Personal Care

Personal Care refers to the hands-on, everyday support that helps people manage essential self-care tasks safely and comfortably in your own home. Under the Support at Home program, Personal Care sits within the Independence category of services, and includes: 

• Showering – safe, dignified assistance with bathing 

• Dressing – help selecting and putting on clothing 

• Grooming – support with hair care, shaving, oral hygiene, and general presentation 

• Mobility support – assistance moving safely around the home, transferring, or repositioning 

• Medication assistance – help remembering and prompting medication to be taken  

• Continence support (non-clinical) – practical, respectful assistance managing continence needs 

These are deeply personal tasks, and we understand that inviting someone into your home to help with them is not a small decision. It’s one we never take lightly and work to ensure you always feel safe and comfortable with the Support Worker sent to your home.  

From 1 October 2026, Personal Care will be reclassified from an Independence service to a Clinical Care service under the Support at Home program. In practical terms, this means Personal Care will move from being a service that may attract a co-contribution, to one that is fully government-funded, with no contribution required, regardless of income or assets. 

This is a significant and welcome change for the aged care sector. It reflects growing recognition that support with showering, dressing, and continence isn’t a lifestyle add-on, it’s fundamental to health, dignity, and safety. If you’re currently paying a contribution toward your Personal Care services, this change may meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Your Care Partner can talk you through exactly what this means for your individual budget as the change takes effect.

A Workforce You Can Trust 

One of the biggest reasons families choose Chris Barnard Health is our people. We’re proud to have one of the largest in-house care workforces in Victoria, meaning the person supporting you with personal care is trained, supported, and guided directly by us, not agency staff who come and go. Every care worker completes background checks, reference checks, and a detailed interview process before joining our team, and receives ongoing training in aged care best practice, safety, communication, cultural awareness, and person-centred care. We choose people we would trust in our own homes, because personal care is exactly that: personal. 

Matched to You, Not Just Assigned 

We do our best to match you with Support Workers who suit your needs, personality, and preferences, not just your care plan. Sometimes the connection feels natural right away. Other times, it takes a little longer, and that’s completely normal. We’re new to you, and you’re new to us, and building trust around something as personal as showering or dressing takes time. If something doesn’t feel quite right, tell us. We’ll listen, adjust, and keep working with you until the fit feels genuinely comfortable. Your comfort and dignity always come first. 

A Personalised Care Plan, Built Around You 

Your story, your routines, and your preferences matter. Your Care Partner takes the time to understand what’s important to you, whether that’s a particular order to your morning routine, privacy preferences, or simply having familiar faces involved in something so personal and builds this into a tailored Care Plan. Nothing about Personal Care is one-size-fits-all. 

What to Expect in Your First Month 

Your first month with us is about gently settling in together. We’ll start by getting to know your routines, preferences, and the small things that make your day feel right. You’ll also receive a comprehensive nursing assessment, so we understand your health, safety, and wellbeing needs from the very beginning. It’s normal for it to take a little time for us to learn your rhythms, and for you to feel fully comfortable, especially with something as personal as this kind of care. We’re here to listen, adjust, and grow with you every step of the way.

Personal Care, more than almost any other service, depends on dignity and trust. Under the Aged Care Act 2024, you have a Statement of Rights that protects your choices and wellbeing, including the right to: 

• Make decisions about your care and daily life 

• Be treated with dignity and respect by everyone involved in your care 

• Be involved in planning your services, including who delivers them and how 

• Speak up if something isn’t right, with the assurance that your concerns will be taken seriously 

If something ever goes wrong, we respond using a structured, best-practice approach called open disclosure, informing you promptly, listening to your observations, and working with you to put things right. Being open and honest isn’t just policy for us, it’s a reflection of our values and commitment to you and your family. 

Personal Care is available to eligible Support at Home participants, generally people aged 65 or over (50 or over for First Nations people) who need coordinated support to remain safely at home, or younger people with a disability, dementia, or other care needs not met through other specialist services. If you’re waiting on funding approval, or your funding doesn’t fully cover the level of personal care support you need, Chris Barnard Health also offers privately funded Personal Care, so you’re never left without support while navigating the system. 

• Consistency you can count on. Because we invest in our own workforce rather than relying on rotating agency staff, the same familiar care workers return to support you, so personal care never feels like starting over with a stranger each visit. 

• Care management that actually communicates. Your Care Partner and Support Workers stay connected through regular case conferencing and care note reviews, so if your needs or preferences change, it’s reflected in your care straight away, not discovered weeks later. 

Call us on 1300 602 469 to find out more about Podiatry and how it fits within Support at Home or fill out our contact form on the website and a member of our team will be in touch.