Support at Home Provider Registration — Expert Consultants 2026
Aged care (Support at Home) provider registration is the process of becoming an approved aged care provider, registered to deliver services under the Support at Home program. Whether you are starting a new business or already operate under the NDIS, Avaana's aged care consultants help you apply. Our registration consultancy service includes:
Consultations with key team members to assess registration readinessGuidance to meet key personnel competency requirementsAssistance gathering aged care provider documentation requirementsPreparation of the aged care provider application formTailored policy and procedure documentsAudit guidance and trainingDrafting Commission correspondence, including RFI responsesBook your free Consultation
Aged care provider registration is the process of becoming an approved aged care provider. All direct providers of funded aged care services, including Support at Home, must be registered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission).
Every provider claiming for services delivered under the Support at Home program must be registered in Category 4: (Personal and care support in the home or community) at a minimum, and meet Outcome 5.1 (Clinical Governance) of Standard 5: Clinical Care.
Minimum government cost is $21,940, and approval typically takes 8–14 weeks.
Avaana is an Australian accreditation consultancy that has supported 3,000+ providers through NDIS and aged care registration since 2020, and has completed Support at Home provider registrations for new market entrants since the program commenced in November 2025.
Trusted by providers across Australia
Independent reviews from providers who came to us for accreditation and stayed for the compliance work.
Why register for aged care?
If you already deliver disability supports, most of what the Commission wants to see, you are already doing.
Increase revenue streams
Add aged care services to generate additional income for your provider business.
Simplified registration
The government’s streamlined process simplifies aged care provider registration for providers already in the disability sector.
Leverage existing skills
Your NDIS and DVA workforce capabilities transfer directly to aged care service delivery.
Growing market
Federal Budget 2026–27 accelerated Support at Home packages with $1.7B in new investment.
The aged care (support at home) provider registration process — step by step
Based on Support at Home provider registration applications Avaana has completed.
Business structure & key personnel
Confirm entity and ABN. Assess key personnel competency against Commission requirements.
Choose registration categories
Category 4 is mandatory for every registered provider. Add Category 5 for nursing, and Categories 1, 2 or 3 for the services you deliver directly.
Prepare policies & procedures
Develop compliant documentation aligned to the Aged Care Act 2024. Avaana prepares these as part of our service.
Submit aged care provider application
Aged care commission registration fees: $3,270 application plus category fees.
Quality audit
Aged care audit cost: $14,870 per application. Because Category 4 is mandatory, every registered provider is audited against the Strengthened Quality Standards.
Respond to information requests
The Commission may request additional evidence. Avaana drafts RFI responses on your behalf.
Approval
Typical timeline: 8–14 weeks from application to approval.
We scope it on the first call, at no cost.
Get a Free ConsultationHow long does aged care provider registration take?
Typically 8 to 14 weeks from lodging your aged care provider application to Commission approval. Timelines depend on your registration categories, how complete your evidence is at submission, and whether the Commission requests further information. That makes aged care registration materially faster than NDIS registration typically is — NDIS runs 3 to 9 months end to end. See the NDIS registration timeline →
Preparing policies, key personnel evidence and the application, with Avaana
Commission assessment, information requests and the quality audit
Application to approval, based on registrations Avaana has completed
Support at Home registration categories — which category fits your business?
Every provider claiming under Support at Home must hold Category 4 at a minimum. All participants must receive care management, and care management sits in Category 4 — so within Support at Home there is no pathway that avoids it, and none that avoids the audit.
The remaining Support at Home categories — 1, 2, 3 and 5 — are added on top for the services you deliver directly.
Registration in a lower category alone is only possible outside Support at Home, under a grant-funded program — see below.
Is Category 4 mandatory for every Support at Home provider?
Yes — every provider claiming for Support at Home services must be registered in Category 4 and meet Outcome 5.1 (Clinical Governance), confirmed to Avaana in writing by the Department.
Most third-party category tables still present Category 1 as a standalone registration pathway, and quote a cheaper total as a result. That is wrong — and it changes what registration costs and whether you are audited at all.
We confirmed the position directly with the Department, and did not give up until we got a straight answer. In money: the real minimum is $21,940 including an audit, not one category fee.
Aged care registration cost — how much will you pay?
Because Category 4 is mandatory, the minimum government cost of aged care provider registration is $21,940 — application, one Category 4 fee and the audit. Every additional category adds its own fee.
Avaana’s consultant fee sits on top and is quoted against your categories rather than published as a range — aged care scopes vary too widely for one honest number. You get the figure on the first call, before you commit.
What does it cost to vary or renew your registration?
Registration is not a one-off. Adding or removing categories during a registration period attracts a variation fee, and registration is typically renewed every three years. These fees are in addition to anything you have already paid.
Avaana charges a separate fee for variation and renewal applications. We will quote it against your scope on the call.
Can a cleaning or gardening business register in Category 1 or 2 only?
Not under Support at Home. We put this question to the Commission directly, and the answer was no. Since then, the Commission has updated its website for clarity. Support at Home runs a single-provider model: each participant is linked to one service delivery branch of one registered provider, responsible for coordinating, delivering and claiming for all of that participant’s services — including care management and the AT-HM scheme. Because every participant must receive care management, Category 4 is unavoidable.
There is one exception, and it is not a registration shortcut. Registration in Categories 1–5 is a registration to deliver care either under Support at Home or through a specialist aged care program such as CHSP or NATSIFACP. Those are grant-funded — you must win the grant first, and only then can you apply to register. In short: to be registered to deliver aged care, you must deliver under Support at Home or under a funding agreement.
Register in Category 4, plus your service categories
You hold the participant relationship, deliver care management, and can subcontract the services you do not deliver yourself. Requires aged care experience across your key personnel, Outcome 5.1 clinical governance, and a full audit. Minimum government cost $21,940.
Subcontract to an existing registered provider
No registration, no audit, no category fees. The registered provider remains responsible for delivery and compliance — so expect them to assess your systems before engaging you. The fastest route to revenue if care management is not part of your plan.
Win a CHSP or NATSIFACP grant, then register
The only route to registration in lower categories alone. You must first apply for and succeed in a grant opportunity managed by the Department, then apply to the Commission to register as a provider delivering those services. Grant rounds are competitive and not continuously open, so this is a business-planning decision rather than a registration one.
Ready to start your Support at Home provider registration?
Book your consultation today and let Avaana guide you through the Support at Home provider registration process.
Frequently asked questions — aged care provider registration
Who is eligible to become an approved aged care provider in Australia?
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Applicants must demonstrate that each key personnel is appropriately qualified, experienced and capable to undertake their role for a registered aged care provider, and that the business has relevant experience in aged care service delivery. Full criteria are set out in the Commission’s registration guidance.
How much does aged care provider registration cost?
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$3,270 per application, plus $1,270 per category for Categories 1–3 or $3,800 per category for Categories 4–5, plus a $14,870 audit fee per application. Since Category 4 is mandatory, the minimum is $21,940. See the full breakdown in the cost table above.
What are the Support at Home registration categories?
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Six categories. Categories 1–5 sit within Support at Home; Category 6 is residential care and sits outside the program. Every registered provider must hold Category 4 at a minimum, because all participants must receive care management. Category 5 is additionally required for nursing.
What are the new aged care rules for 2026?
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From 1 November 2025 a new Aged Care Act commenced, focused on the rights of aged care individuals, alongside the launch of Support at Home. The program replaces Home Care Packages, introduces eight funding classification levels and implements a single-provider model.
What are the three main categories of assistance in aged care?
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Home Care, supporting independent living; Residential Care, for those needing 24/7 support in a facility; and Assistive Technology and Home Modifications.
How can Avaana assist with aged care provider application and approval?
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We get to know your current and future service delivery plans, draft tailored policies, procedural forms and implementation guides, and complete the application form for lodgement. We then guide you through information requests and the audit, and draft communications on your behalf.
Can an NDIS provider register for aged care under Support at Home?
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Yes. Most of your NDIS governance, worker screening and incident management evidence transfers, though aged care has its own standards and documentation requirements.
How long does the aged care provider registration process take?
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Typically 8–14 weeks from application to approval, depending on your categories, the completeness of your evidence and whether the Commission requests further information.
What documents are needed for a Support at Home provider registration?
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A policy and procedure suite aligned to your categories, key personnel evidence, and business documentation including your entity details and insurances.
Can I register in a single category, such as Category 1 or 2, without claiming under Support at Home?
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No. The Commission confirmed this in writing to us. Registration in Categories 1–5 is a registration to deliver care under Support at Home or under a specialist aged care program such as CHSP or NATSIFACP. Grant-funded programs require you to win a grant opportunity through the Department first, and only then apply to register. To be registered to deliver aged care, you must deliver under Support at Home or under a funding agreement.
How can Avaana improve approval success for aged care applications?
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We partner with expert business advisors so applicants can demonstrate evidence is in place before submission — the application must read as though you were approved and working with clients immediately after the Commission receives it.
This page was written by Peace Masora, one of Avaana’s aged care consultants, who has assisted providers through the aged care provider registration process, including Support at Home registrations, since November 2025.