How to Navigate Support at Home AT-HM Funding: A Family Guide
on July 26, 2026

How to Navigate Support at Home AT-HM Funding: A Family Guide

By now you have probably heard of Support at Home, and you may have heard of the AT-HM scheme, the part that helps pay for equipment to keep someone safe and independent at home. The trouble is, knowing the scheme exists and knowing how to actually use it are two very different things. Most families we speak to are not confused about whether help is available. They are stuck on how to reach it.

So here is the practical version. Who to speak to, where to go to see equipment, and the steps that move you from "we think we qualify" to "it is funded and in the house." No jargon, just the path.

Step 1: Get the assessment that unlocks the funding

AT-HM funding is decided as part of an aged care assessment, so this is where everything starts.

If your family member has not been assessed yet, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or register online. If they are already a Support at Home participant, you do not need to start from scratch. Ring their provider or care coordinator and ask directly whether an AT-HM assessment is appropriate. That one question often gets the ball rolling faster than anything else.

A tip worth knowing: if assistive technology is not raised during the assessment, you can raise it yourself. Come with a simple, concrete example of where the person is struggling, such as missed medications or unsafe moments in the bathroom. Specifics help the assessor understand the need.

Step 2: Get an occupational therapist on your side

An occupational therapist (OT) will be one of the most useful people in this whole process. They assess what someone genuinely needs, recommend the right equipment, and write it up in a way that supports funding approval. For anything beyond simple, low-cost items, an OT recommendation is often what gets a request over the line.

You can find one a few ways. The easiest is to ask your Support at Home provider or My Aged Care to arrange one for you. You can also search through Occupational Therapy Australia. If you are buying privately, many OTs see clients directly for a home assessment.

Step 3: Go and see the equipment before you commit

This is the part families rarely know about, and it makes a real difference. You do not have to choose equipment from a brochure or guess from a website. There are places you can go to see it, touch it, and try it, usually for free and with staff on hand to help.

Independent Living Centres. These are non-profit centres with displays of daily living and assistive equipment, often staffed by occupational therapists you can talk to. Nothing is sold there, so the advice is genuinely independent, and some states have "smart home" set-ups where you can see technology working in a real room. To find the nearest centre in your state, call the Independent Living Centres Australia national infoline on 1300 885 886, which connects you to your local service for the cost of a local call.

ATSA Independent Living Expos. These are free, hands-on exhibitions that travel to different cities each year, where suppliers bring equipment for you to try in person. Check the schedule at the ATSA Expo site.

Your local community pharmacy. This one surprises people. Many community pharmacies stock a good range of assistive technology and daily living aids, from medication management and reminder tools to mobility and bathroom aids. It is often the easiest place to start, because it is close to home and your pharmacist already knows the person's medications. Ask what they carry, or whether they can order something in for you to look at.

Supplier showrooms and catalogues. Once you know roughly what you are after, individual suppliers can show you options and provide the quotes and invoices your assessor will want to see.

Step 4: Know who to call when you get stuck

Support at Home can feel like a maze, and everyone hits a wall at some point. A few free services exist precisely for this:

  • Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) runs a free, independent Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600. An advocate can help you understand your rights, deal with a provider, or simply work out your next move. This is one of the most underused services in aged care.
  • Your provider or care coordinator should be your first port of call for anything about your specific plan.
  • Independent Living Centre information services can answer equipment questions even if you are not ready to visit in person.

What you can actually get

Once approved, funding sits in one of three levels, based on assessed need: Low (up to $500), Medium (up to $2,000) and High (up to $15,000). If what you need costs more than the high tier, additional funding may be approved where there is supporting evidence, such as an OT prescription. As a rule, funding is meant to be used within 12 months. It is worth checking My Aged Care for the current amounts, as they can be reviewed over time.

The simple test for what qualifies is this: does the item help the person do something more safely, or more independently, at home? Mobility aids, medication management and reminder tools, communication and information devices, daily living aids, and home monitoring technology all commonly fit. The assessor makes the final call.

A few things that make it smoother

  • Get the OT's recommendation in writing, and keep a copy. It is your strongest piece of evidence.
  • Keep every quote and invoice together in one place, so you are ready when the assessor asks.
  • Ask whether you can choose your own supplier, rather than being limited to one.
  • Do not wait for the perfect moment. Booking the assessment is the step that unlocks everything else, and it costs nothing to start.

Where Harmonie fits

Harmonie is built to help someone living at home stay organised, keep on top of their medications and daily routines, and hold on to their independence, which lines up closely with what the AT-HM scheme supports. Whether it is right for funding depends on your family member's assessed needs, so it is worth raising with their assessor or OT.

If it helps, we are happy to send product information, specifications or invoices for you to share with them. Just email hello@harmoniehealth.com.au. You can also buy the Harmonie Home Health Hub directly for $599 plus a $29 monthly subscription, or book a free demo if you would like to see how it works first.

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