07 Aug Survive and thrive under Support at Home
The future of Aged Care doesn’t have to belong only to the biggest providers
Support at Home has fundamentally changed the economics of delivering home care in Australia.
For many providers, the conversation has shifted from “How do we grow?” to “Can we afford to keep operating?”
This is exactly what many people predicted would happen.
Support at Home has introduced greater compliance obligations, more sophisticated claiming processes, quarterly budgeting, participant contributions – significantly more admin. While these reforms were intended to improve transparency and sustainability, they also demand a level of administrative capability that many providers never needed before under the Home Care Packages program.
As a result, there is growing commentary that the market will continue to consolidate, with smaller providers gradually disappearing.
But does it have to?
Small providers matter
Many of the country’s most respected providers are small to medium-sized organisations deeply embedded within their local communities. They know their clients personally. Their staff often care for the same people for years. They are agile, innovative and able to deliver highly personalised services that are difficult to replicate at scale.
Australia’s home care sector has always been built on diversity.
Losing these organisations would not simply reduce competition—it would reduce choice for older Australians.
The question isn’t whether these providers are capable.
The question is whether they have the systems required to operate efficiently under one of the most complex funding models the sector has ever experienced.
Growth can become a trap
Ironically, providers are often told that the solution is simple:
Grow.
Take on more clients.
Expand into new regions.
Increase revenue.
On paper, that sounds logical.
The reality is that growth without efficient systems creates more administration than income.
More clients mean more schedules to coordinate.
More claims to submit.
More client contributions to reconcile.
More budgets to monitor.
More client statements to generate.
Many providers already feel overwhelmed managing their existing workload. Adding more clients without addressing operational efficiency simply magnifies the problem.
The right software changes the equation
Support at Home wasn’t designed around yesterday’s software.
Many providers are trying to adapt systems that were originally built for a very different funding model.
That creates manual workarounds, duplicate data entry and administrative bottlenecks that consume valuable staff time.
Purpose-built technology changes the equation.
When claiming, budgeting, scheduling and workforce management are integrated into a single platform, administration is dramatically reduced, allowing providers to focus on delivering care instead of managing paperwork.
At VIPS Care, providers have reported saving up to seven days of administration every month through smarter automation. Some organisations have achieved even greater efficiencies.
Those are not just productivity gains.
They are opportunities to improve financial sustainability while freeing staff to spend more time with clients.
Helping providers thrive—not just survive
At VIPS Care, we believe the future of aged care should not belong exclusively to the largest organisations.
Smaller providers play a vital role in delivering local, relationship-based care across Australia.
Our goal isn’t simply to provide software.
It’s to help providers navigate Support at Home successfully, optimise government funding, reduce administration and build organisations that are financially strong enough to grow with confidence.
Because reform shouldn’t mean fewer providers.
It should mean better supported providers.
And with the right systems in place, that’s entirely achievable.
If your organisation is wondering how to remain competitive under Support at Home—or you’re a consultant helping providers prepare for the future—we’d love to show you what’s possible.
Discover how VIPS Care is helping home care providers not just survive Support at Home, but build a stronger, more sustainable future.