements to comply with changes to home care worker employment conditions.
Providers will need your consent before any changes to your Home Care Agreement can be made.
What employment conditions have changed for home care workers?
Employment conditions for some home care workers who are covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Industry Services Award 2020 (SCHADS Award) changed on 1 July 2022.
This means providers will need to make changes to how they provide home care services, to comply with the new SCHADS Award changes.
If you receive a Home Care Package, the people who provide your personal care, domestic assistance, or home maintenance may be covered by the SCHADS Award.
Does this mean my Home Care Package will change?
Changes to home care worker employment conditions do not change the rules for the Home Care Packages program.
Your consent and agreement are still required before your provider can make changes to your:
- Home Care Agreement
- Individualised budget
- Care plan
Any changes proposed by your provider must be reasonable, fair and must align with your assessed ageing related care needs and goals.
More information
To find out more about the changes, and what it might mean for you, please read the SCHADS Award care recipient fact sheet.
Last updated date: 7 October 2023
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