Showering for older Australians will be fully funded under the Federal Government’s Support at Home program after it is reclassified as clinical care, removing client contributions that previously ranged from 5 per cent to 50 per cent.
The change was announced by the Hon Mark Butler and the Hon Sam Rae, with the measure set to take effect as part of the upcoming Budget.
The decision follows concerns raised by aged care providers and advocacy groups about the impact of out of pocket costs on older people’s access to essential services. Under the previous classification, showering was treated as personal care, requiring clients to contribute to the cost.
Ageing Australia said the shift would address those concerns and improve outcomes for older Australians. Chief executive Tom Symondson said, “We commend the Government for listening to the significant concerns of older people and providers.”
He said the organisation had warned about the risks linked to the earlier settings. “Sweeping reforms will always have unintended consequences, and we’ve been clear from the outset that charging contributions for showering needed to be kept under constant review to ensure the best possible outcomes for older people.”
The Government’s decision to move showering into the clinical care category means the service will now be provided without direct charges to clients, aligning it with other essential health supports under the program
Evidence gathered since the reforms began on 1 November 2025 pointed to changes in behaviour among some older Australians, with cost cited as a factor. “Since the reforms were implemented on 1 November 2025, our members have been deeply concerned about those unintended consequences. Particularly alarming has been the increasing evidence that older people were reducing the number of showers they had or forgoing them altogether due to cost. That is the worst possible outcome.”
Symondson said the policy change recognises the role of personal care in maintaining wellbeing. “Showering is not just about hygiene and health, it’s about basic human dignity.”
The Government’s decision to move showering into the clinical care category means the service will now be provided without direct charges to clients, aligning it with other essential health supports under the program.
“The Government’s decision to fully fund it as part of the upcoming Budget reflects our values as a society and should give older people greater confidence that they will be able to access the services they need, when they need them.”
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