What is the End-of-Life Pathway? 

There are few conversations harder than the ones that come with a terminal diagnosis. In amongst everything else, working out how to arrange enough support to stay at home – surrounded by family, familiar routines and comfort – shouldn’t be one more thing weighing on your family who’s already carrying so much. 

The End-of-Life Pathway is a dedicated funding pathway within the Support at Home program, designed to help you or loved one remain at home during the last three months of life. It exists because the ordinary Support at Home process – assessment, classification, waiting periods – simply isn’t built for the urgency a terminal diagnosis brings. 

That’s why this pathway allows for a high priority Support Plan Review, giving urgent access to funding – even if you’re not already a Support at Home participant. 

Under the End-of-Life Pathway, you will: 

• Have urgent access to a higher level of funding for in-home aged care services, if you have been diagnosed with three months or less to live 

• Have access to assistive technology through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, if needed 

• Receive funding of up to $25,000 over 12 weeks, with 16 weeks to use the funds – giving a little more flexibility around timing 

How Do You Access It? 

Unlike most Support at Home pathways, you don’t need to already be receiving services to access the End-of-Life Pathway. If you or a loved one have received a diagnosis of three months or less to live, you (or your treating team) can request a high priority Support Plan Review. This fast-tracks the usual assessment process, recognising that time matters enormously in this situation. 

Because of the priority nature of this pathway, it’s worth reaching out as soon as a diagnosis is confirmed, rather than waiting – the sooner the review happens, the sooner services can actually start. 

What Does the Funding Cover? 

The End-of-Life Pathway provides up to $25,000 to fund in-home aged care services over a 12-week period, with 16 weeks allowed to use those funds. This gives families some breathing room – life doesn’t always move in neat, predictable timeframes, and this pathway is designed with that in mind. 

This funding can go toward the kind of support that makes staying home possible: personal care, nursing, allied health and other services tailored to comfort and dignity in these final months. If equipment or home modifications are needed – a hospital bed, mobility aids, safety modifications – these can be accessed through the AT-HM scheme alongside your funding. 

What Happens if More Time is Needed? 

Sometimes circumstances change, and more than 12 or 16 weeks of support is needed. If that happens, you can request a further assessment to transition onto an ongoing Support at Home classification, so services can continue without a gap. If recovery – rather than ongoing decline – becomes the focus at any point, it’s also worth knowing about the Restorative Care Pathway, a separate short-term option focused on regaining independence. 

How Does This Fit with Other Palliative Care Services? 

The End-of-Life Pathway is designed to complement, not replace, the in-home palliative care services already provided through your state or territory government. It sits alongside those services, filling in the practical, everyday support – personal care, domestic help, nursing – that helps someone remain comfortably at home, while palliative care teams continue to manage clinical and symptom-focused care. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Do I need to already be a Support at Home participant to access this pathway? 

 No. You can be referred for a high priority Support Plan Review to access the End-of-Life Pathway even if you’ve never        received Support at Home services before. 

• How much funding is available? 

Up to $25,000, intended to be used over 12 weeks, with a total window of 16 weeks to use the funds. 

• What if I need support for longer than 16 weeks? 

You can request a further assessment to move onto an ongoing Support at Home classification, so your services can continue. 

• Does this replace palliative care services? 

No. It’s designed to work alongside palliative care services provided by your state or territory government, not instead of them. 

Source: health.gov.au – Support at Home short-term supports 

Why Chris Barnard Health for Your End-of-Life Pathway 

At a time like this, the last thing any family needs is more forms, more phone calls, or a stranger at the door. At Chris Barnard Health, we understand this pathway carries a weight that other funding categories don’t, and we treat it that way. 

Because we work across the full spectrum of Support at Home – from everyday domestic support through to complex clinical and palliative care – our in-house nursing and allied health teams can step in quickly, without the delays that come from juggling multiple outside providers. And because clients receive the same support worker around 80% of the time, even in these final months, care comes from a familiar, trusted face rather than a rotating door of strangers – something that matters enormously when every visit counts. 

We choose our care workers not just for their qualifications, but for their character – their kindness, patience and reliability – because we know that in someone’s final months, who walks through the door matters just as much as what they’re trained to do. 

And because urgent needs don’t keep business hours, our team is on call around the clock. When you call, you’ll speak with someone who genuinely cares about getting you the help you need – not an automated system. 

Your dedicated Care Partner works closely with you and your family throughout, coordinating with palliative care teams, your GPs and specialists so you’re never left to manage the details alone. 

If you or a loved one have received a diagnosis and are trying to work out how to arrange care at home, please call us on 1300 602 469. We’re here to help, gently and without delay. 

Chris Barnard Health is an approved aged care provider delivering home care, Support at Home, and healthcare workforce solutions across Australia. Australian owned and managed since 2010.